2018
The 2018 Ipsde
n meet was held on the 6th October, a wet day amongst many dry days in an unusually warm autumn season. Quality rather than quantity was the theme of this years meeting with a lower number of society members attending. As usual there was a varied choice of brasses on offer from fairly common pattern brasses to the more rare Royalty and named types. Rare or unusual brasses will of course always command a good price but rumour has it that there were bargains to be had for as little as £1.50 !!!
Mick Mullens brought along the stock NHBS books for added interest and as lunch time drew near Sue Hart once again provided very welcome bacon butty's !! Fiona Wrixon also did a stalwart job selling raffle tickets raising funds for the event.
In the afternoon Frank Banfield returned by popular request to show a few of his substantial collection of vintage films. They ranged from agricultural to industrial to railway interest, as with horse brasses it is fantastic these items from yesteryear have been preserved for future generations.
The board on the left is a display of hame plates by Bob Wrixon and on the right is the Jim Speed collection of Wiltshire brasses. Poor light and an inexperienced cameraman does not do these boards justice !! They were however well appreciated on the day.
Above is the winning entry by Mick Mullens of this year's competition the subject of which was award brasses. These merit badges are in fact made of aluminium with the exception of a few which are bakelite. It is not absolutely clear why they were made this way but one thought is weight, aluminium and bakelite being much lighter than brass and much kinder to the poor old horse. Bottom right Mick receiving his award from Don Mitchell and bottom right NHBS chairman Ian Jones presenting his award brass.
Above award brass exhibit by Bob Wrixon, runner up. Next years competition will be an open choice and it will be judged on the best overall display.