Medalling with History

This history arrived as W. H. Darby, the present day owners of the "Vaughtons" brand, were in due process of tendering for the 2012 Olympic medal (they had previously produced the 1908 version) and on further investigation, whilst there appeared to be "War and Peace" on other Birmingham and London based medallists and coin makers, Vaughtons was almost anonymously absent; it was though the company had never existed other than in trade catalogues and some limited archive material. Even searches on the world wide web showed almost a complete dearth of source material. There was no history of the company...so I thought I would write it accordingly.

Ever one for the challenge I have pieced together this history rather akin to doing the jigsaw without "the picture on the box"; pieces were there but no one knew quite how or where they all fitted together. What we did find was what a phenomenal company P Vaughton was, existing for almost 200 years, Birmingham based, with a global reputation for high quality gold-smithing, silver smithing, enamelling, engraving, carving, plating, polishing and all manner of masonic, military, colonial and commonwealth regalia, medals, coins, badges, spoons, gifts and localosities even the repair and refurbishment of judges wigs. A treasure trove of armorial, civic, heraldic, Olympic, sporting memorabilia commemorating heroic and tragic circumstances.

From the FA cup to Titanic, from Neville Chamberlain, MP and PM, to Oliver Vaughton, England, Aston Villa and FA Cup hero...all remembered and celebrated in Birmingham's craftsmanship and skills.

From its inception in 1819 to the present day the Vaughton brand has maintained its continuing existence to the present day activities undertaken at W.

H. Darby's premises in Well Street, Birmingham. This book looks in detail are the work, works and people involved in such a skilled entity and how the Vaughtons name evolved from then to the present day via several works locations.