zied
Sep 5th, 2007, 04:11 PM
The new REME grill badges are in the works. They will be jewelry quality chrome plated brass badges that may be bolted through your grill (with a nylon stud) or perminantly attached using automotive quality double sided tape to the body, dash, or the MINI magnetic grill badge holder. But first a little history:
Motoring had started in earnest in the early days of the 20th Century. It was natural for car owners to form themselves into clubs, and there were good reasons. The condition of the roads were abysmal at best, and only by some form of united pressure could motorists hope for improvement.
The main reason behind the formation of these early organizations was to make a stand against the antagonism shown to motorists by the public at large, the legislators and by the Police whose attitude was nothing short of outright hostility.
This was particularly true in Great Britain, because in 1895, the Locomotives on Highways Act restricted mechanically propelled vehicles to a maximum speed of six kilometers per hour (about 5 mph) on country roads and three kilometers per hour (about 2.5 mph) in built-up areas.
Car badges were introduced by the Automobile Association in March of 1906 to identify members and warn them of police speed traps up ahead. If the road was clear of police, the AA man would salute the driver if his vehicle displayed an AA badge. This practice was continued until the late 1960's.
Car badges have made a comeback in recent years, and rapidly continue to become more popular as a way to dress up a car and show pride in club membership.
The process:
A computer-generated drawing is fed onto an automated pattern cutter. This ensures that no discrepancy occurs between approved design, and the engraver's artistic interpretation .
The approved design will be broken down to a computer-generated blueprint, this in turn will be used as a pattern for mold making.
Actual mold work begins.
A slab of modeling clay is pressed against the negative. This creates an imprint of the final product.
The clay imprint is reviewed by no less than three craftsmen. This is actually redundant but we really wouldn't want anything that is less than perfect. There is a lifetime guarantees against workmanship defects.
Mold is de-burred and polished to ensure that no "noise" such as hairline cracks, dimples, and irregularities are transferred onto the finished product.
The finished and approved metal mold is heat-treated, a necessary step before it can be subjected to pressures of up to 50 tons per square inch.
The mold is again cleaned, polished, and checked for defects.
Once the mold passes our scrutiny, stamping begins.
Stamped 1/8" thick pieces are cut to shape and de-burred.
Rough polishing is then done.
Finishing options such as cloisonne, electroplating, engraving, etc. are then applied.
Final polishing and cleaning is done at this time.
Each piece is checked for minute defects. Small errors that are nearly invisible to the naked eye are rectified.
Finally, each badge receives a clear coat of epoxy to make it impervious to the elements.
Cloisonne on brass emblems were used on most cars until the 1940's. They continued to be used on some expensive American cars for several years. Foreign sports cars still use them routinely. Cloisonne badges can be found on the radiator grille, headlight bars, side mounts, and in the interior as well. Cloisonne is also used in many types of jewelry.
The design has been approved and the prototype has been received. It will take approximately 4 weeks for full shipment.
Please email me (zied@redwoodempiremini.com) with any questions .
Motoring had started in earnest in the early days of the 20th Century. It was natural for car owners to form themselves into clubs, and there were good reasons. The condition of the roads were abysmal at best, and only by some form of united pressure could motorists hope for improvement.
The main reason behind the formation of these early organizations was to make a stand against the antagonism shown to motorists by the public at large, the legislators and by the Police whose attitude was nothing short of outright hostility.
This was particularly true in Great Britain, because in 1895, the Locomotives on Highways Act restricted mechanically propelled vehicles to a maximum speed of six kilometers per hour (about 5 mph) on country roads and three kilometers per hour (about 2.5 mph) in built-up areas.
Car badges were introduced by the Automobile Association in March of 1906 to identify members and warn them of police speed traps up ahead. If the road was clear of police, the AA man would salute the driver if his vehicle displayed an AA badge. This practice was continued until the late 1960's.
Car badges have made a comeback in recent years, and rapidly continue to become more popular as a way to dress up a car and show pride in club membership.
The process:
A computer-generated drawing is fed onto an automated pattern cutter. This ensures that no discrepancy occurs between approved design, and the engraver's artistic interpretation .
The approved design will be broken down to a computer-generated blueprint, this in turn will be used as a pattern for mold making.
Actual mold work begins.
A slab of modeling clay is pressed against the negative. This creates an imprint of the final product.
The clay imprint is reviewed by no less than three craftsmen. This is actually redundant but we really wouldn't want anything that is less than perfect. There is a lifetime guarantees against workmanship defects.
Mold is de-burred and polished to ensure that no "noise" such as hairline cracks, dimples, and irregularities are transferred onto the finished product.
The finished and approved metal mold is heat-treated, a necessary step before it can be subjected to pressures of up to 50 tons per square inch.
The mold is again cleaned, polished, and checked for defects.
Once the mold passes our scrutiny, stamping begins.
Stamped 1/8" thick pieces are cut to shape and de-burred.
Rough polishing is then done.
Finishing options such as cloisonne, electroplating, engraving, etc. are then applied.
Final polishing and cleaning is done at this time.
Each piece is checked for minute defects. Small errors that are nearly invisible to the naked eye are rectified.
Finally, each badge receives a clear coat of epoxy to make it impervious to the elements.
Cloisonne on brass emblems were used on most cars until the 1940's. They continued to be used on some expensive American cars for several years. Foreign sports cars still use them routinely. Cloisonne badges can be found on the radiator grille, headlight bars, side mounts, and in the interior as well. Cloisonne is also used in many types of jewelry.
The design has been approved and the prototype has been received. It will take approximately 4 weeks for full shipment.
Please email me (zied@redwoodempiremini.com) with any questions .