c1906 First Pattern Automobile Association AA Car Badge

A very scarce example of the c1906 First pattern Automobile Association AA Car Badge in gilded brass, that bears the signature of the Secretary Stenson.
The badge is racquet shaped, with a circular top bearing the cutout AAs and without the later added wings on the top. It has the facsimile signature ‘Stenson Cooke’ above ‘Secretary’. It is made of brass and has been gold plated and the plating remains on the side with the signature, as it was mounted facing the engine. The other side has lost the plating from years of polishing, except at the base where it was bolted on. The base has two fixing holes and a third larger one has been added in the middle. There are no membership registration numbers. Condition is very good.
The first 100 badges were issued in April 1906 and there may have been some 250 to 300 produced before being replaced by a nickel and then chromed version. These badges are referred to as the Stenson Cooke badge or Frying Pan design.
The British Automobile Association (AA) was created in June 1905 in London’s “Trocadero” restaurant. According to well-respected sources, one of the initial reasons for the creation of this club was to protect members from “speed traps,” along with education about driving laws, provision of maps, and a meeting place where auto enthusiasts could talk about cars.
Size: 11.5 x 15.4 x 0.25 cm (4 1/2 x 6 x 1/8 inches)
Weight: 225 g