Volvo – original late 1960s/ early 1970s SIGNA CREST keyfob badge remounted onto a new leather keyfob

An original Volvo keyfob badge which will have been produced in the late 1960s or early 1970s which we have remounted onto a new leather keyfob .

We have just this one keyring with this badge to offer – when it has been sold this listing will be cancelled.

What a superb keyfob badge !

This is the only example of a ‘ SIGNA CREST ‘ Volvo keyfob badge which we have ever listed .

The nickel plated badge is in virtually mint condition with hand laid vitreous enamel in solid blue and translucent gold & red enamel .

We have remounted the badge onto a new keyfob in full grain black leather .

‘ SIGNA CREST’ marked on the reverse of the badge is a most unusual manufacturer’s name and we have only seen 2 or 3 other SIGNA CREST badges over the years for other makes of car – all of the others represented cars of American manufacture .

Here is all that we know about ‘ SIGNA CREST ‘ :-

Torpedo car keyrings were made by CUD ( Castles Unit Developments of Castle Gate Leicester UK )  in the 1960s.

They were the only manufacturer making torpedo keyrings for cars .

It is believed that Castles then changed their name very briefly to ‘Craftsman’ before ceasing production altogether.

We do very occasionally come across keyfob badges marked ‘Craftsman’.

An American connection has also been rumoured but so far has not substantiated.

We have also seen 2 or 3 other badges marked ‘SIGNA CREST ‘ for other makes of car ( all American ) in exactly the same font and with the same border as used for ‘CRAFTSMAN ‘ .

Maybe Signa Crest is the American connection – and those badges could have been made in USA ?

We have asked Bud Marston in USA to check-up on Signa Crest.

Bud Marston has written a book about Vintage Jaguar keyrings and knows far more than we do about torpedo keyrings.

Bud reports that the badges  just could have been made by Signa -Craft in Fifth Avenue, New York .

Maybe we shall never know the truth – some mysteries are better when they remain unsolved !

The keyring in the photos is the actual one which you will receive and has the only ‘ SIGNA CREST’ keyfob badge which we have ever seen for a European car .