Car badges motoring memorabilia

The first car badges were issued by the Automobile Association in Great Britain in 1906, following the formation of the association in the previous year.

The purpose of the AA was to educate drivers about road law, create and provide road maps and provide a meeting place where members could meet socially and no doubt talk about their automobiles. The AA also acted as a lobbying group to push for improvement of the abysmal roads, and lifting the restrictions on the speed limit which had been set to a maximum speed of six kilometres per hour on country roads and three kilometres per hour in built-up areas by the Locomotives on Highways Act of 1895.

The RAC (Royal Automobile Club) of Great Britain had been founded in 1897 but did not introduce their first badge until 1907 when Edward VII became their patron, and the first word in their more... name became "Royal".

Badges were designed to be attached to the bumper bar and were designed to be durable as they would be likely to be exposed to all weather conditions, so most had a chrome plated and enamel finish.

The Australian automobile associations followed the lead of their UK counterparts, with the Automobile Club of Victoria, the forerunner of the RACV) issuing badges in 1909, the RACWA in 1910 and the RACQ in 1911. The New South Wales motoring organisation, the NRMA was not formed until 1923 and NRMA badges were issued in the following year.

As well as the automobile associations, badges were issued by vehicle manufactures, owners car clubs and other clubs and associations. less...