WOLVERINE

Reo Motor Car Co. (1927-1928)

Lansing, Michigan

This is a Wolverine radiator emblem (1928)      mjs
Size: 66mm wide 52mm high    MM: Unknown (probably D L Auld)

The Wolverine was manufactured by the Reo Motor Car Company as a smaller companion car to the Reo Flying Cloud (see Reo) to compete in the lower priced car market.

The Wolverine Six, introduced in May 1927, was an assembled 50 hp six-cylinder car offered initially as a brougham with cabriolet and sedan styles available in 1928. 

The Wolverine name was discontinued by Reo in December 1928 when Reo changed their Flying Cloud line up. The Wolverine Six was replaced by the Reo Flying Cloud Mate in 1929.

Emblems

The first Wolverine Six radiator emblem was finished in opaque blue enamel with a white enamel "6" and appeared in May 1927, see example below, which may have been originally gold plated. This Wolverine radiator emblem is extremely rare.

This is a Wolverine radiator emblem (1927)    sam
Size: 66mm wide 52mm high   MM: Unknown (possibly D L Auld)

The following is an original un-used example of this Wolverine radiator emblem. This Wolverine 

radiator emblem is also extremely rare.

This is a Wolverine radiator emblem (1927)    tcc
Size: 66mm wide 52mm high   MM: D L Auld

This Wolverine radiator emblem has a flat back with no maker's mark but has an Auld mounting cup device. All other Wolverine radiator emblems that I have seen have the detailed design of the emblem impressed into the back of the emblem and where it is possible to see how the emblem was attached to the radiator there is evidence of an Auld mounting device.

There appears to have been a change to the die used to make the Wolverine radiator emblem later in 1927, as seen in the following photo of a Wolverine radiator emblem in the Smithsonian Automobile Emblem Collection. As well as some minor differences in detail, the most visible change was to make the circumference of the emblem a regular circle, whereas the previous emblem shown earlier above had an irregular circumference. This Wolverine radiator emblem is extremely rare.

This is a Wolverine radiator emblem (1927)    sac
Size: 66mm wide 52mm high   MM: Unknown (possibly D L Auld)

There was a change in color used on the Wolverine radiator emblem in late 1927 or early 1928 to transparent blue enamel with a black enamel "6", see example shown below. This Wolverine radiator emblem is very rare. All examples of this emblem that I have seen were finished in nickel plate.

This is a Wolverine radiator emblem (1927-1928)    mjs
Size:66mm wide 52mm high   MM: Unknown (possibly D L Auld)

The Wolverine radiator emblem was changed again to a transparent red and opaque white enamel "6" version, which is believed to have been introduced for the 1928 model year, see example shown above at the top of this post and again below.  This Wolverine radiator emblem is rare. This emblem usually appears to be un-plated but it was originally gold plated.

This is a Wolverine radiator emblem (1928)    mjs
Size: 66mm wide 52mm high   MM: Unknown (possibly D L Auld)

CHALMERS-DETROIT

Chalmers-Detroit Motor Co. (1908-1910)

Detroit, Michigan

This is a Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem (c1909)     ms
Size: Unknown (poss 57mm diameter)   MM: Unknown

In 1906, Erwin Ross Thomas, who was successfully building 50 hp four-cylinder Thomas Flyer cars in Buffalo, New York, agreed to finance Howard E Coffin and Roy Chaplin from the Olds Motor Works to establish the E. R. Thomas-Detroit Company to produce a smaller but similarly high-quality 40 hp four-cylinder car in Detroit to be called the Thomas Forty initially and later the Thomas-Detroit.

The Thomas-Detroit business was successful but Coffin and Chaplin were unhappy with the marketing and sales of the Thomas-Detroit being controlled by Erwin Thomas and persuaded Hugh Chalmers of Detroit to buy a controlling interest in the E. R. Thomas-Detroit Company. Hugh Chalmers became President of the company in December 1907. 

The Chalmers-Detroit Motor Company was formally established in June 1908 and the first 40 hp Chalmers-Detroit cars appeared that month marketed as 1909 models. Initially, the Chalmers-Detroit Forty was essentially the Thomas-Detroit Forty with a new emblem and a new name. A new smaller 24 hp Chalmers-Detroit model was also offered and this became the 30 hp Chalmers-Detroit for the 1909 model year.

