WHARTON

Wharton Motors Co. (1922-1923)

Dallas, Texas

This is a Wharton radiator emblem (1922-1923)   sam
Size: 64mm wide 35mm high    MM: Unknown

The Wharton Motors Company was organized in 1920 by Thomas Wharton and a group of Dallas businessmen. with plans to manufacture motor trucks, tractors and automobiles. 

The Wharton motor car was announced as a 104 hp automobile powered by a Curtiss-OX-5 aero engine and was to be offered in seven body types. Lower cost four-cylinder and six-cylinder models were also announced by Wharton. In March 1922, Wharton Motors Company announced the start of production in Dallas and plans for an additional plant in Pennsylvania. However, the very limited production of the Wharton took place only in Dallas.  

Total production of the Wharton is not known and the Standard Catalog of American Cars suggests that Wharton production may have been limited to the only single OX-5 roadster known to have been built. However, Wharton newspaper advertisements, which include photos of Wharton motor cars, show at least four different models, the Wharton Eight De Luxe two-passenger roadster, the Wharton Eight four-passenger roadster, the Wharton Eight four-passenger sports and the Wharton De Luxe Twin Six. Some of these Wharton cars may have been prototype models.

 

In March 1924, some Wharton stockholders filed suit against the company and requested receivership. It was all over for the Wharton.

Emblems

I can find no photos of Wharton motor cars clearly showing the radiator but Wharton radiator emblems do exist. 

There is the rectangular gold, red and black enamel Wharton radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post. This Wharton radiator emblem is extremely rare.

There is also a round Wharton radiator emblem, see below. This Wharton radiator emblem is also extremely rare.

This is a Wharton radiator emblem (1922-1923)   chw
Size: 66mm diameter    MM: Unknown

The following Wharton nickel plated emblem has the same design as the Wharton radiator emblem shown immediately above but is smaller and fully plated. This Wharton emblem is believed to be a Wharton hub emblem and is also extremely rare:

This is a Wharton hub emblem (1922-1923)       mjs
Size: 54mm diameter     MM: Unknown

 
It is possible that the two very different Wharton radiator emblems shown above were used on different Wharton models or, perhaps, the rectangular emblem was changed to the round emblem for the production Wharton models, as the company details are more clearly seen. 

ARBENZ

Scioto Car Co. (1911-1912)
ArBenz Car Co. (1912-1916)
National United Service Co. (1916-1918)
Chillicothe, Ohio 

This is an ArBenz radiator script (c1912)   khc
Size: 245mm wide

The ArBenz was named after Fred C. Arbenz and his son Nand James Arbenz, who designed their car. They initially set up the Scioto Car Company to produce the ArBenz but in August 1911 it was announced that the company name would change to the ArBenz Car Company.

The ArBenz was initially a 30/40 hp four-cylinder car offered in four models in the mid-price range until 1914. For 1914, the engine size was reduced to 27 hp but increased to 40 hp again for 1915 and then available in roadster or touring body styles. A much smaller 17 hp Model 25 five passenger touring was the only ArBenz offering from 1916 to the end of production.

In March 1916, the company was taken over by the National United Service Company but ArBenz production did not continue beyond late 1917. By 1918, only a few ArBenz cars were being produced from parts on hand.

Emblem

From the start, Scioto Car Company advertisements spelled the name of their car as the "ArBenZ" to suggest an association with Barney Oldfield and the Blitzen Benz race car, which Barney Oldfield used in 1910 to break land speed records thereby creating great public interest.  

ArBenZ car adv (1911)    catj

ArBenZ cars did not have a radiator emblem but did display the "ArBenZ" name using a plated brass script mounted on the radiator core, as seen in ArBenZ advertisements and original period photos, see examples shown below: 

ArBenZ car ad (1912)
The Dayton Herald

Detail showing "ArBenz" radiator script (1912)

ArBenZ motor car showing radiator script (c1911)    rosscountyhistoricalsociety

ArBenZ motor car showing radiator script (1912)    rosscountyhistoricalsociety

This is the ArBenZ radiator script shown above at the top of this post and again below. Original ArBenZ radiator scripts are very rare.

