Spanish cross.

[Garabaldi]

Any idea how old this is? Any other info on it would be appresicated.

 

[jdsarasin8194]

not spanish, modern design to look cool "surfer dude"

 

[muleskinner]

Just a guess, 1968.

 

[ivan salis]

german style "maltese" or "iron" cross -- popular with west coast surfers

 

[Breezie]

german style "maltese" or "iron" cross -- popular with west coast surfers

Yeppers, Ivan is right, it is called a Maltese Cross, and it is also popular with the East coast surfers too. Actually I had Maltese shaped mirrors on my '54 Chevy.

Neat find, Breezie

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I am a surfer.

 

[Dano Sverige]

Also popular with bikers,especially Hells Angels.
Odd really as the "Iron Cross" is as much a recognized Nazi item as the Swastika! Guess it doesn't hold the same stigma?

(Looks like a real nice car there Breezy.)

 

[ivan salis]

the iron cross was used by the germans as a military award LONG BEFORE THE NAZIS CAME TO POWER thus it does not carry the same bad mojo as the swastika * -- which actual was used long before the nazi's twisted its meaning as a good luck symbol -- the non nazi type has its center area bars is in a "+" cross design--- in the nazi version its center bars are not "straight" but its ends end where the "+" line if in place would be at.

 

[Garabaldi]

Breezie, is that your car?? WOW, sweet ride. I am not worthy.

the iron cross was used by the germans as a military award LONG BEFORE THE NAZIS CAME TO POWER thus it does not carry the same bad mojo as the swastika * -- which actual was used long before the nazi's twisted its meaning as a good luck symbol -- the non nazi type has its center area bars is in a "+" cross design--- in the nazi version its center bars are not "straight" but its ends end where the "+" line if in place would be at.

Funny you mention this ivan, I have found one of the Spanish awards given to the German Condor Legion. I found it in Boston in some random field. 315 were given out to family members of the Germans who lost there life fighting in the Spanish war. I attached a couple of images of what it looked like new and the one I found.

 

[ivan salis]

see how on the nazi type swastika - the bars are not straight up and down and across ? ------ in a non nazi type swastika they are --straight up /down and across like a "+" sign . Ivan

 

[GopherDaGold]

Kowabunga dude! That is one knarly piece! Might be early too!

 

[Dano Sverige]

see how on the nazi type swastika - the bars are not straight up and down and across ? ------ in a non nazi type swastika they are --straight up /down and across like a "+" sign . Ivan

Yes mate,i know all about the good and bad swastika's,what i was saying is like if you did a street survey showing a iron cross 1st class or whatever,and asked people "what is it?", Most would associate it with WW2 Germany and/or the nazi regime.
(Even a plain "Maltese cross" would probably garner the same response.)

Either way,i just find it odd that surfers choose it as an emblem.

 

[ivan salis]

i agree both the (maltaese) iron cross and the good swastika got a "bad rep" -- from the nazi's -- since very few folks know the differance A from B

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Either way,i just find it odd that surfers choose it as an emblem.

I dont know the reason. It is kinda odd that surfers would choose the iron cross..

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

If you want to know the reason, you just look it up on the internet LOL.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,899184,00.html


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surfer's_cross
Its origins are in 1960s surf culture... The German military decoration was co-opted because young surfers would wear their father's war trophies as an anti-establishment statement

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Cross
In the 1960s, the Iron Cross was adopted by American surfers, who started wearing medals plundered by their fathers.

 

[Dano Sverige]

There ya go..it's all there if you can just be bothered to search! I didn't,thanks BCH lol.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Any idea how old this is? Any other info on it would be appresicated.

Just a guess, 1968.

A good guess. 1960's. Is this solved?

 

[Garabaldi]

yes.