The (small) world of fake horn buttons
Mads van Appeldoorn
March 10, 2023
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Fake horn buttons – let it melt in your mouth
In a world where copycats are more common than regular cats, we have to deal with the fact that everything is simply copied. Even horn buttons. In recent years we have had to get used to the fact that sports steering wheels have been copied on a large scale. On the one hand, current model copies that are being washed onto the market in large numbers, on the other hand, there are also old, very valuable steering wheels that are actually no longer found on the market – such as the old Momo Monza, for example – that can be “found” as fake copies.
But also horn buttons are copied. After all, it’s not uncommon for several hundred dollars to be involved. Or less, but then in large quantities. Basically, the fake horn buttons can be divided into three groups.
1. Complete copies
Complete copies of the horn buttons from Momo, Nardi, Petri and co do not have the largest share, but cause the greatest financial damage in relation to the individual horn button. The very early models by Momo with the stacked logo, the horn buttons with the helmets from the Signature series or the horn buttons by Petri, which can hardly be found individually, are mainly copied. Some copies are better than others, often you can only recognize them by the surface of the horn buttons, the back is often the most revealing. Also with regard to the cable connectors, the connector connections are often wrong.
fake and original – which is which?
the back shows it clearly – fake on the left, original on the right
See the difference? Sometimes it’s hard to tell, especially if the quality of the images is not that great. But when you see fake and original side by side, it often becomes clear very quickly. The reasons for the uneven back and edges are probably due to a poor quality mold.
uneven surface on the back, missing ring, shaky connector
the original Petri BMW horn button
2. Half copies
Those copies that are really only half copies, therefore more difficult to recognize. That may sound funny, but that’s how it is. Original Momo horn buttons are purchased and only the actual buttons are exchanged for fakes. The date on the back often reveals a more recent production date, but this is often ignored or generously overlooked. But sometimes the production data is removed with a soldering iron or sanded away with a Dremel. Both seen quite often. If you see something like this, be careful.
3. Cheap copies
The third group is very easy to spot. Compared to the originals, the “cheap” copies look so different when you look at the back. No effort is made to produce the original form, such as the rather complex architecture of the Petri horn buttons. Or the contact mechanism for the cables is completely different, often with two contacts instead of one, bolted on, cables coming out of the housing. Manufacturer designations can often be found that clearly do not belong to Momo, Nardi or Petri, but they come with buttons that were originally only produced by Momo, Nardi or Petri. Old Momo logos, buttons with the helmets from the Signature series, also a lot of logos from manufacturers such as Porsche or BMW. And even complete fantasy designs – as they never existed – also with logos from manufacturers such as Porsche, BMW, Alpina, BMW M Series or well-known motorsport sponsors such as JPS, Martini, BP or Texaco. And many many more.
Take a look at the pictures below. Which one is legit, which one is fake? Or are even both cheap copies? Let me know what you think!
legit or not?
legit or not?
Some dealers of these copies, often on ebay, come from questionable countries, such as Hungary, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina or Poland. Some don’t even hesitate to mention that they sell copies. Trademark and patent law is not taken as seriously there as it should be anywhere. The manufacturers of these copies can be found further east, a search on alibaba yields countless hits – which shall not be understood as an invitation to buy – nor as a tip.
Such fake horn buttons probably do not pose a particular safety risk, provided they work and trigger the horn in dangerous situations. Still, a fake is a fake is a fake is a fake and you shouldn’t support that under any circumstances. What applies to steering wheels and horn buttons also applies to watches, furniture and guitars. And auto parts too, of course, which very quickly brings us back to safety risks.
You have accidentally bought copies, identified them and can provide photos? When in doubt whether the horn button you want to buy is legit or not, please contact me and send pictures. In most cases, it will safe you hundreds of Dollars and I am genuinly happy to help.
