Gladman & Norman Ltd

Gladman & Norman is a private limited company in the United Kingdom that is known for manufacturing awards and insignias.

Company Background

The company was founded in 1910 by two friends, Alfred Gladman and Samuel Norman who had met at the School of Jewellery in Birmingham.

Samuel had trained as an artist and taught at Handsworth Art School. He used his skills to engrave dies for companies in the Jewellery Quarter and the newly established Gladman & Norman used to undertake the stamping for these firms.

Samuel Gladman died prematurely from complications of his war service in 1919 and left his entire estate to Alfred, who subsequently died in 1932; complications from being gassed in the First World War led to his early death as well.

Mrs Gladman and her daughter sold the business to the Hadley family who incorporated it as a limited company in 1936.

The Company expanded its badge making and produced a vast range of commemorative items with town crests for most of the popular holiday resorts being a major part of the production. The business expanded and by the time the Second World War broke out it was producing cap badges for the Armed Forces. During the war years badge production grew and ran alongside production of parts for aircraft and naval ships. At its peak over 300,000 badges were being produced for the government each year.

Following the move by the government to move to aluminium or ‘stay brite’ badges, Military badges ceased to be produced and the Company concentrated on badges for various organizations and events as well as medal and regalia production.

In 2004 the Company was purchased by WM Holdings (UK) plc to become the production arm of the group which incorporates Worcestershire Medal Service Ltd. Under the new Directors, the Company moved into the production of State insignia and medals for governments around the world. Today the company has relationships with several countries and have produced honours for the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Jamaica, Canada, Jordan, Tonga, Bhutan, St Lucia as well as others around the world.

Amongst its UK awards the company today produces the Insignia of The Royal Red Cross 1st and 2nd class (RRC) and (ARRC). It also produces various grades of each of the main UK Orders, Order of the Bath, Order of St Michael and St George, Royal Victorian Order, Order of the British Empire, DSO, Knights Bachelor and the Companion of Honour, as well as the Elizabeth Cross.^[1]

Product Range

While specialising in Orders Decorations and Medals the company also produces a wide range of enamelled badges for clubs and organizations including:

• Car Club Badges - MG, Morgan for example
• St John MUFTI Badges
• State Honours
• Fraternal society regalia
• Regimental Jewellery - sweetheart brooches, cufflinks, tie-pins, etc.

References