Following the earlier success of the Thomas-Detroit in auto events, the Chalmers-Detroit was also very successful in racing car events, endurance and reliability contests and tours and quickly gained a reputation for performance and endurance winning numerous major competitions. The Chalmers-Detroit claimed sixty-nine major auto competition wins in its production period through 1908 and 1909.  

The Chalmers-Detroit became a popular and highly regarded motor car attracting the interest of some of America's wealthiest businessmen and car owners, including the Vanderbilts and the Rockefellers.

Chalmers-Detroit reorganized as the Chalmers Motor Company in January 1910 and the new name appeared in about July 1910 at the start of the 1911 production cycle and, thereafter, all cars were known simply as "Chalmers" (see Chalmers).

Emblems

Original photos of Chalmers-Detroit cars taking part in contests in 1908-1909 indicate that some cars carried a round radiator emblem, some only a radiator script, some with both a radiator emblem and radiator script and some without any emblem or script at all, see examples below showing a variety of different brass radiator scripts. It is noted that some early period photos of Chalmers-Detroit cars show painted radiators, perhaps to brighten the appearance of the car to would be buyers.

Chalmers-Detroit Long Island Motor Parkway Sweepstakes (Oct 1908) dpl

Chalmers-Detroit Savannah Races (Nov 1908)  dpl

Chalmers-Detroit Blue Bird at Shingle Hill Climb (May 1909)  dpl

Chalmers-Detroit 40 at NY Orphans Day Outing (June 1909)  dpl

Chalmers-Detroit at Point Breeze races (June 1909)   dpl

Chalmers-Detroit cars on Glidden Tour (July 1909)

Chalmers-Detroit 30 Denver to Mexico City Endurance Run (Oct 1909)  dpl

Chalmers-Detroit on NY to Atlanta Good Roads Run (Oct 1909)  dpl

The use of large brass radiator scripts was helpful in clearly showing the name of the car in publicity photos and in newspapers. Original brass Chalmers-Detroit radiator scripts as shown in the photos above and in the example shown below are very rare.

This is a Chalmers-Detroit radiator script (1908-1909)    mjs
Size: 510mm

Most but not all of the period photos of Chalmers-Detroit cars show a round radiator emblem, see another example shown below. However, the detailed design of the radiator emblems cannot be seen with any clarity in these photos.

Chalmers-Detroit at Long Island Sweepstakes (Oct 1908)  dpl

Detail showing radiator & emblem

These early Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblems are believed to have been simple round, painted stamped brass emblems.

A brochure detailing the 1909 Chalmers-Detroit models includes what appears to be an illustration of the Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem on the cover, see below:

1909 Chalmers-Detroit brochure cover (1908) 
chucks toyland

 1909 Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem illustration (1908)

This Chalmers-Detroit emblem illustration is likely to have been made in mid-1908 for printing ahead of the 1909 production cycle, which began at the same time as the formal establishment of the Chalmers-Detroit Motor Company. It is noted that this illustration appears to indicate a gold finish to at least some parts of the emblem.

It is likely that this emblem illustration was intended to show the first Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem planned for use from about June 1908. However, I cannot yet confirm that this illustration is totally accurate.

The following photo shows a part view of an early Chalmers-Detroit radiator with a much corroded radiator emblem but it is clear enough to show the basic design, which is very similar to the radiator emblem illustration shown above, although some of the detail is obscured by corrosion. 

This is a Chalmers-Detroit radiator & emblem (1908 or 1909)  ms

This is the Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem (1908 or 1909)  ms 

The following photo shows another early Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem soldered to a radiator. This Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem is closely similar to the corroded emblem shown above, although some of the detail is obscured in the corroded emblem photo.The emblem is also similar to the Chalmers-Detroit brochure illustration shown earlier, although some details are different, for example there is no dot after the letter "A" in "USA". 

This is a Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem (c1908)  chalmersregistry
Size: Unknown (likely 57mm diameter)   MM: Unknown (likely None)

The following stamped brass Chalmers-Detroit emblem appears to be the same as the emblem shown above apart from some very slight font differences in the lettering, for example the letter "R" in "DETROIT". The font differences may be due to the Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblems being produced by more than one emblem maker.

