[Andy Saunders]

As Peter suggested, and I was alluding to, the likely artist was the late Alf Batt. 1970's would be about right, I'd say.

Alf was a clever forger (no kinder way to put it!) although, to be fair, he did not - as far as I know - produce items such as these to pass them off as original. He was always up-front about what they were. The problem was (or is!) that these have now changed hands a few times and have become "genuine" or "original" items. Sometimes, but not always, he left a signature which was simply a little black or white painted "X" on the reverse of the piece, so worth looking for that. Its absence does not rule it out as a Batt piece, though.

I will ask around. If this is one of his (and I am pretty sure it is!) then someone may well remember it. Shame is, though, that the armour plate itself probably has an interesting history in its own right, but that is now lost!

Its hard to tell from the photos, but it almost looks as if the artistry is OVER the rust? A give-away was often a mistake like this - or letting paint run into rivet holes or crash damage!!