Billy Radford's work

Patrick Thaden · Post by **Patrick Thaden** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:05 pm

In the best armour thread Hal asked for pics of Radford's stuff, these are the only images I've come across. (I thought not to derail that thread) Anyone have others?

copy of the Coburg bascinet (I believe it sold through Hermann Historica )

I believe it was JUST the helmet in this pic

A nice corinthian

Halberds · Post by **Halberds** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 9:13 pm

Thanks Armour Bob, now that is Masters work for sure.

Some very fine pics.
I am ashamed to not know of his work.

I find myself wanting. :oops:

Hal

Patrick Marshall · Post by **Patrick Marshall** » Tue Sep 15, 2009 10:20 pm

you can also see a few pics of his work in TOMAR.

AL · Post by AL » Wed Sep 16, 2009 7:06 am

Theres a little video of Billy at work if you can track down a copy the armour episode of " Arms in Action " put out by the Tower Armouries back in the late 90's. He shown raising a helmet.

lorenzo2 · Post by **lorenzo2** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:43 am

I think Mac has a Radford helmet. Maybe he can be tempted to post a pic. Hint. . . hint. . .

James Arlen Gillaspie · Wed Sep 16, 2009 10:03 am

The Royal Armouries had only one name on their short list for 'Master Armourer' at the Craft Court, and that name was Billy Radford. He wouldn't move to Leeds, though, so they had to settle for someone else. David Edge (author of AAOTMK) owns a number of his early pieces (probably can't afford him now). I was at an 'Armour Study Day' at the Wallace Collection once when David had a burgonet by Mr. Radford on the table mixed in with some real stuff. I sensed something modern about it, but for the life of me I can't tell you what it was; it was crazy, scary real looking. I think it might have been 'Modern Meticulous Syndrome' that gave it away for me. The real stuff was obviously done at great speed just by eyeballing everything, with scarcely a real measurement taken. The best modern stuff is all made by perfectionists, which the old smiths obviously were not.

Ambrogio · Post by **Ambrogio** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:25 am

I'll check with some friends who owns or has owned Radford pieces if they are willing to share pictures of them.
Here is a link to a Sallet owned by Alexander from St Olofs gille (the Guild of Saint Olaus) from Stockholm, Sweden.
It's made by Mr Radford but I'm not sure how old it is..

Perhaps I should include the link.. Dooh!
http://histvarld.historiska.se/histvarl ... hjalm.html

DeCalmont · Post by **DeCalmont** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 2:50 pm

I'm curious as to what dates the Coburg bascinet would have been in use?

Patrick Thaden · Post by **Patrick Thaden** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 5:36 pm

The History Channel has a video from the Arms In Action Series titled Mail and Plate Armour that has a segment with Radford raising a hat.

Josh W · Post by **Josh W** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 7:20 pm

I used to have a copy of that Arms in Action episode featuring Billy Radford, but it was lost when my house burned down a few years back. I may still have the somewhat melted tape in storage if someone thinks they can salvage it...

AL · Post by AL » Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:04 pm

The History Channel has a video from the Arms In Action Series titled Mail and Plate Armour that has a segment with Radford raising a hat.

Thats the one I was thinking of.

audax · Post by **audax** » Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:45 pm

DeCalmont wrote:I'm curious as to what dates the Coburg bascinet would have been in use?

I believe TOMAR has it set in the 1380's or so.

chef de chambre · Post by **chef de chambre** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 7:11 am

The Coburg bascinet is much more probably circa 1400 (+- 5 years either side). The swelling out at the bottom rear pretty much precludes a much earlier one.

DeCalmont · Post by **DeCalmont** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 7:57 am

Thanks Audax and Chef, that's good news.

Sorry for the slight de-rail.

MattB · Post by **MattB** » Thu Sep 17, 2009 12:05 pm

Josh W wrote:I used to have a copy of that Arms in Action episode featuring Billy Radford, but it was lost when my house burned down a few years back. I may still have the somewhat melted tape in storage if someone thinks they can salvage it...

Available from the royal armouries shop on dvd they are region 2 but that shouldn't be a problem for most these days http://www.royalarmouriesshop.org/acatalog/Armour_-_Slings___Spears.html

Matt