~~~ Bibendum The Michelin Man ~ Mascot 10" High ~~~

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~~~ Bibendum The Michelin Man ~ Mascot 10" High ~~~

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Sold Date: 09/16/2007
Channel: Online Auction
Source: eBay
Category: Advertising

Bibendum the Michelin Man ~ Je t'aime

Raison d'être

A unique solid version of the original drivers friend and companion... the sitting Bibendum. This version of the sitting Bibendum comes with the embossed lettering "Michelin" (not a painted or stuck on label) across his chest.

Michelin Man (Bibendum) was originally based on the art work of the French illustrators O'Gallop and DDB Needham. The Michelin Man we all know today owes more to the work Walter Storozok, the creative director of Michelin North America.

This version is made from a solid block of high density polyurethane and has been designed and manufactured based on the original artwork of Storozok. He was created by using an innovative 3D CAD tracing method, (no hand cut guess work etc.,) thus re-creating the illustrator's original artistic intentions

T are many "rare" and authentic Bibendum's kicking about, how many... who knows? Since we made the master and the mould we know how many we've made, see the FAQ below.

This version is ideal for a desktop or a vehicle interior, someone to watch over you as you chug along through life, and though fully weatherproof probably way too precious to be left out in the wind and rain. Comes with a commemorative monogrammed stand (chrome color), with the embossed wording "Bibendum born 1898" along with a silver steel support pole.

Dimensions:

Total height with stand 10"

Bibendum on his own sits at 9"high

Weighs in at 0.82 Kg and 1.05 Kg including stand

Myths and not so FAQ's

Q: What about life expectancy?

A: Since our Michelin Man is made from solid high density polyurethane he will almost certainly still be around long into the age when planets are being traded on E-bay. Hollow plastic Bibendums(especially hollow), blown, spun, cast or otherwise will eventually harden and become brittle with age when left in sunlight, check out those new plastic gutters on your des res 15 years on.

Q: Are they original?

A: Yes... well in reality t's no such thing as a fake or an original when it comes to plastic moulded things, unless, that is, you own the original sculptured master and, or the mould. Anyone owning the master or the mould can start casting more anytime and just leave them out in the sun to age. Further to this, t's no way of knowing how many so called "original", "not a copy", "made in France" n all that's t are, thus their value being diminished by shear weight of numbers and sunlight.

Q: By buying would I be subscribing to, or part of, some third world exploitative twilight labour economy?

A: No, our Bibendums' are 100% made in the UK, and has never set foot in some warehouse full of look alike imports. Our Bibendums are truly European, they were brought to life using, French software, and then in the first instance created using a Japanese machine in German model board. Tin manufactured using British chemistry, labour, and last but not least avec l'amour.

Q: What is Polyurethane?

A: It's a plastic, to test the strength of the Polyurethane we did a test on a piece of Polyurethane section 1/2" X 3" wide. We drilled a 10mm hole through and clamped the piece with a 10mm cap head nut and bolt.

We torqued the nut and bolt up as tight as we could (by hand) using a spanner and Allen key, and the piece just didn't split.

Q: How many have we made & how many will we make?

A: Currently 25, t is no mass production line. How many we make is determined by the mould life. The old saying "they broke the mould when they made you" this is partly true in the case of our Bibendum. The mould will eventually break down (estimated to be after about 30 or so) after which we will make a new mould. The new mould will be based on a master model that we will change, slightly. Changing the master will keep all our Bibs original, different and thus unique.

Q: Can I lower a truck onto his tummy?

A: No that would be fatal for our Bibendum, but we think he could possibly survive the weight of a car. In terms o...