The style of manufacture is baked enamel on metal which is very typical of a 1960s manufacturing process. The pin features the CZ logo with the text motorcycles underneath, which is not a word in the Czech language, so these pins were meant to advertise the brand abroad in the US and UK. The badge face is 1.5cm high with a long stick pin fastener to the rear and is in excellent condition.
Historical Background
CZ have a distinguised and memorable history. James Dean's first motorbike was a CZ and the world famous Belgian moto cross champion Joel Robert dominated motocross in the 1960's on his 250cc CZ. CZ were formed in 1919 as a weapons manufacturer in the wake of the 1914-18 war. The CZ stands for Ceska Zbrojovka or literally 'Czech Weapons'. With the decline of the armament industry in 1932, CZ decided to branch out into motorcycle manufacturing, at first using engines from outside sources before building their own.
In 1948 CZ were merged with rival company Jawa by the communist regime of the time, though both manufacturers produced bikes sporting their own logos.
CZ revolutionized the sport of moto-cross throughout the 1960's. Riders on 250cc CZ's won more grand prixs than any other manufacturer in that decade, and up to the 1990's the 360cc CZ brought an end to 4-stroke domination in the 500cc class of motor.
In the 1990s, the motorcycle branch of CZ was bought by the Italian motorcycle manufacturer Cagiva. When that venture failed, the CZ motorcycle brand went out of existence.
