back when the earth was young

5/13/2019

Back when the earth was young and still forming mountains and valleys, there was no 356 Registry. I know, it is hard to imagine. Anyway, before the 356 Registry and before the PORSCHE Club of America (PCA), there was a different organization. The only PORSCHE cars made at the time were 356's and the organization was the PORSCHE Owners Club.
The club had a pretty impressive membership considering that PORSCHE cars had only been in production for a very short while, and the owners were quite committed to their cars!
A while ago I was able to purchase a unique piece of memorabilia from those early days. It is a banner, probably made to be hung during club events. It's large in size, just a bit larger than 3' x 5' and the symbol in the center is about 32" square. The condition is so nice that if it was ever used, it was well taken care of. The colors are very bright/brilliant! I bought this from another PORSCHE enthusiast who lives here in Washington and has had it for decades.
Enjoy!

1 Comment

Alex D Mestas

5/13/2019 04:11:32 pm

Here is a little Back story on that badge:

THE ORIGINAL Porsche Owners Club (USA) BADGE.

This is a UNIQUE badge with a very interesting background. Please read on!

An original POC (Porsche Owners Club) badge, as fitted to POC members’ Porsche 356 & 911 sportscars' engine grilles in the 1950's, 1960's & 1970's.

Designed by Wilem B. Haan, a well-known & respected Porsche enthusiast who sold aftermarket accessories for Porsche cars in the 1950’s - 1960's from his racing speciality shop in Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles.

In conjunction with well-known racing driver & Porsche dealership salesman, Michael Hammond of Manhattan Beach, CA, the design was refined and through his contacts, Michael had the badge commissioned to be made by the famous Marples & Beasley Badgemakers in England, as the cloisonné finish they desired could only be produced in Europe.

Michael (Hammond) therefore became the official distributor/supplier of the badge to POC.

Stamped on the reverse side of the badge is:

WILEM . B HAAN INC

MADE IN ENGLAND

Marples & Beasley

Birmingham

As a result of Porsche’s legal challenge launched world-wide in the 1980’s to protect the many Porsche trademarks, these badges were ultimately discontinued under threat of litigation and were no longer available as they used the Porsche trademarked crest.

POC subsequently went on to re-design their badge with a more sedate Stars & Stripes theme, devoid of any Porsche trademark cues.

Fast-forward to the present, at the 2016 LA Motor Show, Magnus Walker of Urban Outlaw fame displayed his Porsche 964 Outlaw at the Pirelli stand. Adorning his uniquely-modified rear spoiler was the same POC badge - generating and revitalising enormous interest in its origin & provenance within both the older-established and the newest generation of Porsche enthusiasts alike.

back when the earth was young

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