Nice trinket

[Coralsnake]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/NOS-Original-Shelby-Cobra-Key-Ring-or-Fob/363156884147?hash=item548dd64ab3:g:o8oAAOSwVZxflE-t

[427hunter]

Do you know what period that's from ? I think the price is crazy.....but I agree cool trinket!

[Bob Gaines]

Do you know what period that's from ? I think the price is crazy.....but I agree cool trinket!

I think 65 /66.

[427hunter]

Do you know what period that's from ? I think the price is crazy.....but I agree cool trinket!

I think 65 /66.

Was that something offered to cobra owners?

[Dan Case]

Its return address is in Venice. They are plated brass or bronze maybe. Lost key sets could be mailed back to Shelby American with the presumed idea they could get the keys to the owner. Automobile insurance companies and some clubs use to provide that key return service.

As far as I know they were included in new Cobra purchases mid 1963 and 1964 until the move to Imperial Highway 1965. After the move there was a new Imperial Highway return address version.

The current auction offering (early November 2020) is missing the chain and ring clasp. Intact original factory key return key fobs and chains are rare. Most I have seen had little plating left on the medallion. Some were severely worn down by years of riding in pockets with other metal. A really nice one has been, on my scale, very expensive since the 1980s.

There was a very different version made in pewter sold as an accessory concurrent to the brass one with new cars. The pewter accessory does not have a mailing address on them.

Instead of posting pictures here I started a thread under "CSX 2000 Series".

[427hunter]

Now I don't think the price is so crazy !

[2112]

Now I don't think the price is so crazy !

Obviously the bidders don't either!

[JD]

Photos of this item front and back...

[deathsled]

Winning bid:US $4,161.11

[Shelby6t5 Mike HHI, SC]

So, if this is dropped in any mailbox, was a postal employee supposed to then send if off with a request for payment by the recipient? I have collected a lot of stamp and USPS memorabilia over the years, and was a subcontractor to them as well, yet I have never seen a form for this type of transaction.

Mike

[Royce Peterson]

This sort of key ring with address and postage paid was common in the 1960's. Insurance companies and auto dealerships did it all the time. The mailman would deliver it with a "postage due" form. You had to pay the mailman or your local post office to get the keys. 

So, if this is dropped in any mailbox, was a postal employee supposed to then send if off with a request for payment by the recipient? I have collected a lot of stamp and USPS memorabilia over the years, and was a subcontractor to them as well, yet I have never seen a form for this type of transaction.

Mike

[JohnHouston]

I am old enough to remember hotel room key fobs having that sort of deal.

John

[Dan Case]

So, if this is dropped in any mailbox, was a postal employee supposed to then send if off with a request for payment by the recipient? I have collected a lot of stamp and USPS memorabilia over the years, and was a subcontractor to them as well, yet I have never seen a form for this type of transaction.

Mike

Get on the eBay® website and search  drop in any mailbox. There are 52 listings today.

[Dan Case]

Check out this eBay® listing. Ford / SAV-A-KEY.

No mine but I have one like it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Original-Ford-motor-co-automobile-SAV-A-key-promo-accessory-tool-vintage-old/254808119063?hash=item3b53bf5717:g:6HkAAOSw3rxf1~Yy