Mercedes Benz golden star – original vintage late 1970s/ 1980s keyring

NOW SOLD – sorry this keyring has now been sold and can no longer be ordered

An original Mercedes Benz ‘Golden Star’ keyring which we would date as having been produced in the late 1970s or 1980s .

We did recently list & sell a very similar keyring not marked with the maker’s name ( although it would have also been made by Manhattan Windsor )

We would think that this keyring dates from the late 1970s or 1980s and features the classic Mercedes Benz golden star.

The keyring is in very good used condition with the gilt badge mounted onto a keyfob in genuine full grain black leather which would have been gold embossed ‘TOP GRAIN LEATHER’ .

The badge is in very good condition with some slight marks on the sharp surfaces showing that the keyring has been used.

The reverse of the badge is marked with an M over a W – this is the logo of Manhattan Windsor of Birmingham who made the keyring .

Other examples of these keyrings which we have listed and sold have also been made by Manhattan Windsor but many do not have MW’s mark on them .

The genuine full grain black leather keyfob is also in very good condition with good tight stitching .

It would originally have been gold embossed ‘TOP GRAIN LEATHER’ but this has almost completely disappeared with use.

The cut edges of the leather keyfob are still sharp and well defined showing that the keyring has not been used much despite the gold embossing having almost disappeared.

The polished surface of the little leather hinge which retains the badge to the keyfob has become rubbed with use.

This can be seen in the enlarged high resolution listing photos and along with the marks on the sharp edges of the badge is the main clue that the keyring has received some use.

Mercedes Benz keyrings tended to receive a lot of use – just as the cars themselves did at that time.

Mercedes Benz cars were not bought at that time to be left in the garage !

The splitring which came with the keyring was in nickel plate which did not match the gold plating on the badge .

In that case we have fitted a new splitring of exactly the same design in gold plate .

Manhattan Windsor were the principal UK manufacturer of automotive keyrings at that time and their quality has never been equalled since .

At that time almost all keyrings & keyfob badges for the world’s cars were made in Birmingham  – it was quite an industry.

The keyring in the photos is the actual one which you will receive . SMOSO  00/56  11/23