BB&B Victoria Cross?

[KevinBeyer]

Hello,

 

I was looking through an old Bailey, Banks, and Biddle catalog and I came across a page where they advertised a Victoria Cross.  The listing says "Prices on request".

 

Has anyone ever seen an American made Victoria cross stamped with BB&B on it?

 

Doing a quick search, I came across this index card from NARA

 

[Otter42]

There were many Americans that enlisted. I have a small group that was an American that enlisted in Canada and won the VC.

[KevinBeyer]

Thanks for your response.  My question is regarding the actual manufacture of a Victoria Cross by an American company.  Did Bailey, Banks, and Biddle ever actually produce a Victoria Cross?  And, if so, has anyone seen, or documented one?

[earlymb]

I highly doubt it, I believe all VC's are made from the metal of a single cannon captured during the Crimean war. I don't think they even keep a stock of medals, but that one is made whenever one is actually awarded?

[KevinBeyer]

But this begs the question as to why BB&B listed one in their catalog as an item they would actually sell to someone should that someone request and agree to purchase.

 

The receipt from the NARA Records shows a photograph of an actual Victoria Cross.  Would the photo be of a VC that was made in England?  I doubt it.  So, this suggests that there was at least one Victoria Cross made in America by BB&B.

[earlymb]

Made for collectors I guess. I don't doubt BB&B made VC's, but I do highly doubt they are made for official issue.

[Preppy Picker]

BB&B didn’t make things for collectors. Have any Americans received the VC?

This VC was for US recipients who needed an additional one?

[qed4]

BB&B would make any thing for anybody who would pay for it. I doubt that they stocked them but if you want to them and ask for one they would make it and not require you to be an actual awardee. It made for a larger and more impressive catalog even if they never made or sold one. As stated VCs were (are) made for the bronze from a melted down Russian cannon captured in the Crimean War and I don't think they would ship the metal to BB&B so they could make a official one. Also BB&B was an international company they could sell them in the UK as a replacement copy. 

[KevinBeyer]

I agree with qrd4.  If you requested and paid for it, BB&B would make it.  Of this, I have no doubt.

 

The question remains. has anyone seen a BB&B manufactured Victoria Cross?