September 14, 2023

POPE-TRIBUNE

Pope Manufacturing Co. (1904-1908)
Hagerstown, Maryland


This is a Pope-Tribune radiator script (1906-1908)  conceptcarz

The Pope-Tribune was introduced in 1904 at the same time as the Pope-Hartford (see Pope-Hartford) and was the smallest and lowest-priced of the Pope motorcars. 

The first Pope-Tribune was a 6 hp single-cylinder runabout. A 12 hp two-cylinder model was added in 1905 and a 16/20 hp four-cylinder model followed in 1907. Prices increased each year but by 1908 Pope-Tribune sales fell and the Pope organization was in disarray. It was all over for the Pope-Tribune by November 1908.

Emblems

The first Pope-Tribune cars did not carry an emblem, see the following illustration from a 1904 Pope-Tribune brochure, but would have had the Pope-Tribune name displayed on a small brass maker's nameplate usually attached to the rear of the car or on the dashboard:

Pope-Tribune brochure illustration showing no emblem (1904)  ebay

The following shows the Pope-Tribune nameplate on the dashboard of a surviving 1904 Pope-Tribune Model II:

Pope-Tribune Model II dashboard (1904)  bonhams

Pope-Tribune Model II nameplate (1904)   bonhams 

This is the painted Pope-Tribune nameplate shown below. This Pope-Tribune nameplate is rare.

This is a Pope-Tribune nameplate (1904-c1906)   mjs
Size: 77mm wide 39mm high

The "Pope-Tribune" name was also displayed on the hubcaps, see example shown below:

This is a Pope-Tribune hubcap (1904)   bonhams

The following original period photo shows a Pope-Tribune Model IV from 1905 and appears to display a small rectangular nameplate on the top of the radiator, although the detail is unclear.

Pope-Tribune Model IV taking part in the Glidden Tour (1905)  dpl

This small nameplate may be the radiator maker's nameplate but the following illustration from a 1906 advertisement showing the Pope-Tribune Model V/VI includes a radiator nameplate, which may well be a small brass Pope-Tribune nameplate:

Pope-Tribune ad showing radiator nameplate (1906)  gracesguide

This radiator nameplate may be the same small brass Pope-Tribune radiator nameplate shown earlier above or, possibly, the following Pope-Tribune nameplate, which is believed to have been used from about 1906, although I cannot confirm this date. This Pope-Tribune nameplate is rare.

This is a Pope-Tribune nameplate (c1906-1908)   mjs
Size: 77mm wide 38mm high

The following shows a different Pope-Tribune hubcap:

This is a Pope-Tribune hubcap (c1906)    ms

Most surviving but restored Pope-Tribune cars display a "Pope-Tribune" script, similar to the script shown at the top of this post, mounted on the radiator core even on some 1904 models. But, as noted above, early Pope-Tribune cars had no emblem or script. 

This Pope-Tribune radiator script was certainly used on some, but not all, Pope-Tribune cars from 1907, and possibly from 1906, see original 1907 Pope-Tribune Model X photo shown below. However, most Pope-Tribune radiator scripts mounted on restored cars are reproductions. Original Pope-Tribune radiator scripts are rare.

Pope-Tribune Model X showing a radiator script (1907)  hac








ENGER

Enger Motor Car Co. (1909-1917)

Cincinnati, Ohio


This is an Enger radiator emblem (c1911-1915)     mjs
Size: 85mm wide 60mm high    MM: Unknown

Frank J Enger established the Enger Motor Car Company in 1909. The first Enger cars were 14 hp two-cylinder highwheelers but by 1910 the Enger was a standard 35/40 hp four-cylinder car powered by an overhead valve engine designed by Frank Enger. 

For the 1915 model year, the Enger was a conventional 30 hp six-cylinder model but in late 1915 Enger designed an unconventional twelve-cylinder car, which was called the Enger Twin Six. In late 1916 Enger introduced a lever in his 12-cylinder car, so that it could be run as a six by cutting off the fuel to one bank of cylinders.

In August 1916 the Enger Motor Car Company was reorganized to help bring in more capital and increase production capacity but Frank Enger commited suicide in January 1917 after being diagnosed with cancer. The company was finished by March 1917.

Emblems

 The first Enger highwheeler cars and the first four-cylinder cars in 1910 displayed a brass "Enger" script on the radiator core, see original photo shown below:

This is an Enger 40 with a radiator script (c1910)     ms

Close up showing the "Enger" radiator script

I do not have a good photo of the "Enger" radiator script but the design was the same as the "Enger" script logo shown on Enger serial plates, see rare example below. Original Enger radiator scripts are very rare.

