Research Assistance Requested: 1946 Montreal Royals Ring

[spacktrack]

We are in the process of researching a ring (pictured below) that has been in an advanced collection for decades, which honors the 1946 Montreal Royals team of the International League. Throughout the course of our research, we have found an image of a ring misidentified as having been issued to 1946 Royals AAA International League team members but which actually is a Montreal Royals Class C (Canadian-American league) ring for the “Governor’s Cup Champions” as opposed to for the “IL Champions” (Triple A International League Champions). Both Dodger affiliate teams were called the “Royals” thus creating some natural confusion. The 1946 Montreal Royals (International League) ring we are researching is gold and possesses a real diamond in the center. The 10k gold ring is stamped “BP&CO” on the inside of the band.

All of these early Royals rings are rare and research is all the more difficult without numerous examples available for comparison. We are soliciting input from the collecting community as we research this ring so we can do the best job possible in describing it and hope to perhaps even locate another example of a 1946 Montreal Royals International League ring. We would very much appreciate any information that anyone has that might be helpful. If anyone can be of assistance, please contact us at 908-226-9900 or via e-mail at info@robertedwardauctions.com. Thank you in advance for any helpful information!

[baseball tourist]

Great looking ring. I cannot help with its research unfort, but have collected several IL programs over the years, adding to my Toronto baseball collection and can confirm that the Govenor's Cup was awarded to the IL champs.

Found this conversation on a British Badges Forum, about "BP & CO Bham" Canadian badges.

To a question posed by Canadian Badge Collector Alan O. "Would a fake bother to put the "BP & CO" stamp on the slider (of a badge)?" Not sure what he's referring to by a slider. Perhaps someone more versed in badges could answer.

Forum member Nick Mugford responded "BP & Co Birmingham was a genuine mark but rather rare and has been faked." Not sure if this has any relevance towards the 1946 ring but an interesting note. Got more time tonight, will continue research.

Here's the convo, about half way down first page is the reference.

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...hp/t-1809.html
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/mak...arker_&_co.htm

Admittedly this may be a dead end, but here's a brief summary of the "BP & CO" stamp on british/canadian badges. According to it, the BP & CO stamp was once thought to be Bent & Parker but has since been re-identified as Bodill Parker & Company, Birmingham England. Good news they're still in business after 150 years; they make grommets, eyelits, and rings. I've attached their website below. I'd imagine they have record of manufacturing such a ring with specifics such as how many were made, date of delivery, etc... Probably not the newspaper article with photos you were looking for, but hope this helps.

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/mak...arker_&_co.htm
http://www.bodill-parker.co.uk/home.aspx

[baseball tourist]

Originally Posted by baseball tourist

Great looking ring. I cannot help with its research unfort, but have collected several IL programs over the years, adding to my Toronto baseball collection and can confirm that the Govenor's Cup was awarded to the IL champs.

http://www.triple-abaseball.com/PostSeasonIL.jsp

Here's more info that explains the Govenors's Cup/AAA IL relationship.

[spacktrack]

Thank you Ty and Chris for your responses and to those of you who responded privately with some suggestions or information. Our research indicates that the manufacturer of this ring is different than the British BP & Birmingham Co. and also unrelated to Bodill Parker industrial products and tooling company.

I am interested in what research concluded the manufacturer of this item....