MAA pin? - June 6

[Michiganne]

Yesterday Koleen and I hit our site for a few hours in the a.m. It is getting tough hunting with the weeds getting deep, the air humid, mosquitoes biting, poison ivy growing, and gnats flying into your eyes. Koleen joked afterwards that maybe she's ready for a few tot lots. I found a worn '44 Merc under an oak tree and later a pin with "MAA" on it. Any idea on this one? It looks 60's to 70ish but I have no clue on "MAA." Mathematics Assoc. of America? Milk Assoc. of America? Mothers Are Awesome?
Our season may be winding down at the site but so far I've dug there 25 wheats, 2 Buff nickels, and 9 silver coins, including my first half. We're not finished there yet!

HH and thanks for looking,
Michiganne

 

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[Mike from MI]

Nice digs! Like the merc!

 

[scottofmich]

Sweet Merc =] Great job!!!

 

[BandB1]

Nice finds and silver, Congrats!

Yer much tougher than the likes of I, haven't hunted the weeds and such since april.

Good luck,
HH.

 

[oldsledz]

I think the ring may have to do with Martial arts? Martial Arts A_ _ _ _

 

[postalgriff]

I think the ring may have to do with Martial arts? Martial Arts A_ _ _ _

martial arts academy maybe? mammas always angry? i dunno....cool find though, and congrats on the silver too Anne!

 

[cntrydncr1]

congrats on the merc! I love digging them.

 

[kaptainkosmic]

time to get a water detector!!!!!!!!!!!!!

steve :-)

 

[GopherDaGold]

I think it is A M A American Motorcycle Association.

here is one: http://cgi.ebay.com/AMA-Club-Lapel-...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item483a9a724c

 

[diggummup]

I think it is A M A American Motorcycle Association.

here is one: http://cgi.ebay.com/AMA-Club-Lapel-...tem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item483a9a724c

Darn it ya beat me to it.
Here is where it explains the logo and a contest to design a new logo, page 15, more proof I guess-http://tinyurl.com/2ewc6nb

 

[Michiganne]

Thanks GopherDaGold and diggummup! It appears this new logo was introduced in 1971 so my pin is post '71. Thanks for the help, all you folks are great!

HH,
Michiganne

 

[GopherDaGold]

Nice pin! Disregard my PM. I didn't notice the band on the outer part of the triangle making yours 1971 or later.

 

[Giant056]

Congrats on the merc Anne neat pin too, them bugs are getting brutal but at least I haven't been nailed by any black fly's recently, them little bugs leave a brutal welt for being such a tiny fly and by the time you feel them biting it's too late.

 

[diggummup]

Thanks GopherDaGold and diggummup! It appears this new logo was introduced in 1971 so my pin is post '71. Thanks for the help, all you folks are great!

HH,
Michiganne

Nice pin! Disregard my PM. I didn't notice the band on the outer part of the triangle making yours 1971 or later.

Am I reading the information in the link I posted wrong? The way I read it your pin is pre- middle 1960's.
It says
"Since it's inception in 1924, the familiar AMA insignia has been the curved triangle with the vortex swirl in the center and the letters AMA in the triangle corners. The only changes came in the middle 1960's when a band was added around the outside of the triangle carrying the full name of the Association."



Here is some more info on it-
On November 22nd, the American Motorcyclist Association unveiled a new logo, as seen below.
This is a significant event, because the AMA has updated its logo only once before in its 80-year history. Why the Association has undertaken this change at this time is explained in the January 2004 issue of American Motorcyclist, or you can read more about it on line here.

Prior to the First World War, the motorcycle sport in America was governed by the Federation of American Motorcyclists, founded in 1903 by clubs in New England. While the FAM had some industry support – one of its big backers was George Hendee, the founder of the Indian Motocycle Company – it was fundamentally run by enthusiasts and volunteers. Its finances and infrastructure were not strong, and it collapsed during the hiatus from racing caused by America's entry into the First World War.

Following the war, leaders in the motorcycle industry wanted to see racing and organized road riding resume, and, in the absence of the FAM, they began to sanction and officiate events under the auspices of the Motorcycle and Allied Trades Association. The M&ATA got things going, but soon realized that motorcycling needed an independent governing body, and in 1924 founded the American Motorcycle Association. This important decision took place at an M&ATA meeting in Cleveland, Ohio on May 15, 1924 where it was agreed that governing authority for motorcycling in America would be turned over to the AMA effective August 1st that year. The transition can be seen on the covers or the rule books pictured here. The 1921 rule book bears the logo of the M&ATA, which was the case through 1923. With the M&ATA stepping aside, but the AMA not yet having its own logo, the 1924 rule book has no logo on its cover. Then, for the 1925 racing season, the original, classic triangular AMA logo containing the triad makes its first appearance.

