(BIF) British Industries Fair - Exhibitor and Buyer ID badges (1940’s / 1950’s)
The British Industries Fair (BIF) were annual two-week trade & industry showcase exhibitions for British manufacturers as well as that of her dominions and colonies. The BIF began in 1915 with fairs being held at Castle-Bromwich (Birmingham) until the end of the 1950’s and with subsidiary fairs at London. The BIF was interrupted by the outbreak of WW2 in 1939 and did not resume till 1947. Its purpose-built site at Castle-Bromwich was sold in the 1960 and later redeveloped as the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) of Birmingham.
BIF fairs were heavily sponsored by the government’s Board of Trade as well as the Department for Overseas Trade to promote British industry both at home and internationally. The fairs were generally considered a great success, each attracting thousands of visitors and trade buyers from all over Britain and abroad.
These numbered badges were issued to registered trade buyers and exhibitors attending the BIF. Exhibitors were companies or their sole-agents of which there could be as many as one to two thousand plus with buyers who numbered in their thousands at each fair.
Would anyone know what was the significance of issuing two different coloured badges?
References:
www.gracesguide.co.uk/British_Industries_Fair
www.gracesguide.co.uk/1934_British_Industries_Fair:_Review (Review of the 1934 BIF).
Enamels: 1 (blue or red). Painted enamels.
Finish: Nickel plated (?).
Material: Brass.
Fixer: Buttonhole (horseshoe shaped clasp).
Size: 1 ½” x 1 13/16” larger diamond shaped badges (39mm x 46mm).
Process: Die stamped
Imprint: Various - J R GAUNT, LONDON / S.B. & S. LTD, LONDON & B’HAM /
L SIMPSON & CO, LONDON. All badges are numbered on the reverse side.
(BIF) British Industries Fair - Exhibitor and Buyer ID badges (1940’s / 1950’s)
The British Industries Fair (BIF) were annual two-week trade & industry showcase exhibitions for British manufacturers as well as that of her dominions and colonies. The BIF began in 1915 with fairs being held at Castle-Bromwich (Birmingham) until the end of the 1950’s and with subsidiary fairs at London. The BIF was interrupted by the outbreak of WW2 in 1939 and did not resume till 1947. Its purpose-built site at Castle-Bromwich was sold in the 1960 and later redeveloped as the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) of Birmingham.
BIF fairs were heavily sponsored by the government’s Board of Trade as well as the Department for Overseas Trade to promote British industry both at home and internationally. The fairs were generally considered a great success, each attracting thousands of visitors and trade buyers from all over Britain and abroad.
These numbered badges were issued to registered trade buyers and exhibitors attending the BIF. Exhibitors were companies or their sole-agents of which there could be as many as one to two thousand plus with buyers who numbered in their thousands at each fair.
Would anyone know what was the significance of issuing two different coloured badges?
References:
www.gracesguide.co.uk/British_Industries_Fair
www.gracesguide.co.uk/1934_British_Industries_Fair:_Review (Review of the 1934 BIF).
Enamels: 1 (blue or red). Painted enamels.
Finish: Nickel plated (?).
Material: Brass.
Fixer: Buttonhole (horseshoe shaped clasp).
Size: 1 ½” x 1 13/16” larger diamond shaped badges (39mm x 46mm).
Process: Die stamped
Imprint: Various - J R GAUNT, LONDON / S.B. & S. LTD, LONDON & B’HAM /
L SIMPSON & CO, LONDON. All badges are numbered on the reverse side.