Bonnet mascots

[lowdrag]

I have all my life been fascinated by mascots but by far I adore the Lalique ones qhich now command stratospheric prices. Made in the 1930s of a type of glass whose contents remain unknown to this day since the "recipe" died with Réné Lalique; it is known though that it contained quite a substantial amount of arsenic, so such manufacture would be banned anyway. But it isn't just Laliqe but all bonnet mascots. Here are a few photos I took at the Barrat Jackson auction at Phoenix:-










And a couple I took this morning of my Lalique Chrysis which I acquired many years back when they were affordable. To own the fox is the holy grail since very very few are known to exist and I reckon the price would be into six figures should one come on the market.




Post some photos of your own!

[austin]

The top one is a Boyce Moto Meter with optional wings. (It looks like a repro. as well.)

I have an original on my car, lovely things but very easy to break the thermometer tube.

They turn up on ebay every now and then and strangely originals seems to go for less money than a repro. one???

[crankedup]

If only I could post photo's on here, still I am about to sell two of my car mascots. A original motoMeter with the wings but the thermometer is'nt working. And I have decided to sell my 'Swallow' mascot, the early bird which is mounted onto a bell. I am of course keeping my other 'Swallow' masvcot which is the later Deco style and is part of my car.

[austin]

crankedup said:

If only I could post photo's on here, still I am about to sell two of my car mascots. A original motoMeter with the wings but the thermometer is'nt working.

If it isn't broken it is fine, (the reason it doesn't work is because it has been stored for a long time on it's side), there are two ways to fix it;

Keeping it upright at all times place it in hot water, (the best place for this is on the car while driving it!) After a while it will sort itself out.

Or you need to flick the fluid back to the bottom, hold it really tight and flick it as hard as you can and in the end it will go.

I've done it with 3 so far and all have been fine.

If the tube is broken it probably isn't worth bothering with.

[medieval]

Couldn't agree more with the Lalique, the blue tinge Diaphanous quality of the glass is not present even in the current Lalique glassware.

Would simply love to own one.

I sadly had to sell my flying crane mascot on my Alvis Grey lady - understandably a condition of the sale . Ah well.....

[crankedup]

austin said:

crankedup said:

If only I could post photo's on here, still I am about to sell two of my car mascots. A original motoMeter with the wings but the thermometer is'nt working.

If it isn't broken it is fine, (the reason it doesn't work is because it has been stored for a long time on it's side), there are two ways to fix it;

Keeping it upright at all times place it in hot water, (the best place for this is on the car while driving it!) After a while it will sort itself out.

Or you need to flick the fluid back to the bottom, hold it really tight and flick it as hard as you can and in the end it will go.

I've done it with 3 so far and all have been fine.

If the tube is broken it probably isn't worth bothering with.

Some good tips, thanks for them.

[gib6933]

Number 3 has its temperature gauge the wrong way around. its missing the fibre washer that insulates it from the radiator sides.

I know this as I have the same one on my fords.

Other than that very nice.

I have friends with some very interesting ones, i shall post some up if i can find the pix

[Triumph Coupe]

Some lovely old mascots there. I love taking photos of ones that I see, I have quite a few photos of some interesting ones.

I spotted this one on and old BSA a few weeks ago. I really loved it.