Car Badges For Your Club
"Keep the tradition alive!"
Motoring had started in earnest in the early days of the 20th Century. It was natural for car owners to form themselves into clubs, and there were good reasons.
The condition of the road was abysmal at best, and only by some form of united pressure could motorists hope for improvement.
The main reason behind the formation of these early organizations was to make a stand against the antagonism shown to motorists by the public at large, the legislators and by the
Police whose attitude was nothing short of outright hostility.
This was particularly true in Great Britain, because in 1895, the Locomotives on Highways Act restricted mechanically propelled vehicles to a maximum speed of six miles per hour
on country roads and three miles per hour in built-up areas.
Car badges were introduced by the Automobile Association in March of 1906 to identify members and warn them of police speed traps up ahead. If the road was clear of police, the AA man would salute the driver if his vehicle displayed an AA badge. This practice was continued until the late 1960s.
Car badges have made a comeback in recent years, and rapidly continue to become more popular as a way to dress up your car and show pride in your club membership.
The start of it all: the original AA badge.
We strive to offer the finest car badges in the world. Every badge is fully guaranteed against faulty workmanship and materials for life.
Our badges are a "hefty" 1/8 inch thick solid bronze and inlaid with cloisonne colors. Our badges are made to last 50+ years. They are not affected by the elements and will not dull, flake, or fade.
We also offer several finishes for your custom car badge: Cloisonne, 24 karat gold plating, chrome plating plus many more.
Cloisonne on brass or brass emblems were used on most cars until the 1940's. They continued to be used on some expensive American cars for several years. Foreign sports cars still use them routinely. Cloisonne badges can be found on the radiator grille, headlight bars, side mounts, and in the interior as well.
STEP 1: Choose a Design
- We also need to know:
1. The size of the badges you want. 3 inches round is the standard size and shape. All our badges are a hefty 1/8 inch thick.- 2. The preferred method of mounting the badge on the car. (Bolt onto the grill with our hardware or affixed elsewhere on the car with our 3M automotive two sided tape.)
- 3. The colors you prefer. (Up to four colors without an additional charge.) Here is a PANTONE COLOR CHART.
- If your club does not have a logo, our artists can help you design one for your approval at no extra charge. We can make almost any size and shape you choose.
Just give us a few of your ideas and some details of what you want and we will take it from there.
- After we receive the mold charge and have some idea as to what you want, we send you a drawing for your approval.
We will make changes to the artwork as necessary.
- After you approve the artwork we will start the mold process to make your prototype.
- This "prototype" is yours to keep. If you are not completely satisfied with our finished product, or you find the same to not
be in accordance with your approved design, you may return the sample within 30 days for a full refund.
STEP 2: Manufacturing
- 1) A computer-generated drawing is fed onto our automated pattern cutter. This ensures that no discrepancy occurs between approved design, and our engraver's artistic interpretation .
- 2) The approved design will be broken down to a computer-generated blueprint, this in turn will be used as a pattern for mold making.
- 3) Actual mold work begins.
- 4) A slab of modeling clay is pressed against the negative. This creates an imprint of the final product.
(Photo of a clay imprint)
- 5) The clay imprint is reviewed by no less than three craftsmen. This is actually redundant but we really wouldn't want to stamp our hallmark onto anything that is less than perfect.
- 6) Mold is de-burred and polished to ensure that no "noise" such as hairline cracks, dimples, and irregularities are transferred onto the finished product.
- 7) The finished and approved metal mold is heat-treated, a necessary step before it can be subjected to pressures of up to 50 tones per square inch.
- 8) The mold is again cleaned, polished, and checked for defects.
- 9) Once the mold passes our scrutiny, stamping begins.
- 10) Stamped 1/8" thick pieces are cut to shape and de-burred.
- 11) Rough polishing is then done.
(Photo of a rough polished badge)
- 12) Finishing options such as cloisonne, electroplating, engraving, etc. are then applied.
- 13) Final polishing and cleaning is done at this time.
- 14) Each piece is checked for minute defects. Small errors that are nearly invisible to the naked eye are rectified.
Finished Badge
STEP 3: Purchasing
MINIMUM ORDER: 40 Badges
REQUIREMENTS: Artwork, colors, size, mounting method and any special instructions for mounting. (An emailed copy of your logo or design. A high resolution "jpg." is preferred.)
PROCEDURE: When we receive your design and the funds to cover the cost of the mold, we start a file for you and keep in close contact by email.
Questions are usually answered the same day.
TIME REQUIRED: The prototype sample takes three weeks and the finished order takes another three weeks.
PAYMENT: Payment in full is required before the order for mass production is submitted. Your personal check is always welcome.
SHIPPING: Our manufacturer has a VIP account with UPS and FedEx. Because of their volume of shipping, their rates are less than half of what you and I would pay.
They have agreed to ship our orders using their account.
We will know the exact shipping cost after the mass production begins. We will email an invoice to you for the exact cost of the shipping charges. We will also email the tracking number to you.
Your 100% satisfaction is always guaranteed
Any questions?
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I'll try to answer right away.
There is a 40 piece minimum order.
NO EXCEPTIONS
40 to 69 ..................$25.00 each
70 to 99 ..................$22.50 each
100 to 500 ...............$20.00 each
PayPal is accepted for the mold cost only. The badge order must be paid by check. Please make the check payable to:
Arnold R. Brown
902 McLendon Drive
Frederick, Maryland 21702
301-663-0858
In God We Trust
Motoring had started in earnest in the early days of the 20th. Century. It was natural for car owners to form themselves into clubs, and there were good reasons. The condition of the road was abysmal at best, and only by some form of united pressure could motorists hope for improvement.
The main reason behind the formation of these early organizations was to make a stand against the antagonism shown to motorists by the public at large, the legislators and by the Police whose attitude was nothing short of outright hostility.
This was particularly true in Great Britain, because in 1895, the Locomotives on Highways Act restricted mechanically propelled vehicles to a maximum speed of six kilometers(about 5 mph) per hour on country roads and three kilometers (about 2 mph) per hour in built-up areas.
Car badges were introduced by the Automobile Association in March, 1906 to identify members and warn them of police speed traps up ahead. If the road was clear of police, the AA man would salute the driver if his vehicle displayed an AA badge. The practice was continued until the late 1960s.
These carbadges are made with 1/8 inch thick bright brass, which is then plated with chrome, or 22 karat gold and is inlaid with cloisonne colors. Cloisonne is hard fired glass (it is really a true glass and not porcelain).
This kind of emblem was used on almost all cars until the 1940's. They continued to be used on some expensive American cars for several years. Foreign sports cars continue to use them routinely. Cloisonne carbadges can be found on the radiator grille, headlight bars, side mounts, and in the interior as well. Cloisonne is also found in many types of jewelry.