Enger serial plate showing the "Enger" script logo (1914)  ms

The Enger carried a blue and white enamel radiator emblem from late 1911 for the 1912 model year. This is the Enger emblem shown above at the top of this post and again below. This Enger radiator emblem is very rare.

This is an Enger radiator emblem (c1911-1915)    mjs
Size: 85mm wide 60mm high   MM: Unknown

Emblem collectors should beware as there are reproduction Enger radiator emblems on relatively thin metal plate with flat shiny backs.

The following advertisement introducing the Enger Twin Six shows the Enger twelve cylinder engine in the form of a logo:

Enger Twin Six ad showing engine logo (1915) ebay 

This Enger Twin Six logo depicting the unconventional Enger twelve-cylinder engine was used as the Enger Twin Six radiator emblem, see example shown below. This Enger Twin Six radiator emblem is extremely rare.

This is believed to be an Enger Twin Six radiator emblem (1915-1917)    sam
Size: 80mm high 73mm wide     MM: Unknown

Emblem collectors should beware, however, as there are reproduction versions of the Enger Twin Six emblem but they are crudely designed and lack detail in depth, see example shown below:

This is a reproduction Enger Six emblem  tcc





BLACKHAWK

Stutz Motor Car Company of America (1929-1930)

Indianapolis, Indiana


This is a Blackhawk headlight bar emblem (1929-1930)    mjs
Size: 185mm wide 58mm high    MM: None

The Blackhawk was made by Stutz but was introduced in 1929 as a separate marque to keep it apart from the more expensive and more powerful cars in the Stutz line. The name Blackhawk was chosen to give an association with the powerful Stutz Black Hawk speedsters.

The Blackhawk was offered as either an 85 hp six-cylinder model or a 90 hp eight-cylinder model, with both models available in a wide range of body styles. By the end of 1929, only 1,310 Blackhawks had been sold. Production dropped to 280 cars in 1930 and the Blackhawk was discontinued by the end of 1930.

Emblems

The Blackhawk carried a painted, cast metal emblem mounted on the headlight bar in the center of the radiator and a small painted emblem mounted on the front bumper, see below:

This is a Blackhawk showing the headlight bar emblem (1929)  hyman

The Blackhawk headlight bar emblem has "Blackhawk" and "Made by Stutz" cast into the emblem, see example shown above at the top of this post. This Blackhawk headlight bar emblem is scarce. 

The following red and black painted emblem was used as the Blackhawk front bumper emblem and was also used as the wire wheel hub emblem, as seen below:

This is a Blackhawk bumper & hub emblem (1929-1930)   mjs
Size: 42mm diameter   MM: None

                                                                                  
This is a Blackhawk wire wheel hub (1929-1930)   bonhams







GLEASON

Kansas City Vehicle Co. (1909-1913)

Kansas City, Missouri


This is a Gleason radiator script (1909-1913)     sam
Size: 161mm wide

The Gleason was a 20 hp two-cylinder highwheeler buggy with a brass radiator and was also available in runabout and baby tonneau body styles. The first Gleason appeared in 1909 and remained unchanged until production ended in 1913.

Emblem

The Gleason did not carry a radiator emblem but displayed a brass script attached to the radiator core, see the following Gleason catalog illustration:

Gleason catalog illustration showing radiator script (1910) forums aaca

This is the brass Gleason radiator script shown above at the top of this post. Original Gleason radiator scripts are very rare. 






DART

Dart Truck Co. (1903-1907)
Anderson, Indiana
Dart Mfg. Co. (1907-1912)

Dart Motor Mfg. Co. (1913-1914)
Dart Motor Truck Co. (1914-1918)
Dart Truck & Tractor Corp. (1918-1924)
Hawkeye-Dart Truck Co. (1925)
Waterloo, Iowa
Dart Truck Co. (1925-1961)
KW-Dart Truck Co. (1961-1970)
Dart Truck Co. (1970-present)
Kansas City, Missouri


This is a Dart radiator and hood side emblem (c1933)   mjs
Size: 325mm wide 73mm high    MM:

Dart trucks have been built for over 110 years under several company names and in three locations. The company started as a bicycle manufacturer in 1890. The first trucks in 1903 were chain driven 1/2-ton capacity high-wheelers powered by 20 hp two-cylinder engines. The company moved from Anderson, Indiana to Waterloo, Iowa in 1907 and, by 1912, the trucks were completely redesigned and three models were offered, 1/2-ton, 1-ton and 1-1/2-ton capacity all powered by four-cylinder engines. By April 1916, the Dart truck line-up consisted of seven models ranging from 500 lbs to 3-ton capacity. 

