Badges of Distinction
I have always been fascinated by symbols, badges and logos.
These designs act as a gateway to a sub world of brands, clubs and memberships. They confirm identity and belonging.
In the days of beautiful cars - now sadly almost a distant memory - it was not unusual to see a car adorned with enamel badges. These badges indicated memberships of motoring clubs and their associated organisations.
Many cars would display a number of badges and these would be mounted on a polished chrome badge bar which in turn was mounted on the bumper bar in front of the radiator grille.
My father adorned his car with just such a collection of badges in which he took great pride. In the early 1960s he acquired a beautiful Mark II Jaguar saloon in Old English White and the badge bar sat front and centre on the chrome bumper bar.
By the late 1960s he changed this car for the Jaguar S Type - something I think he slightly regretted - in Sherwood Green and of course the badges were transferred to the new car.
It was in 1969 that, for the first time, he decided to drive to the Italian Riviera for the summer holidays rather than fly. This was some undertaking, as at the time we lived in Ireland and it meant an overnight ferry trip from Rosslare to Le Havre and then a drive of some 800 miles through France and along the coast into Italy.
It was on the return journey, after a glorious three weeks in the sun, that we started the long drive home. On the way down we took the route via Nice and Monte Carlo and the coast road into Italy. But on the way home he decided to head north out of San Remo towards Aosta.
It had been hot on the coast and back then cars were not fitted with air conditioning as standard. Added to which Jaguar’s ventilation system was truly dreadful. It was probably adequate for an English summer but could not handle the Italian heat. We had emerged from the Col de Tende road tunnel on the way to Cuneo when we stopped to take in the view and enjoy the cool mountain air. Getting out of the car to stretch our legs we discovered that the badge bar had been stolen from the front of the car. My father was at once furious and saddened. The badges were of no consequence to a thief but of great sentimental value to my father, as they had moved from one car to another and encapsulated many happy days of motoring.
On returning to Ireland he made a new badge bar and acquired a further collection of badges and when he passed away some 34 years ago I inherited this small memento of the past.
Unfortunately, modern cars do not lend themselves to such quirky additions. Cars do not have bumper bars in the same manner as in the past leaving no appropriate mounting place. So ugly are most modern cars badges hardly seem appropriate.
Enamel badges are a work of art and significant craftsmanship.
The process starts with a design which is engraved into a metal die from which metal blanks - usually copper - are stamped. The metal blanks are thoroughly cleaned by heating and quenching and acid washing to ensure good adhesion of the enamel.
Enamel powders (can also be in liquid form) are carefully applied to the recesses in the metal shape layer by layer. Each layer is fired to fuse the enamel to the metal shape after which, when the metal has cooled, excess enamel is sanded to make the surface level with the metal.
Finally the badge is chrome or nickel plated and polished to give it a glossy look.
The heyday of enamel badges lasted from the 1930s through to the 1970s. Acrylic started to replace the metal and enamel badges, which of course cheapened the finished article.
Today they are collectors items for those who enjoy nostalgia, as they conjure a complete picture of polished chrome, leather interiors and polished wood dashboards. A time when the craft of the coach builder, carefully working by hand, produced cars with soul.
These times are gone forever and with them these elegant badges of distinction.
