Enamel Bonnet Badge

[XSeries]

Having reproduced 55 stickers and labels (17 emission labels for TR7 and TR8 alone!) I have now had a request for a much more substantial project.

The original XKC3902 badges as used on later TR7 and TR8s made at the Solihull plant have not been available for many years (the image is form one on ebay recently). The original badge maker is no longer trading, but I am in discussions with a manufacturer in Birmingham that has been making badges since the 19th century. As with all these ventures, economies of scale are present, but at around £75 ($100) a badge for 20 falling to around £55 / $75 a badge for 100 any outlay is very considerable. I am trying to gauge numbers (if 30 people would commit to 2 each then 100 is on the cards at once!) and how much people would be prepared to pay.
Please respond directly to me via pm (only once as I am asking on other forums!) with number of badges you (might) want at £55 / $75 and if they were £75 / $100 (plus shipping etc).

Brian

[XSeries]

Following a generous intervention by Christopher K Smith this project is now 90% likely to proceed. I will be taking my one NOS badge to see how this progresses with the badge maker (though they are closed for holidays at the end of this month).
Brian

[John_C]

Once you have this project sorted Brian could you target new bodyshells next please!!!

[rugbyref1]

Brian, check carefully the construction as I think it maybe a transfer covered by a gel coat ... I have a few old ones spare if you need to deconstruct one

[XSeries]

Christopher,
I have a new old stock one that I am going to take with me, but do NOT want to take it apart! An old one - the worse the better - would be good to have. The company are on holidays this week but I am looking to have discussions in early August.
Brian

[John_C]

I wasn't joking about bodyshells Brian. See Classic Car Weekly that came out yesterday.

[rugbyref1]

I have a few NOS body-shells tucked away thankfully! ... the tooling problem is going to come back and haunt a lot of us ...

[John_C]

Chris T. has got an Austin-Rover headlamp panel so that will be the one to get the pattern made from. Similarly with any other panels, if we can find earlier than knackered BMH tooling panels then when we do eventually have these panels hand-made they should fit better than the items supplied by BMH. Devon Metalcraft have been suggested if we do go down this route. I believe they already produce the early TR panels so we'll be in good hands.

Sorry to knock this off topic a bit. Well done with the progress on the enamel nose badge chaps.

[XSeries]

John
I would love to do body shells, but do not have the £500,000s ++ required!

[XSeries]

Spoke with Rimmer Brothers yesterday and though their website says "Enamel Badge - Self Adhesive - Triumph Laurel Wreath - Pending Manufacture - XKC3902"

it was confirmed that they are NOT pending manufacture at present. They did say they would be interested in buying some - so all being well these should become available soon!

I am due to meet the badge makers this Friday and will post an update.

[XSeries]

Sadly they are not able to remake this badge. I have a few other avenues to explore................
Things are looking more positive with another potential supplier - especially as the cost is likely to be lower! More details later.
Brian

[XSeries]

Some good news, I should have a production sample in 3-4 weeks.
It will be a chrome bevelled edge with a resin domed top and 3M adhesive backing. It will be visually similar but not made exactly the same way. Price is lower too and should be around the £40 ($50) - £50 ($75) mark rather than to £75 / $100 ! !

[XSeries]

THOUGHTS please

I have had a response from the third potential production company - they do not think they could make these bonnet/hood badges in metal/chrome but would use ABS plastic instead. That has the advantage that it will not bubble as the chrome can over time (and keeps the price towards the lower estimate).

Eighteen people had shown an interest in these and I would be grateful for opinions before taking this further.

Brian

[moestr7v8]

Sounds pretty good to me Brian, ABS plastic is extremely strong and there will be very little or no fading.
How does the price compare with the metal/plastic ones?
Cheers
Moe

[XSeries]

I am waiting to hear the final cost! Sadly 200 plus is a cheaper price, but I think that 100 is the most that this will bear. Only about 4% of production used this badge...... (I may be wrong, but certainly relatively few). To do this in metal would be around 70 pounds I think whereas these should be around £50.