Novel design turning heads

Two Black Country engineers are hoping for a slice of lady luck with their latest designs - for an upmarket car tax disc holder and a range of jewellery.

David Tooth and David Phillips, who together run DJT Precision from a unit at Tower Works, Pelham Street, Wolverhampton, have based their designs on early Greek mythological drawings, but similar to the American 'mud flap girl' logo.

"This logo was first used on a Warner Bros cartoon featured in Loony Tunes and has been used by lorry drivers and motorists as a silhouette on mud flaps," said Mr Tooth.

"We have imprinted our design as a three dimensional image on to a range of materials starting with aluminium priced at £5, solid brass holders which are silver and gold-plated at £12, and a solid silver holder which is hallmarked and sells for £94.

"They look stunning, and the gold and silver ones pick up reflections from inside the car. The tax disc holders are fixed to the windscreen using clear adhesive pads from 3M, which are the best available."

They have also used the same idea with a collection of solid silver and gold jewellery with help from the Jewellery Innovation Centre in Birmingham and the Manufacturing Advisory Service.

"We only produce these items in small quantities, and hope they will eventually become collectors' items," said Mr Phillips.

The jewellery, which include cufflinks, stud earrings and bracelets, are assembled at the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham, and were recently exhibited in the Jewellery Innovation Centre, and on their website."

The two men have put 12 months hard work into the designs, and are hoping they will now pay off.

"We are hoping to attract the attention of people like professional footballers," added Mr Phillips.

"In America items like these are worn by film stars and celebrities, and so we have got our fingers crossed. When people buy a car their tax disc is displayed in a bit of plastic. If you are spending a lot of money, then one of our holders is just what is needed."

The two Davids have hit the headlines before, when they launched what they claimed was the ultimate vehicle pedal security lock, the'Loc-King', which was fitted to the clutch pedal of manual cars and the brake pedal on automatics.

DJT was founded as a one-man-band by Dave Tooth back in 1980. He began working with fellow engineer David Phillips when the two started sharing a factory unit three years ago.

"I am quite good at design," said Mr Tooth, "and we are both quite good engineers, taking those designs and turning them into products."

They also offer small plastic moulding tool repairs; pantagraphing (engraving car badges), logos, electrodes, dies, small components; milling; jig fixtures; turning; grinding; and prototyping services.

The firm will also be selling the jewellery under the name David Tooth Design on internet auction site eBay.