Isle of Man Enamel Buckle on Brass Corded Stretch Belt 1950s Martins of Birmingham

Here we have a 1950s Vintage stretch belt made of brass, enamel and cord.  The enamel badge on the central part of the decorative buckle shows the coat of arms for the Isle of Man in blue and red enamel with a brass triskelion made up of three golden armoured legs with spurs.  The belt is made of small brass spring rings intertwined with cord, which makes it stretchable.  The cords echo the colour of the coat of arms with two thick woven blue cords and a thinner red cord running through the middle. I like to ponder if this Isle of Man belt was worn to the famous Isle of Man TT races or if it was just a holiday souvenir bought on this lovely Island years ago. It is great to wear now or to add to a collection of vintage, belts or souvenir vintage fashion items. 

The metal throughout is brass.  The buckle part consists of three pieces; the two fixings which hold the belt to the buckle and the decorative centre plate. The buckle is decorated with a pressed pattern of foliage and curved designs. In  general this belt is in very good order with just the odd scuffs associated with its vintage. The buckle closes with a folded over D plate which slips into an oval retainer.  All in all a most interesting expanding brass and cord belt.  This belt was made by Martin of Birmingham Ltd and is marked with their name in capital letters, the words Made in England and the patent  No. 660336 which dates it to the early fifties. 

So will it fit? Well the length from end to end  including the buckle is approx 28 inches or 70cms . Do remember that this belt is made of small brass spring rings intertwined with a cord, which makes it stretchable; it is an expanding brass and cord belt.

Belt width is approx : 3 cm/1.2 inches and the buckle part is 1.5 inches/4cms approx at its widest part and 4 inches /10cms in length including the ends.

Country of Origin: Great Britain, Birmingham 

Condition: Very Good

Style: Sports, Isle of Man TT Races

Era: 1950s

Type: Belt with Enamel and Brass  Buckle.

Materials: Brass Cord Enamel

Colour: Golden, Blue, Red