This is an ArBenZ radiator script (c1912)   khc
Size: 245mm wide

STERLING-NEW YORK

Sterling Automobile Manufacturing Co. (1916)
Paterson, New Jersey

This is a Sterling-New York hubcap (1916)    mjs

The Sterling Automobile Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1913 with the British "£" symbol as its logo. It was claimed that the company already had a large number of orders, and were negotiating other orders from "several nations at war in Europe". None of this appears to have been true.

The Sterling-New York eventually appeared in 1916 and was an assembled 28 hp four-cylinder car offered in touring and roadster body styles. The car was not a good one and sales of the Sterling-New York, which was occasionally referred to as the Sterling, were very low and by September 1916 the company was sold.

Emblems

The following Sterling-New York advertisement includes side and front views of the Sterling-New York motor car. The front view of the Sterling-New York shows a small round radiator emblem.

Sterling-NY advertisement (1916)   ma

Sterling-New York ad detail showing rad emblem

I was shown an excellent photo of an original Sterling-New York radiator emblem many years ago but, unfortunately, I did not get a copy. As I recall, the emblem was finished in polished metal with no plating but I cannot confirm this absolutely.

The following is a very poor quality photo of the Sterling-New York radiator emblem:

This is a Sterling-New York radiator emblem (1916)  ms
Size: Unknown   MM: Unknown

If you have a better photo of this emblem, please do let me know, in order to update this post. An original Sterling-New York radiator emblem would be extremely rare.

The following is an original, unused Sterling-New York serial plate, which came from a batch of these plates found several years ago:

This is a Sterling-New York serial plate (1916)    mjs
Size: 90mm wide 45mm high    

The following shows the Sterling-New York hubcap and hub emblem:

This is a Sterling-New York hubcap (1916)     mjs

KOEHLER

H. J. Koehler Sporting Goods Co.
Bloomfield, New Jersey (1910-1912)
Newark, New Jersey (1913-1915)
H. J. Koehler Motor Corp. (1915-c1923)
Newark, New Jersey
Bloomfield, New Jersey

This is a Koehler truck radiator emblem (c1913)    brc

The H. J. Koehler Sporting Goods Company had sold automobiles in its stores since 1898. In 1910 Koehler began to manufacture its own motorcars and trucks. A 40hp four-cylinder touring car was introduced early in 1910 and was sold until 1912, after when the production of passenger cars ceased.

The passenger car chassis was also used to produce a delivery van in 1910. The first Koehler truck had a 1,600-lbs capacity and was powered by a two-cylinder water-cooled engine and only had a radiator in front of a vertical steering column.

In 1913 the company began to concentrate solely on truck manufacturing and used a 24hp four-cylinder engine for a 1-ton truck and a 12-passenger coach. A 1-1/4-ton model was also offered in 1918 by when the Koehler truck line ranged up to 5-ton capacity. Production facilities were located at Bloomfield and Newark. Koehler motor vehicle manufacturing faded out after the First World War. An attempt was made in 1919 to introduce a new look for the Koehler truck to improve sales but the Koehler quietly disappeared by about 1923.

Emblems

The Koehler passenger cars and delivery vans had a brass radiator and displayed the "Koehler" name on a brass script mounted on the radiator core, see original factory photo shown below:

Koehler delivery van with radiator script (c1910-1913)  dpl

The following is an example of a brass Koehler radiator script. Original Koehler radiator scripts are rare.

This is a Koehler radiator script (c1910-1913)  lktec
Size: 290mm wide 85mm high

The same factory photo of a Koehler delivery van, as shown above, but with the company name written on the side was used in advertisements for the Koehler Commercial Car into 1913, see example shown below:

Koehler Commercial Car ad (1913)  atj

Close up showing radiator & script (1913) 

The following photo shows an early, surviving Koehler Commercial Car of 1,600 lbs capacity dated 1911 with a heavy cast iron radiator and the "Koehler" name cast into the radiator tank top. 