I have never seen any written description of the ideas that may have been embodied in this logo. It would be interesting to know what the gold, green, and red triad symbolizes and why those colors were chosen. In January 1971, AMA News featured a stylized triad on its cover, and explained, "Our special cover reveals the symbolic quality of the AMA emblem, embodying the three major aspects of motorcycling in America; road riding, professional racing, and amateur competition." This, however, is a latter-day interpretation coming over 45 years after the adoption of the design. That this is what was in the unknown designer's mind is quite doubtful.

This logo served the AMA for over 40 years, but was changed in 1976, along with the Association's name. Again, it was a time of upheaval in the motorcycle industry. Motorcycling, both on the road and on public lands, was under pressure from the federal government over safety and environmental issues. The motorcycle industry, which had undergone vast changes in size and composition after the Second World War, had to reorganize. The old M&ATA was replaced by the Motorcycle Industry Council, an organization designed to unify an industry that had become divided between the traditional American/European brands and the newly-arrived Japanese manufacturers. At the same time, the AMA was restructured to provide stronger government relations representation. To distinguish the role of the AMA from the MIC, its name was changed to declare that the AMA is not about making and selling motorcycles, but about serving the motorcyclists who ride them. While the AMA is still incorporated as the American Motorcycle Association, since 1976 it has been doing business as the American Motorcyclist Association.

Furthermore, by the 1970s, television had become the dominant media in America, and this had utterly changed basic marketing attitudes and techniques. It was noted that the old AMA logo was dated and obscure. Its multiple colors made it expensive and difficult to reproduce, and it really didn't declare its meaning to people who did not already recognize it. The letters "AMA" and the name of the Association were lost in the design and completely subordinate to the bold red, green, and gold triad. Thus, for its new logo, Association leaders decided to make the letters "AMA" the most prominent feature, and they chose the patriotic American colors of red, white, and blue. We needed to tell the government that motorcyclists were not the enemy, and that we are Americans too. Not only was this color scheme more culturally relevant, but technically it is much cheaper and easier to reproduce than the old multicolor logo. The horizontal format of the new logo allowed the words "American Motorcyclist Association" to be written larger and given more prominence within the design. I recall this thinking because I served the board of trustees that initiated, brain-stormed, and approved the logo change in 1976.

I am not privy to all of the logic or process that has resulted in the new AMA logo, but, as with the creation of previous logos, I recognize that motorcycling is in a period of great change. The market has boomed and is larger than at any time in our history, but it has become a demographic time bomb. Much of our current motorcycling population is old or aging, and everyone in the industry is worried about finding ways to appeal to a new generation of riders. In addition, bucking demographic trends, the AMA has announced an ambitious goal of a million members by 2007. They reckon that a much larger and stronger organization will be required to deal with the government relations issues that continue to threaten motorcycling, and they know that growth will require an organization and brand that appeals to younger people. I've conducted my own minuscule and non-scientific survey. One 50ish friend said it looks like something from a Metallica album cover. Another said, "It looks like a design you would see on the breast plate of one of those Japanese transformer robot things that my kids were crazy about." Other traditionalists don't like it or confess that they just don't get it. But 20- and 30-somethings I've spoken to have reacted enthusiastically to the design, typically responding "Kewl!"

Will a bolder and trendier logo help the AMA reach its ambitious goal? I hope so. Personally, I like the fact that the new logo is shaped like a shield. Since its inception, the organization has been there to protect and serve. A shield-like logo is clearly appropriate to the AMA's historical and ongoing mission.

Sincere thanks to historian, announcer, and long-time friend Mike Vancil for assistance with research for this story.

 

[fistfulladirt]

Congrats Anne, on the neat pin and silver. I can handle some heat, weeds, etc, but not the skeeters! I know they were put on this earth for a good reason, just not sure which!

ffd

 

[Michiganne]

Am I reading the information in the link I posted wrong? The way I read it your pin is pre- middle 1960's.

No, diggummup you are correct. I reread the info and see my error. The brain isn't always firing on all synapses this time of night! :P Thank you!

HH,
Michiganne

 

[GopherDaGold]

Yeah, I mis-read it myself. Long day.

 

[Brentallica]

Congrats on the Merc and AMA pin Anne. WTG!