In 1934, at the INTERNATIONALE AUTOMOBIL AUSSTELLUNG (IAA), Berlin, Germany, Hitler announced in his inaugural speech, the promise of the construction of a cheap, simple car for the masses.
At the 1939 INTERNATIONALE AUTOMOBIL-UND MOTORRAD-AUSSTELLUNG held from February 17 to March 5, the KdF Wagen was presented for the first time which later became known as the Volkswagen.
At that Berlin Auto Show, a special lapel pin was given away which was a side view of the KdF Wagen, swastika, surrounded by a cog wheel and inscription of the Auto Show. The reverse had a clasp safely pin. The lapel pin was made out of a Bakelite material and the clasp was melted and secured to the back side. There were four different colors of ivory, dark red, silver and also a golden.
Over the years, several reproductions have been produced of this KdF Wagen lapel pin. If you look at the original lapel pin, on the edges of the cog wheel design, there will be a light flashing edge present. Also, the claps safety pin on the reproduction will be different and not attached the same as the original.
The KdF Wagen lapel pin was produced by R. SIEPER & SÖHNE, Lüdenscheid, Germany. Their name is present on the back of the lapel pin. SIEPER & SÖHNE changed their name post war into SIKU!
The company was founded in 1921. It was originally a manufacturer of metal tools and cutlery in zamac and aluminum and, later on, ashtrays, badges, medals, belt buckles, and buttons. In 1943 the company expanded to a facility in Hilchenbach, about 30 miles from Lüdenscheid, though the latter has always been the Sieper-Werke's headquarters. It was not until 1950 that the company started producing toys in Lüdenscheid, registering the trademark SIKU for the new products. SIKU originates from abbreviating the name of the founder of the company, Richard Sieper, and the German word for plastic, Kunststoffe (e.g. Sieper Plastics).