This is a Koehler 1,600 lbs truck with the wrong radiator (1911)   brc

This is strange, because all Koehler advertisements before about 1914 show a brass radiator with a radiator script, as seen in the 1913 Koehler advertisement shown earlier above. It was not until later in 1913 that Koehler introduced their 1-ton truck. Koehler trucks of 1-ton and over were given the much heavier radiator with the cast iron ribbed radiator tank top and with the "Koehler" name cast into the radiator tank top, see example shown below:

This is a Koehler radiator with cast emblem (1913-1919)  moroz

This style of Koehler radiator is seen in Koehler truck advertisements from 1914, see example shown below:

Koehler truck ad with heavy radiator (1914) ebay 

It seems most likely that the 1911 dated 1,600 lbs capacity truck shown earlier above was restored at some stage and given a radiator made for a larger capacity Koehler truck, which was not available before 1913. This Koehler radiator with the cast-in emblem is shown above at the top of this post.

There was a new look for the Koehler truck in 1919 with a slightly oval-shaped radiator, which retained a cast in "Koehler" radiator emblem, as shown below:

This is a Koehler radiator with cast emblem (1919-c1923)  ms

This oval shaped radiator is seen in Koehler advertisements from 1919, see example shown below:

Koehler advertisement with new radiator (1919) ebay

Close up showing the front of the new truck (1919)

The following is a panted Koehler nameplate probably attached to the sides of the hood but I cannot confirm this. This Koehler nameplate is rare.

This is a Koehler nameplate (c 1919-1923 dates uncertain)  lktec
Size: 254mm wide 76mm high

TULSA (1)

Tulsa Automobile & Manufacturing Co. (1912-1916)

Tulsa, Oklahoma

This is a Tulsa truck hood side nameplate (c1914-1916)   alt
Size: Unknown

The Tulsa Automobile & Manufacturing Company was established in 1911 after buying the assets of J V Lindsley & Company, which had built the Lindsley automobile in Dowagiac, Michigan. The Company also bought out the Pioneer Car Company of Oklahoma City and set up a factory to build a "light delivery wagon for oil field work". 

The Tulsa company began production of the Tulsa and the Oilflyer in 1912 using rebranded, unfinished Pioneer cars and spare parts. The primary focus of the Company, however, was clearly advertised as "Manufacturers of good commercial motor trucks, that's all" and Tulsa automobile production is reported by the Standard Catalog to have ceased by 1913.

Tulsa truck production is reported to have included 3/4-ton, 1-ton and 1-1/2-ton capacity trucks. Tulsa trucks were mainly produced for local consumption and production numbers, although unknown, are likely to have been modest at best. There were management problems and the Tulsa Automobile & Manufacturing Company was finished in 1916.    

Emblem

There are few clear photos of Tulsa automobiles and motor trucks. However, the following photos appeared in Tulsa Automobile & Manufacturing Company newspaper advertisements in 1912:

First Tulsa made automobile (1912)    Tulsa World

This Tulsa automobile photo is most likely made using ex-Pioneer parts following the purchase of the Pioneer Car Company.

Tulsa Oil Flyer (1912)    The Tulsa Tribune

There is no evidence of a radiator emblem in either of the original photos shown above.

If you have details of any emblems used by the Tulsa Automobile & Manufacturing Company, please let me know in order to update this post. However, please note that Tulsa radiator emblems were made for the Tulsa Automobile Corporation in 1918-1922, see Tulsa (2).

The black painted Tulsa nameplate shown above at the top of this post is believed to be a hood side nameplate used on one of the Tulsa trucks and is very rare.

STATES

States Motor Car Manufacturing Co. (1916-1918)

Kalamazoo, Michigan

This is a States radiator emblem (1916-1918)     sam
Size: 70mm wide 36mm high    MM: Unknown (some Robbins)

The States was built in the former Michigan Buggy Company plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, which had more recently been used to build the Greyhound light car. The States was initially a 32 hp four-cylinder five-passenger touring car when production began in 1916. There were presumably problems with the States, because the management team changed in 1917.

A 37 hp six-cylinder States model was also offered in touring and roadster body styles for 1918 but the company was out of business by the end of 1918. Production figures for the States are not known but are likely to have been modest at best.

