Bud Marston is known to many of us as he has a passion for getting his early FHC as near Factory Fit correct as possible and is a JCNA concours judge. His other passion is Jaguar key fobs and he has now produced a stunning book detailing his large collection. It is truly awe inspiring in the quality of the photos and the research he has gone into to find the history behind both Factory and after market fobs. It will make a great Christmas present for any Jaguar enthusiast.
It is not a JCNA book, it is published by Dalton Watson who also publish the Haddock & Mueller Originality Guide which has been frequently mentioned here.
Here’s an extraordinary book I would be unlikely to otherwise come across and posted by someone who knows about it but has no affiliation.
It is a stunning piece of work that shows the degree to which a true enthusiast can take the esoteria of our hobby.
I have a colleciton of key fobs… they are those little plastic viewers you peep thru for a scenic (or otherwise interesting) view but a book is out of the question.
If so that’s ridiculous and people need to get a life…
On a lighter note, that’s a funny/neat subject for a book…
I have the original keyfob and keys from my father’s XK150S roadster he purchased new.
Not a wrench turner, he said it was nothing but trouble. He misses it though.
Would be a charming idea to add various stories and anecdotes surrounding a key fob.
Will look into the book.
Thanks for posting.
PS: On yet another note, I was searching for a period key fob for my S1 XJ6, came across other fobs from the 50s etc…one sold for $500 not long ago.
An absolute must have for your C Type no doubt.
This week I had the privilege of meeting Bud Marston, as he donated his collection of classic Jaguar key fobs (and other rare documents and tools) to the Coventry Foundation. It is impressive and one of a kind- these are just a few:
Agreed- I am enjoying reading the book, which has this quote on the flyleaf- “ Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
Who owns this collection or who could give me details on the dimensions of the top left keyring on the 3rd photo? I have a torn on which I need to repair/ replicate
THe Key Fob Collection is property of the Coventry Foundation in Columbia SC. Please contact the foundation here : www.coventryfoundation.org
I’m sure someone there will be able to help you.
If they still offer them, take the factory tour. In the summer of 2005 we were in the area and I didn’t even think about it when we passed the Corvette Plant. On a lark we stopped in and to our surprise not only did they give tours they had a few slots left for one; the last tour of the last day they gave them before they shut down for the annual model change over. Pure luck on our part. It was a really interesting tour, the workers would stop and talk to us, we were maybe 10 feet from the production line itself, and they gave us both a Corvette key fob as a souvenir. We still have them. I use one for my F150 key,the other collects dust.
