VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Unknown Award - Marching Chevroliers

Hi, folks -

I have been asked by our friends at GM Heritage Center if we can identify and provide any information about the item below, the "Order of the Marching Chevroliers."

I would guess, but do not know, that it is a sales award of some type. We do know that the original recipient of it was selling Chevrolets in the late 1930's until 1941.

Can anyone provide any information on it?

I received some additional photos with dimensions.

Ray H aka AntiqueMechanic has done some research on the award. He might see this post or you might contact him to find out what he knows.

Diz probably knows.

Charlie

Hi, Chipper - yep, I was thinking Ray or you would be the best chance of ID'ing this item. I just emailed a link to this string to Ray.

I have seen that on Utube in old Chevrolet promo. movies.
I would say early to mid '30's.

I think that Ray posted some information on Chat a few years ago. Didn't have time to try to search for it. Ray doesn't frequent Chat as often as in the past. I will try to carve out some time to search.

First search found a three post thread from 2008 that didn't shead much light on the subject. Post 133516 starts the thread.

More info: from google search "It's a Very SCARCE and RARE Chevrolet Sales Award from 1939-1942...ORDER OF THE MARCHING CHEVROLIERS" Think we need more verification!!

the marching order of chevroliers was a sales campaign for chevrolet salesmen who equals or exceeds the goal set for him in the chevrolier campaign. he was then awarded a strikingly beautiful emblem of leadership,to mount on the grille of his car. this decoration will signify to the world that he is a leader among salesmen, a man who has the strength and spirit and perseverance to march on to success in all he undertakes. outstanding leaders in each zone will get a medallion of leadership which went around the neck, which promoted its wearer to the rank of captain in the order of marching chevroliers. those who won charter membership in the order of of marching chevroliers were also awarded handsome membership cards. each salesperson will report his selling progress at five day intervals a specially designed five day reporting cards wihch will be furnished to him. also colorful quota charts were provided each dealer to record salesmen's progress through out the campaign, marking their progress step by step toward the coveted honor of membership in the order of marching chevroliers. Huge victory banquets will mark the climax of the chevrolier campaign ans reward those who win membership in the order of marching chevroliers. regional winners at a special banquet will recieve the full regalia of hat, cape, gauntlets, and sword signifying their membership in the sovereign council of the order of the marching chevroliers. it is a banquet to honor the leaders of the leaders. most of this is taken off a two page announcement. when they were dressed in these costumes they looked like the three musketeers. I do not positively know what years theses campaigns started or when they ended, my literature shows the 40 & 41 model years, they also also put out a nice little 15 to 20 page booklet titled chevrolier, the 41 editions started in sept 1940 as vol 4 no 1 these were published every 3 months so I would suspect this campign started in 1937 or 1938. and ended at the end of 1941. Hope this helps to shed some light on this subject.

Thanks, dlz. I believe that's a pretty comprehensive outline of the whole program. And, in searching around, I also found the "Captain" rank emblem of the Order, as you described (see below). I'll report this all back to our friends at GM Heritage Center.