Healey graphic [crest]

[Trevor Jessie]

OK, last fall I asked for a high quality version of the AH Crest as a vector graphic or bitmap. Someone (I apologize... I forgot who) sent me a decent version, but lacking detail. I finally got around to making my own vector version (this is for a personal project). Here is a proof of it in jpg form. This is the first iteration, so I'd like some feedback if something doesn't look right (obviously it is not perfect...I'm not an artist). Thanks.

 

[Editor_Reid]

Trevor, the image looks very nice, but I think you'll find that that was never any kind of official or factory insignia. I remember seeing that composition on AMCO shift knobs of the period, and possibly on some key fobs, but it was never a badge on a car, so it isn't historically correct to call it "the Austin Healey crest."

Perhaps it doesn't matter for the purpose you have in mind, but in case historical accuracy is important to your project, I wanted to mention this.

That said, I repeat this it is obviously a high-quality image, and I wouldn't mind using it for a filler in Healey Marque magazine from time to time, if you don't mind.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

It is based on the Sprite Badge. I am going to have a version of it "ghosted" on the inside of my bonnet. I still have several things that I know I want to correct. After that time I'll send you an eps version if you like.

 

[Editor_Reid]

Busted! I was thinking big Healeys. Mea goof-a. (Latin for, "Busted!") I had forgotten completely about the Sprite badge, and being a Sprite owner myself, I'll sentence myself to some appropriate penance.

Hey, send me a pic or five when you get it ghosted on your car, and yes, I'd like a copy of the final version that I could also use in the mag, but how about a jpeg or PDF version? Thanks.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

I can send the final version in any format you like, but most publishers want graphics in a vector format like eps or svg. I should be able to put the eps into a pdf file so that you can scale it with out bitmap "jaggies".

It will be a year or more before I get around to getting it painted into the bonnet backside, but I'm trying to get it to the guy that will be doing it so that he can tinker with it between other jobs.

 

[PeterC]

Trevor, do you have an "interpretation" of the crest contents? I mean salt and pepper shakers with diamonds is a bit beyond my comprehension...


Peter C.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

I have no idea what the shield is supposed to look like. I was hoping that someone here would be able to tell me. Maybe I should try another forum...

The diamonds I can accept, but like you the salt and pepper has me puzzled.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

I'm thinking (based on info from other forums) that those are wheat sheaves and mascles. But why are they on the Healey Sprite emblem? Mystery?

 

[Trevor Jessie]

AACK, it just occurred to me ... I should be asking in an Austin forum.

 

[jstmorris]

Hello Trevor; I sent this to you back in January as a followup to a request you made on the "Healey List".

The basic coat of arms was part of the BMC promotion of both the 3000 and the Sprite. My brochures for a Mark II roadster and Mark II convertible both have the coat of arms on the front cover as well as inside. After scanning the small version as a tif file, I tried to clean it up somewhat. I then added the outside circle with the Healey name. The product of that effort is what I forwarded on to you. Granted it was never physically on the Big Healey.

Due to some preverse interest, I am in touch with people in the UK in an effort to track down the source of the coat of arms and what, if any, meaning it may hold.

--Scott Morris
Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
'60 MkI BN7, '62 MkII BT7

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Yes, Thanks Scott. Sorry, I couldn't remember who sent me the file. The coat of arms is found on an A35 as well (I believe). I do not believe that it is a family coat of arms, so I guess it is something the Austin designers came up with. I also do not know if those types are registered with the same authority that registers the family coat of arms. I did discover that there is a bunch of information on heraldry out there.

 

[anthony7777]

trevor, though this might be of interest to you, its the key fob i purchased for my bj7,-

 

[jstmorris]

Some time ago I became interested in the source and heraldry significance of the Austin Coat of Arms, or logo. I did do considerable heraldry research on the Austin logo and came up with very little.
https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcforum/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=2654

Through Dennis Robinson, Membership Secretary of the Austin Counties Car Club [ https://psimmonds.org.uk/index.htm ] and the club’s Archivist, Norman Milne, I learned that the origin of the Austin Coat of Arms “… was designed jointly by Aubrey Edwards and John Shipman within the Longbridge Publicity Department in 1950. Aubrey went on to take charge of all Austin, BMC and subsequent literature, including most of the "Counties" material." 1 The Austin Coat of Arms, or logo, was “… first evident within the steering wheel boss of the BS3 Hereford and the GS4 Somerset and used within much of the literature, advertising, merchandising and Dealer displays of the later `50s … “1

The conclusion then is that as a Publicity Department exercise, it is basically a logo without any traditional historical significance or heraldic meaning.

I intend to have further contact with several of the individuals involved, especially Aubrey Edwards. According to John Reed 2, 3, Aubrey Edwards was, in the early ‘50’s, Art Editor of various in-house publications such as "Austin Magazine" and "Worldwide". He later became Publications Manager responsible for all Healey brochures from the 100/6 onwards. A sample of his work can be found at: https://www.easyw3.com/healey/pdf/plaquette3000.pdf

Once I get further substantial details about either the Austin logo or about Aubrey Edwards, I will do a follow-up to this note. Also, if any of you have any information about the logo and it’s history, I would appreciate comments.

--Scott Morris
Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
'60 MkI BN7, '62 MkII BT7

1 email from Dennis Robinson; 2007-06-18, Norman Milne note in Austin Counties Car Club May/June issue of magazine, based on comments by Aubrey Edwards, one of the designers .

2 See: https://www.austinhealeyclub.co.uk/news_mid-wales03.html

3 John Reed follows in the footsteps of Ron Beach, the official Austin photographer in the early ‘50’s. John Reed has a 44 page book “In England with Austin” [a] which contains many original publicity photographs of 'Counties' cars. Through extensive research, he has identified many of the original locations used for publicity photos that went into various brochures such as the Austin Healey 100.

[a] See https://psimmonds.org.uk/AustininEnglandBook.htm for John Reed’s book

See https://www.easyw3.com/healey/pdf/104-1.pdf for the Austin Healey 100 brochure.

 

[KevinBN7]

This crest is in the horn button of my 59 BN7. It is adjustable column. I attent a few shows through out the year and this is the only one I have ever seen.

Just thought I would pass this along for the archeologists amoung us.

Kevin R

 

[bruceb]

Hi Trevor Jessie
My name's Bruce, I live in London. I came across the forum on the Austin Healey coat of arms (crest) you contributed to and in particular found your jpeg image very helpful (5834-healeycrest-smallproof.jpg) . I am trying to do a project which involves using this image for Classic Showcase Inc. of Oceanside, California. (my brother is the chief mechanic there) they restore old British & European classic cars to showroon / auction condition. I was wondering if, as mentioned in this forum, you had a vector image of the file you could email to me. It would be very much appreciated.
my email is bruce@tigersigns.co.uk

Thank you
Bruce