This is a Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem (poss 1908)  tcc
Size: 57mm diameter   MM: None

This Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem was originally painted and is believed to be an original emblem and is extremely rare. There is no sign of any gold plating. The following photo shows this same emblem now repainted as it was originally:

This is a painted Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem (poss 1908) tcc
Size: 57mm diameter     MM: None

The following photo of a surviving 1908 Chalmers-Detroit Thirty Model F Tourabout carries a similar radiator emblem, although the detailed design is somewhat different:

1908 Chalmers-Detroit Thirty   justacarguy

Chalmers-Detroit Thirty radiator with emblem and script (1908) steve sexton

Close up showing Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem (1908) 

The radiator emblem seen here is believed to be original, although the brass radiator script mounted on the radiator is most likely a reproduction made for the restoration of the car and follows similar radiator script designs seen on the original period photos shown earlier.

The following is believed to be a detailed photo of the very same stamped brass Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem shown above, which was painted originally with some paint remaining. The emblem differs from the Chalmers-Detroit radiator shown earlier above in the font used for some of the lettering and, more obviously, with the introduction of a hyphen in the name "CHALMERS-DETROIT" followed by a dot and the absence of a dot after the letter "U" in "USA".  

This is a Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem (1908-1909)  kmc
Size: Unknown (probably 57mm diameter)  MM: Unknown (probably None)

This Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem is also believed to be original and is extremely rare.

There was a blue and white enamel version of this Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem, as shown above at the top of this post and again below. 

This is a Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem (1909)   ms
Size: Unknown (poss 57mm diameter)   MM: Unknown

This Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem has, so far, not been seen on any illustrations or period photos of Chalmers-Detroit cars and may have been the first attempt at an enamel Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem produced in mid 1909 ready for the start of the 1910 model year production cycle. This Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem is extremely rare and possibly ultra rare.

The actual Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem chosen for the 1910 model year was an entirely new design, see example below. This Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem is very rare.

This is a Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem (1909-1910)   sac
Size: 58mm diameter     MM: Unknown

This Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem is seen on the following original period photo of a Chalmers-Detroit taken in 1909:

Chalmers-Detroit with the new enamel radiator emblem (1909)  hcg

Chalmers-Detroit advertisements from late 1909, show accurate illustrations of this radiator emblem, see the example shown below from The Automobile in December 1909, which shows two different illustrations of the Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem.

Chalmers-Detroit ad showing two emblems (1909) ta

Close up showing emblem illustrations (1909)

The emblem illustration on the left shows the new Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem seen in the photo shown above. The emblem illustration on the right shows the same emblem but with what appears to be a lighter and brighter finish to the metal adjacent to the enamel, possibly bright nickel or gold. The following photo shows a Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem, which may be gold plated. This Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem is extremely rare. 

This may be a gold plated Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem (1909-1910)  ms
Size: 58mm diameter    MM: Unknown

The following photo shows the radiator emblem on a surviving 1910 Chalmers-Detroit Model K Thirty. This radiator emblem has the same "CD" central logo as the 1910 enamel finished Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem shown earlier above. It is not known if this radiator emblem was originally finished in enamel. However, this emblem appears to have lost any enamel that it might have had originally and is brightly plated all over. This may have been a relatively recent restoration of the emblem but I cannot confirm this. 

This shows a domed metal Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem (1910)  bonhams

Most significantly, this Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem appears to be domed in the center. A detailed close examination carried out by Karla Maxwell has confirmed that this is indeed a quite different Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem set in a bezel and with a domed center area showing the "CD" logo. The lettering around the outer circumference uses a quite different font and appears to be recessed. 

Chalmers-Detroit emblem comparison (1910)  kmc

It is not known when this domed Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem was made but, if it is an original Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem made in 1910, it would be extremely rare and possibly ultra rare.

