Badges Cabinet [AA]
Maker and role
New Zealand Automobile Association, Attributed to
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Object detail
Accession number
2006.133
Description
Seven AA (Automobile Association) badges over the years mounted inside a wooden cabinet under Perspex. Starting from 1910 until the present day (past 1968).
The display cabinet is wooden, painted yellow, with dark blue velvet backing cloth and a Perspex front. Badge 1910~20 - is metal and round with 3 letter "A" interlaced, 2 are of equal size, the one on the foreground is slightly larger. Badge 1920~33 is chromium and reads "Royal Automobile Club Associate" with 3 "A"s in front on a black background. Badge 1934~36 is chromium with 2 "A"s in front on a black shield and the words: "The Automobile Association Auckland" embossed around the circle. Badge 1930~67 is metal with 3 "A"s interlaced in the centre surrounded by the words: "Commercial Auckland Auto Assoc".
Badge 1936~48 - "AA" badge with a pair of flying wings on top and the words "New Zealand" embossed on top. Below the 2 "A"s is inscribed: "Auckland A.17979".
Badge 1938~68 - "AA" badge, chromium, with the 2 "A"s on a yellow background and a pair of wings on top with the words "New Zealand" embossed above. Below the badge is inscribed the words: "This Badge must be returned when Membership ceases" followed by the number "45002". Badge from 1968 is square chromium badge with "AA" printed on a yellow background and the word "Auckland" printed below.
The display cabinet is wooden, painted yellow, with dark blue velvet backing cloth and a Perspex front. Badge 1910~20 - is metal and round with 3 letter "A" interlaced, 2 are of equal size, the one on the foreground is slightly larger. Badge 1920~33 is chromium and reads "Royal Automobile Club Associate" with 3 "A"s in front on a black background. Badge 1934~36 is chromium with 2 "A"s in front on a black shield and the words: "The Automobile Association Auckland" embossed around the circle. Badge 1930~67 is metal with 3 "A"s interlaced in the centre surrounded by the words: "Commercial Auckland Auto Assoc".
Badge 1936~48 - "AA" badge with a pair of flying wings on top and the words "New Zealand" embossed on top. Below the 2 "A"s is inscribed: "Auckland A.17979".
Badge 1938~68 - "AA" badge, chromium, with the 2 "A"s on a yellow background and a pair of wings on top with the words "New Zealand" embossed above. Below the badge is inscribed the words: "This Badge must be returned when Membership ceases" followed by the number "45002". Badge from 1968 is square chromium badge with "AA" printed on a yellow background and the word "Auckland" printed below.
Brief History
In the United Kingdom, the AA began issuing badges to members from 1906 to display on their vehicles and this practice was, likewise, adopted in New Zealand. This cabinet examples the types of badges given to club members of the Auckland Automobile Association between 1910 and 1968. The engraved numbers on the badges represent a unique identification number, something still retained today in the form of a customer number.
New Zealand’s AA had beginnings in Auckland when, in 1903, motor enthusiasts formed the club Auckland Automobile Association - hence why some of these badges feature 3 ‘As.’ The group’s early focus was on driver licensing, road improvements and road taxes. By 1930 there were 15 regional groups around New Zealand and in 1991 the regional groups merged to form the New Zealand Automobile Association.
New Zealand’s AA had beginnings in Auckland when, in 1903, motor enthusiasts formed the club Auckland Automobile Association - hence why some of these badges feature 3 ‘As.’ The group’s early focus was on driver licensing, road improvements and road taxes. By 1930 there were 15 regional groups around New Zealand and in 1991 the regional groups merged to form the New Zealand Automobile Association.
Media/Materials
Organic/Vegetal/Wood
Processed Material/Synthetic/Plastic/Acrylic/Perspex
Processed Material/Textile/Velvet
Processed Material/Metal
Processed Material/Metal/Chromium
Processed Material/Metal/Chromium
Processed Material/Metal
Processed Material/Metal/Chromium
Processed Material/Metal/Chromium
Processed Material/Metal/Chromium
Processed Material/Synthetic/Plastic/Acrylic/Perspex
Processed Material/Textile/Velvet
Processed Material/Metal
Processed Material/Metal/Chromium
Processed Material/Metal/Chromium
Processed Material/Metal
Processed Material/Metal/Chromium
Processed Material/Metal/Chromium
Processed Material/Metal/Chromium
Credit Line
New Zealand Automobile Association. Badges Cabinet [AA], 2006.133. The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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