After the First World War truck models up to 3-tons continued to be produced. In 1925 the company was reorganized in Kansas City as the Dart Truck Company and production continued into the 1930's with trucks up to 5-tons capacity. During World War II, Dart trucks grew even larger with 10-ton trucks and 40-ton truck tractors used as tank transporters. In the late 1950's production focused on large off-highway trucks of up to 70-ton capacity and by the mid-1960's Dart was building 100-ton capacity dump trucks and 120-ton bottom-dump tractor trailers.

Dart has continued to build specialist heavy duty dump trucks and related vehicles of sizes up to 160-tons capacity to the present time (as of 2023) under a number of different owners.

Emblems

The earliest Dart high-wheelers probably did not carry an emblem but would have displayed the "Dart" name on small nameplates and serial plates attached to the rear of the vehicle. By 1907, the Dart high-wheeler 1/2-ton light delivery wagon displayed the "Dart" name, either painted or on a decal, on the side of the wagon under the driver's seat, see illustration shown below:

Dart light delivery wagon with Dart side "emblem" (c1907)  rg 

Close-up showing Dart side "emblem" (c1907)

The now, well known "Dart" script logo is first seen around 1912 or 1913 in Dart advertisements, see example shown below:

Dart ad with logo (1913) ebay

The four-cylinder Dart trucks from about 1912 displayed an early form of the "Dart" script logo nameplate with a very long arrow on the sides of the body under the driver's seat, see example shown below:

Dart truck showing body side nameplate (1913)   ms

It is possible that these early Dart trucks also displayed the "Dart" name on a brass script mounted on the radiator core, as shown in the following illustration taken from a 1916 Dart advertisement:

Dart truck displaying a Dart radiator script (1916)   ebay

The Dart Model D light delivery car introduced in 1916 had a much smaller body side "Dart" script, which can just been seen in the following original photo:

Dart light delivery car displaying a small "Dart" body side script (1916)  ebay

Heavy duty Dart trucks had a heavy ribbed radiator with a Dart script emblem cast into the radiator tank to, see 1918 Dart sales bulletin illustration shown below:

Heavy duty Dart truck radiator & cast in emblem (c1916)   flp

The Dart truck is believed to have continued to have a radiator emblem cast into the radiator tank top up to the move to Kansas City in 1925, see slightly different heavy radiator with cast in emblem used in 1920:

Heavy duty Dart Model L truck with cast in radiator emblem (1920)    flp

The following photo shows much the same radiator and emblem used on a Dart tractor:

Dart radiator and cast in emblem (c1920)   ms

Dart truck designs and styling changed after the Depression in the early 1930's. The following photo of a Dart truck introduced in 1933 shows new radiator and hood side emblems, which look closely similar:

This is a Dart Model 60 truck displaying new radiator and hood side emblems (1933)    rg

This is believed to be the painted cast metal Dart emblem shown above at the top of this post and again below. This Dart emblem is rare.

This is a Dart radiator and hood side emblem (c1933)   mjs
Size: 325mm wide 73mm high   MM:

The following Dart script was originally plated and was used as a hood side emblem on the Dart standard truck model in 1939. This Dart hood side script is scarce.

This is a Dart hood side script emblem (1939)    mjs
Size: 152mm wide   

The following red painted Dart emblem appears to date from the 1930's but I cannot confirm this. This Dart emblem is also rare.

This is a Dart emblem (c1930's)   mjs
Size: 73mm wide 48mm high   MM: None

The following Dart emblem is believed to be a hood side emblem from the 1940's, although I cannot confirm this date. This Dart hood side emblem is rare.

This is a Dart hood side emblem (c1940's)    lktec
Size: 308mm wide 70mm high    MM: None

Later Dart trucks became progressively heavy capacity and heavy duty, and displayed a new range of Dart radiator emblems, see late 1940's 35-ton Model 35T end dump truck shown below:

This is a 35-ton capacity Dart dump truck with radiator emblem (1940's)   rg

If you can confirm the use and dates of use of any of the Dart emblems shown earlier, please let me know, in order to update this post.






August 28, 2023

GEARLESS

Gearless Transmission Company (1907-1909)
Gearless Car Co. (1909)
Rochester, New York


This is a Gearless radiator script (c1908-1909)    mjs
Size: 293mm wide

The Gearless Transmission Company was established in late 1905 but production of the Gearless automobile did not begin until late 1906 for the 1907 model year. The Gearless began as a high priced, four-cylinder automobile offered in 50, 60 and 75 hp model sizes, each with friction transmission and double chain drive. 