Chalmers-Detroit was reorganized as the Chalmers Motor Company in January 1910 but the "Chalmers" name did not replace "Chalmers-Detroit" until the start of the 1911 production cycle. The following Chalmers-Detroit emblem illustration, which is date tagged 1911, is believed to have been taken from a 1910 Chalmers-Detroit advertisement ahead of the 1911 model year:

Chalmers-Detroit rad emblem illustration (1910)  hperc

Presumably, this monochrome illustration represents a dark blue on white enamel radiator emblem. The emblem illustrations used in 1909 Chalmers-Detroit advertisements for the 1910 model year were accurate representations of the emblem, as seen earlier above. It is most likely, therefore, that this illustration accurately depicts a real Chalmers-Detroit radiator emblem, possibly planned for the 1911 model year. It is likely that this emblem did not proceed to manufacture but, if such an emblem was actually made, it would be ultra rare.

  

EWING

Cleveland Auto Cab Co. (1908)
Ewing Automobile Co. (1909-1911)
Geneva, Ohio

This is a Ewing radiator script (c1909)   dkc
Size: 90mm wide 45mm high

The Ewing taxicab, designed by Louis P. Mooers and built by the Cleveland Auto Cab Company, was an attractive motor vehicle. Production began earlier in 1908 but the Ewing was introduced at the Ninth International Automobile Show at Central Palace, New York on New Year's Eve in December 1908. Levi Edward Ewing was a substantial investor in the Cleveland Auto Cab Company and by February 1909, he had taken over the company and renamed it the Ewing Automobile Company.  

The Ewing was available as a taxicab or as a town car both powered by a four-cylinder 24 hp engine. About thirty Ewing cars were built in 1908 and another forty-seven in 1909. 

Ewing found it difficult to recruit and maintain a workforce of skilled mechanics in the small town of Geneva and considered a move to Erie, Pennsylvania but in October 1909 he sold out to William C. Durant, who was building his General Motors empire. Durant closed the Ewing Automobile Company in June 1911. 

Emblem

The only original photo I have seen of a Ewing town car does not show a radiator emblem, see below:

Ewing town car (1909)      scac

It is noted that a Ewing nameplate, possibly a serial plate, is mounted on the outside of the dash firewall.

However, a brass Ewing radiator script does exist, see photo shown at the top of this post. It is believed that this Ewing radiator script is original and may be from a Ewing taxicab. Original Ewing radiator scripts and nameplates are very rare. 

If you have details of any other Ewing emblems or nameplates, please let me know, in order to update this post.

MOYER

H. A. Moyer (1908-1915)
Syracuse, New York 

This is a Moyer radiator emblem (1912-c1916)    mjs
Size: 63mm wide 29mm high    MM: None

Harvey Allen Moyer established himself as a wagon builder in 1876 in Cicero, New York and moved his business to Syracuse, New York in the early 1880's. He built an experimental four-cylinder four-passenger tourabout automobile in 1908 and decided to manufacture automobiles as well as carriages and wagons. 

In 1909, Moyer had a new automobile factory built close to his carriage factory and, while the auto factory was under construction, he built Moyer car #0, a prototype runabout with a “mother-in-law” rear seat and, most likely a few production models of this first generation Moyer car design as well.

Moyer announced in December 1909 in automobile trade journals that full production of the Moyer automobile would begin in January 1910 and expected to produce about 200 cars. It is believed that only around fifty or less Moyer automobiles were produced in the first year. The first three cars, Car #s 001, 002, & 003, to come out of the new factory and be delivered, were announced in the Syracuse Post Standard newspaper on July 2, 1910.

The Moyer was a big car and was very well built. The first Moyer automobiles included tourabout and roadster models.  By 1911, the Moyer was a 29 hp four-cylinder model offered in runabout and touring body styles. This was followed in 1912 by a 38 hp six-cylinder model, which was increased in size to a 49 hp six-cylinder model by 1913. 

Financial problems led Moyer to sell his automobile factory in November 1915. He moved his automobile manufacturing machinery into his carriage factory and a few more cars may have been built in 1916 but this cannot be confirmed. Total lifetime Moyer automobile production is believed to have been just over 400 cars.

In 1917, Moyer sold most of his carriage factory buildings but retained the main office and showroom building with sufficient space to continue to service his automobile customers and to service other makes of cars. 

Moyer then incorporated his business as an automobile sales dealership for Stearns-Knight, Velie and Elgin.

