Vauxhall Cresta - original late 1950s keyring by J.Fray of Birmingham - collector's item

An original Vauxhall Cresta keyring which will have been produced in the late 1950s .

We have just this one example of this rare keyring – when it has been sold this listing will be cancelled.

This is the only example of this keyring which we have ever seen & listed over the years – very few can originally have been made .

The keyring is in excellent physical condition with a vitreous enamel badge mounted onto a black keyfob .

It has probably never been used and will be new old stock having spent the last 65 years in storage or hidden at the back of a drawer somewhere .

The badge will have originally had a very light ‘whiff’ of gilt over plating applied to the nickel plating beneath ( the same as Porsche have always done with their keyfob badges )

Over the years this gilt has almost disappeared ( traces can still be seen at the top of the badge ) revealing the shiny nickel plating beneath.

In the plated roundel surrounding the griffin the nickel plating has disappeared in a several areas – this can be seen in the enlarged high resolution listing photos .

This shows up in the photos far more than in the flesh !!

The keyring was made by J.Fray of Birmingham who produced jewellery quality enamel .

The quality of the vitreous enamelling in the badge is breathtaking – just look at those two little leaf designs beneath the translucent red enamel !

Sadly we have lost our way with keyrings of the ultimate quality like this one .

Keyrings are now mass produced overseas for a market which no longer appreciates or understands quality like this .

This keyring is original & correct for 1957 – 1962  Vauxhall Cresta PA but will probably end up in a collection as an example of the pinnacle of British keyring manufacture back in the 1950s & 1960s .
The keyring in the photos is the actual one which you will receive.