A large and impressive 75 hp Great Six model was introduced later in 1907 for the 1908 model year. But the Gearless Transmission Company was not producing a profit and it was decided to change its plans. The company was reorganized in 1909 as the Gearless Car Company and lower powered, lower priced cars were offered, including cars using conventional transmission. But it did not work and the company was out of business by the fall of that year.

Emblem

Gearless advertisements do not show a logo style an there is no evidence of an emblem or radiator script, see example shown below:

Gearless advertisement (1907)  ma

However, an original period photo of a Gearless car taking part in an unnamed tour in about 1908 shows the car displaying the "Gearless" name on a script attached to the radiator core, see below:

Gearless tour car with radiator script (c1908)   dpl

The following front elevation of a Gearless car, taken from a Gearless catalog, shows a Gearless radiator script used on both models, probably in 1907 for the 1908 model year 
:

Gearless car showing a radiator script (1907-1908)  mcnygenealogy

The brass Gearless radiator script shown above at the top of this post is a similar radiator script. Original Gearless radiator scripts are rare.

 





FULTON

Clyde Motor Truck Co. (1917)
Fulton Motor Truck Co. (1917-1925)
Farmingdale, Long Island, New York


This is a Fulton truck radiator emblem (1920-1925)   mjs
Size: 70mm high 64mm wide     MM: Whitehead & Hoag

The Fulton truck was the idea of William F. Melhuish, president of the Clyde Motor Truck Company, who wanted to produce a conventional medium-size truck using the latest engineering advances at the time. 

The first Fulton was a 1 to 1-1/2-ton powered by a 30 hp four-cylinder engine and a very large seven gallon gas tank. The most notable thing about the Fulton was its circular radiator with a prominent top flange and its cylindrical hood, which gave the Fulton an unmistakable identity.  By 1918, the Fulton had become the 1-1/2-ton capacity Model FX Express, which was developed further into the 40 hp 2-ton capacity Model C introduced in 1919.

A prototype passenger car was built and driven in 1920 but did not proceed to production. 

A new light to medium duty Fulton Model A rated at 3/4-ton to 1-ton capacity was introduced in 1920 with an enhanced version appearing later in 1920 for the 1921 model year. The 2-ton capacity Fulton Model D truck-tractor also appeared in 1920 and grew into a 4-1/2-ton model by 1922. But, the Fulton struggled to compete with its rivals and it was all over in 1925.

Emblems

The first Fulton trucks had the distinctive circular radiator with the top flange supporting the radiator tank top, which had the "Fulton" name cast into the front. The shape of the first Fulton radiator was rather strange, see the illustrations in the following Fulton truck specification sheet:

Fulton truck spec showing the rad shape (1917) autopaper

Close-up showing the first Fulton truck radiator (1917)

Fulton truck radiator shape (1917-1918)

The Fulton truck had a change in radiator shape by 1918 with the introduction of the Fulton Model FX 1-1/2-ton Express, see example shown below:

Fulton Model FX Express (1918)   hatm

Cast-in Fulton radiator emblem (1918)    hatm

This cast-in Fulton radiator emblem continued to be used on the 2-ton Fulton Model C introduced in 1919, see brochure cover and original photo shown below:

Fulton Model C brochure cover (1919) autopaper

The "Fulton" name was also displayed on a cast metal nameplate mounted on the sides of the vehicle under the driver's seat, see original Fulton Model C photo below:

Fulton Model C with body side nameplate visible (1919)  autopaper

The 3/4-ton to 1-ton Fulton Model A introduced in late 1920 had a much plainer radiator design without the upper flange joint and with no radiator emblem, see Fulton advertisement shown below, which shows the body side nameplate:

Fulton Model A advertisement (1920)   ma

Fulton Model A showing radiator and body side nameplate (1920) 

The 2-ton Fulton Model D, which was introduced in late 1920, had a more elaborate radiator design, which carried a new radiator emblem, see original photo shown below:

Fulton 2-ton Model D with rad emblem (1920)  omm

The Fulton Model A was updated for the 1921 model year using the new radiator and emblem, see Fulton Model A specification sheet shown below:

Fulton Model A spec sheet (1921)  autopaper

Close-up showing Fulton model A radiator and emblem (1921)

This is the blue and white enamel radiator shaped Fulton radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post and again below. This Fulton radiator emblem is extremely rare.

This is a Fulton truck radiator emblem (1920-1925)   mjs
Size: 70mm high 64mm wide   MM: Whitehead & Hoag