Been fascinated by the Skoda logo and its meaning since I was a kid; long before becoming the owner of a Skoda car. Buying the car has intensified this curiosity, but the answers I have come across online - even from official Skoda sources - have not really convinced me. Even the whole 'flying arrow' description did not really fit, but the lack of any other explanation meant I reluctantly accepted prevailing wisdom.

 

One fact that comes out of the official history and from some online famous logo histories is that there was a copyright? application for the logo in the early 1920 made in Plzen one for a logo with five 'feathers' and one with three, and also that the company's own files on this were destroyed during WW2 due to fire destroying much of the company's archive.

 

During the summer holidays with the car this summer, I met a fellow vacationer who had been a student in Prague in the 70s and who inevitably commented on me having a Skoda. I mentioned my fascination with the logo and got a completely new take on it that after a little research upon return home to the UK seems plausible, so wanted to 'test' it here and see if it stands up to scrutiny.

 

It turns out that in addition to studying in Prague he was also a keen archer and part of the university archery team. He said that the Skoda logo is derived from archery aiming sights and refers to Skoda's production of armaments and high accuracy/precision engineering.

 

So I looked online and as soon as I saw this picture (below), was convinced by this new theory/take on its origins.

 

 

Any comments from anyone with archery experience or with any other evidence for or against this theory would be very welcome.

 

If you check on the web page from which this picture is taken, you can also understand how the sights are calibrated and how they work for aiming the arrow from the bow.

http://www.google.ie/search?client=ms-android-samsung&source=android-home&site=webhp&tbm=isch&source=hp&ei=psHoVeHwJ8XQ7Aa8jLvgAw&q=skoda+logo&oq=skoda+logo&gs_l=mobile-gws-hp.3..0l5.3444.5694.0.10369.11.11.0.4.4.0.140.745.9j2.11.0....0...1c.1.64.mobile-gws-hp..0.11.538.2.CnaUhXfa2sU#imgdii=VIB6nYM8ODGUEM%3A%3BWwCP9G7Oj0w0dM%3A%3BWwCP9G7Oj0w0dM%3A&imgrc=WwCP9G7Oj0w0dM%3A

Looks pretty definitive as a winged arrow to me...

Dont get me wrong it may trace back to the armaments and weapon sights, but in and of itself it looks to be an interpretation of " our sights are so good its like the arrow has wings to guide it where you want" rather than an impression of the sighting system itself

Edited 3 September, 201510 yr by mac11irl

It's a good theory on the sights - it does seem relevant. I'm also interested in the logo - from a design point of view and how it's evolved over time. I wonder what part the circular hole represents? My wife is convinced the logo is nothing more than a chicken that's been shot with a bow and arrow :-)

I can see where your wife is coming from with her take on it chadlington

the hole may well be representative of the sighting ring?

I thought it looked like a Chickins head being shot with a crossbow bolt

 

 

 

 

It's a good theory on the sights - it does seem relevant. I'm also interested in the logo - from a design point of view and how it's evolved over time. I wonder what part the circular hole represents? My wife is convinced the logo is nothing more than a chicken that's been shot with a bow and arrow :-)

 

:-) I also used to think it was the chicken! But also, it is the little circle that made me sceptical about the other theories. Why make a round hole in the wings of a flying arrow? 

 

Maybe rotating the initial picture will help illustrate my point better... (see attached)

 

The calibration pins of the sight are the 'feathers'

The little round circle is the target

The arrow is the vertical (to parallel to the bow) cross hair.

(On the latter I was also wondering if when there is an arrow in the bow, it can be seen going straight ahead through the aiming sights, hence my wondering if anyone who knows about archery being able to shed more light on this)

 

Was sure it would generate a lot of mirth in the process of discussing ;-)

 

RR