Vintage 1960s metal and enamel AA ( automobile association) car badge 7 b26295. A lovely early badge, showing the eagle and with original fitments. Some age related wear.
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10 cm wide
12 cm tall
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Shown with other automobile items badges and may sell as a group but please contact us for pricing etc not included in price for sale separately.
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The Automobile Association (AA) was founded in the UK on June 19, 1905, by a group of motoring enthusiasts who wanted to warn drivers about police speed traps. Initially operating with cycle scouts who signaled speed traps, the organization expanded to offer members a handbook of recommended hotels and repairers by 1908. The AA continued to grow, offering insurance by 1907 and pioneering roadside petrol pumps in 1920, evolving from its cycle-scout origins to modern-day motorcycle and vehicle-based patrols.
Early Days (1905-1918)
1905: A group of motorists, including Charles Jarrott, met and formed the Motorists' Mutual Association (MMA), soon renaming it The Automobile Association (AA).
Initial Purpose: The primary goal was to help members avoid speed traps, employing cyclists to patrol roads and use signals to warn drivers.
Growth and Services: The AA quickly gained a following and expanded its services to include a members' handbook for hotels and repairers by 1908 and introduced its first insurance policies in 1907.
Innovation and Expansion (1920s-1960s)
Roadside Services: In 1920, the AA pioneered the first roadside petrol pumps.
Road Signage: The organization installed thousands of warning and direction signs across the country before responsibility for road signage was transferred to local authorities in the early 1930s.
Patrol Vehicles: AA patrols evolved from bicycles to motorcycles and, by 1968, transitioned to AA-branded vehicles.
Modernization
Membership Growth: The AA's membership grew significantly, exceeding 100,000 by 1934 and reaching the one million mark by 1950.
Continued Evolution: The AA has embraced new technologies, from its iconic roadside telephone boxes in the 1960s to modern-day connected car services, maintaining its role as a key part of the UK's motoring landscape.