French solid brass hotel keychain – 1960s

These original 1960s hotel key fobs come from France. The heavy brass fobs feature the characteristic shape of classic hotel keys from that era and were originally intended for daily use at a hotel reception desk.

What makes these particular items special is their solid construction. While comparable hotel key fobs often have a hollow bottom part sealed with a cap, these are made entirely of solid brass. At a weight of around 250 grams, they are therefore unusually heavy.

The room numbers, which were presumably originally glued on, have been removed over time. As a result, the fobs now have a particularly sleek appearance. Another striking detail is the amber-orange protective ring at the lower end. Typically, these protective rings are black. Different colors could serve as an orientation system in hotels to distinguish between floors or wings of a building, for example.

The heavy weight served a clear purpose: it was intended to remind hotel guests to return their room key to the front desk when leaving the premises.

We have cleaned and lightly polished the fobs without removing the signs of wear accumulated over the decades. This ensures that each fob retains its own unique character.

• Origin: France

• Period: 1960s

• Material: solid brass

• Dimensions: approx. 9 × 4.5 cm

• Weight: approx. 250 g

• Quantity: 1 piece

This is an old utility object with clear signs of age and use. Scratches, abrasion, and discoloration are present and are part of the authentic character of the fobs. The finish and patina may vary from piece to piece.

An exceptionally heavy piece of French hotel history with a special color detail.