Emblems

The following original period photo of a States four-cylinder Model B touring car from 1918 shows a rectangular shaped radiator emblem, although the detailed design cannot be seen:

States Four-cylinder Model B Touring (1918)  catj 

This radiator emblem may be the white, blue and red enamel States radiator emblem shown below, although I cannot confirm this as the poor quality of the original photo of the States Model B may be affected by light reflection. This States radiator emblem is extremely rare.

This is a States radiator emblem (1916-1918)      sam
Size: 70mm wide 36mm high     MM: Unknown (some Robbins)

The dark blue, white and red States radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post is also extremely rare. 

It is possible that one of these States radiator emblems was used on the four-cylinder model and the other on the six-cylinder model but I cannot confirm this. If you have further details of the use of these States radiator emblems, please let me know, in order to update this post.

Emblem collectors should beware as there are Pulfer reproduction States radiator emblems, which have shiny flat backs and no maker's mark, see example below:

This is a Pulfer reproduction States radiator emblem   tcc

LOGAN

Motor Storage & Manufacturing Co. (1904)
Logan Construction Co. (1904-1908)
Chillicothe, Ohio

This is a Logan radiator script (c1907-1908)   khc
Size: 178mm wide 76mm high   MM: Greenduck

The Logan motor car and motor truck were produced by Benjamin A. Gramm from early 1904. The first Logan car was a 10 hp two-cylinder five-passenger touring, which grew to 20 hp in 1905. Four-cylinder models were introduced in 1906. 

The Logan cars were well built and aptly used the slogan " That Car of Quality". They were offered in water-cooled and air-cooled versions until 1907, after when all Logan cars were air-cooled.  

Logan commercial vehicles were also built from 1904 and by 1907 the company was beginning to concentrate on this side of the business. The Logan company was bankrupt by mid-1908. Benjamin Gramm then moved to Bowling Green, Ohio and established the Gramm-Logan Motor Car Company for the production of motor trucks.

Emblems

The first Logan vehicles from 1904 did not carry an emblem but would have displayed the company name on a small maker's nameplate attached to the body or at the rear of the vehicle.

By 1905, some, but not all, Logan models displayed the "Logan" name on a script attached to the body panel at the side of the driver's seat,most likely using a decal, see example shown below:

Logan Model D with body side script (1905)   hac

The photo below of a surviving 1906 Logan Model F appears to show a radiator emblem but this is due to a shadow or discoloration of the radiator top. The side view of the same car confirms that there is no radiator emblem:

Logan Model F (1906)  rosscountyhistoricalsociety

Logan Model F side view 

The following Logan advertisement from 1906 includes an original photo of a similar Logan car again confirming that there was no radiator emblem and no body side script:

Logan advertisement (1906)  rosscountyhistoricalsociety

However, the "Logan-That Car of Quality" slogan is displayed on the brass sill plates and the "Logan" name is cast into the central frame bar under the driver's entrance, see photos shown below:

Logan Model F showing sill plate and central frame bar below (1906)  rosscountyhistoricalsociety

Close up showing "Logan" name cast on frame bar (1906)

There are few original period photos of Logan vehicles and most either show no sign of an emblem or the photo is of very poor quality. 

The following original period photo from 1908 shows a Logan commercial vehicle with no radiator emblem but the "Logan" name is displayed on the body panel at the side of the driver's cab, as shown earlier,  probably using a decal:

Logan truck without rad emblem (1908)    flickr

However, the following poor quality original period photo of a Logan police van from 1907 or 1908 shows a brass "Logan" script mounted on the radiator core, see below:

Logan police van showing radiator script (c1907)     rosscountyhistoricalsociety

The detailed design of this Logan radiator script is not clear from the photo but is similar to the brass Logan script shown above at the top of this post and again below. This Logan radiator script is certainly original, as, unusually, it carries a Greenduck maker's mark. This Logan radiator script is very rare:

This is a Logan radiator script (c1907-1908)   khc
Size: 178mm wide 76mm high   MM: Greenduck

The following is a different and much larger Logan radiator script, which is part of an emblem collection put together in the 1930's and is likely to be original. This Logan radiator script is also very rare.

This is a Logan radiator script (c1907-1908)   sam
Size: 301mm wide