Chev CMP Enamel Dash Badge

[David Dunlop]

Hello Marty.

That is a very interesting find.

Based on the distinctive variations in the vein pattern in the maple leaf and the flow of the lettering, I would say a second engraver was definitely involved in the production of these dash jewels for General Motors. The mystery is whether or not these two engravers worked for the same company, BMCo, or were two different companies involved in the production?

Do you know the vehicle history behind your three pins by any chance? if we could assemble enough data from these items surviving on the actual equipment they were installed on, we could build a better image of their production evolution.

One possible line of events could be that BMCo got a small contract from General Motors for a limited run of pins and did not bother stamping them with their ID, so early pins would be unmarked. That contract may have suddenly grown and they added their ID to be consistent with all their other wartime badge and button production, along with other larger contracts by the way. They then found themselves unable to meet the demand for this item and a second manufacturer was brought in to assist.

Thanks for taking the time to post.


David

[Harry Moon]

I got mine from a batch procured via Brian Asbury that as i recall are reproductions.

[M.Morren]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Hello Marty.

That is a very interesting find.

Based on the distinctive variations in the vein pattern in the maple leaf and the flow of the lettering, I would say a second engraver was definitely involved in the production of these dash jewels for General Motors. The mystery is whether or not these two engravers worked for the same company, BMCo, or were two different companies involved in the production

What is interesting to me is that the odd one out is the only one that I have with the BMCo markings on the back. I assume that the one pictured in your first post also has these markings? If so, that would make it different from mine.

Do you have a photo of the markings on the one you have?

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

Do you know the vehicle history behind your three pins by any chance? if we could assemble enough data from these items surviving on the actual equipment they were installed on, we could build a better image of their production evolution.

Sadly, I don't have any other info. All three were found in the UK and came from collectors of enamel pins and badges, or were inherited by the seller. So no luck there

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

One possible line of events could be that BMCo got a small contract from General Motors for a limited run of pins and did not bother stamping them with their ID, so early pins would be unmarked. That contract may have suddenly grown and they added their ID to be consistent with all their other wartime badge and button production, along with other larger contracts by the way. They then found themselves unable to meet the demand for this item and a second manufacturer was brought in to assist.

That would mean that the one with the extra vein would be a later version. As stated earlier, the other two don't have the markings. Would be interesting to know if the one with the extra vein is also original to CMPs, or if it could be post-war. it is the best preserved of the three, but that does not really tell anything.

IMG-20231201-WA0003.jpg

I cleaned and polished them a bit more to bring out the shine. They really are beautifull!
(the background of the one with the chipped enamel is not a shiny as it looks in the photo. That one is also missing some of the enamel in upper part of the maple leaf)

Repro badges

20231130_182947-COLLAGE.jpg

For the sake of completion, here are the two best images I could find of the two repro badges I know of. To my knowledge, the left one came from LWD Parts, while the right one came from Brian Asbury. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Any other info on these, or other repro badges would be very much appreciated!

[M.Morren]

I just received two more. No BMCo markings on either of them. And both have had their studs replaced. Or at least, the safety pin seems to be added later. The other one could be original.

20240105_141247-COLLAGE.jpg20240105_133129-COLLAGE.jpg

[Lang]

Marty

Is that first one from a set of cuff-links? I know such cuff-link badges were handed out by many different make car dealers in the 30-60 period.

Lang

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Lang

Marty

Is that first one from a set of cuff-links? I know such cuff-link badges were handed out by many different make car dealers in the 30-60 period.

Lang

Morris-Commercial did the cuff links ... they often turn up on ePay

[M.Morren]

It seems quite large for a cufflink, but could very well be one indeed. My guess would be that this is a lapel badge though.