Volkswagen – original 1960s vitreous enamel badge with gilt plating remounted onto a new leather keyfob

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

An original Volkswagen keyfob badge which will have been produced in the 1960s which we have remounted onto a new leather keyfob as can be seen in the photos.

When this keyring with this badge has been sold this listing will be cancelled .

The badge mounted onto this keyring has a tiny ‘ fish eye ‘ flaw  in the white enamel at the edge of the badge at 2 0’clock as can be seen from the enlarged high resolution listing photos .

We sometimes look at a badge like this one and wonder if it could have been a ‘ 2nd ‘ quality badge made at the time – a ‘ factory reject’  in modern terms .

However this is most unlikely because the badge would have been discarded at the time and the base metal reclaimed .

There was no appetite or market for a 2nd quality badge in the 1960s – everything had to be pristine .

Apart from that small flaw the rest of the vitreous enamelling is in mint condition – quite remarkable .

The enamel is so fresh and shiny that it looks as though it was fired only yesterday .

Original 1960s Volkswagen keyrings and keyfob badges with the VW logo seem to be scarce items – we have listed hardly any examples over the years .

The keyfob badges generally depicted the Wolfsburg crest at the time .

These vitreous enamel gilt plated keyfob badges were generally produced during the 1960s and very early 1970s .

The gilt plating on these badges tended to mellow in use to an attractive ‘antique’ soft gold aged appearance over the years as this one has done .

This is something which only the passage of time and use can achieve.

Doubtless the badge would polish up with metal polish – but we prefer it as it is and will leave any polishing to be done by the next owner .

An aged badge such as this one could look rather odd mounted onto a pristine new leather keyfob – so we have mounted it onto a keyfob in new full grain black leather but with some characterful graining .

The splitring which we have used is in a dull gilt plated finish .

If your idea of a keyfob badge is mint perfection – then maybe this keyring is not for you .

However if you have a period Volkswagen which has not been treated to the indignities of over-restoration then this keyring could really look the part and the leather keyfob can only improve in appearance to match the badge with age & use.

The keyring in the photos is the actual one which you will receive. SMOSO   00/59    01/24