Emblems

The first Moyer radiator emblem was a stamped brass emblem riveted and soldered to the radiator tank top and, from photo evidence, is believed to have been first used in 1909.

There are original period photos of early Moyer cars showing the radiator with a radiator emblem and, although the emblem details in most early photos are unclear, they are clearly not the better known red, white and blue enamel oval-shaped radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post.

One of H. A. Moyer's first experimental cars built in 1908 is seen in the newspaper article shown below but the print quality is too poor to see a radiator emblem, if any.

Moyer experimental car (1908)  gsc/mfa

However, the following original photo taken on September 14, 1909 shows what is believed to be the first Moyer roadster registered as car #0. A radiator emblem is present but the design cannot be clearly identified from the photo. However, it is certainly not the later white centered oval Moyer emblem.

Moyer roadster showing a radiator emblem (1909)  gsc/mfa

Close up showing Moyer radiator emblem (1909)

The following period photo shows a Moyer touring model labeled 1912 on the front of a postcard date stamped March 17, 1911, so the car was likely built early 1911. This Moyer also displays a radiator emblem but again not the later white centered oval emblem.

1912 Moyer with radiator emblem (March 1911) 

 Close up showing radiator emblem

As an aside, it is noted that most early Moyer factory photos and illustrations of Moyer cars display the "Moyer" name and sometimes the model year painted on mahogony plaques mounted beneath the running boards, see following examples:

Moyer roadster close up showing name plaque (1909) 

Moyer Model B close up showing name plaque (1911)

Original mahogony Moyer name plaque (c1911)   gsc/mfa

Returning to the Moyer radiator emblem, the following newspaper photo from February 9, 1912 shows a Moyer car offered as a prize. The car was most likely built in 1911 and clearly has a radiator emblem, which has an unusual shape that is also certainly not the later white centered oval shape:

Moyer car offered as prize (1912)  The Syracuse Herald

Close up detail showing radiator emblem (c1911)

The following photo shows a surviving 1912 Moyer Model 5 touring car taking part in the Glidden Revival Tour in 1950. This is Moyer car #145 believed to have been built in 1911. The car carries the unusual shaped radiator emblem seen in the earlier photos but is now more clearly visible. The car also displays a reproduction brass "Moyer" script attached to the radiator core.

Moyer car with early rad emblem on Glidden Tour in 1950  gsc

Close up showing Moyer radiator and emblem (c1911)

The following close up photo shows the top of the radiator and the emblem on Moyer car #145:

Close up showing the Moyer radiator emblem (c1911)  gsc

This is the stamped brass Moyer radiator emblem. This Moyer radiator emblem is extremely rare and very possibly ultra rare.

This is a Moyer radiator emblem (1909-1912) 
Size: 49mm wide 36mm high    MM: Unknown (poss None)

The next surviving Moyer car after the Moyer Model 5 touring car #145 shown above with the stamped brass radiator emblem is a Moyer "Small Six" 5-passenger touring car #173 bought new from a Moyer showroom on August 14, 1912, so built sometime before this date. This Moyer car carries the later enamel oval radiator emblem, which appears to have been introduced in early to mid-1912, see below: 

Moyer Car #173 radiator & emblem (1912)   gsc

The following very rare original period photo shows a Moyer car under construction in the Moyer factory in about 1912. The Moyer car clearly displays the new oval shaped radiator emblem.

Moyer car manufacturing factory (c1912)    gsc

Close up showing radiator emblem (c1912)

This is the red, white and blue Moyer radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post and again below. This Moyer radiator emblem is very rare.

This is a Moyer radiator emblem (1912-c1916)  mjs
Size: 63mm wide 29mm high    MM: None

The "Moyer" name was also displayed on the bronze hub emblem riveted to the brass hubcaps, see example shown below. This Moyer hubcap design did not change throughout the production of the Moyer.

This is a Moyer hubcap (1909-c1916)   dkc

The following is a bronze Moyer hub emblem, which is very rare:

This is a Moyer hub emblem (1909-c1916)    mjs
Size: 49mm diameter   MM: None

For some Moyer models the background to the "Moyer" name in the hub emblem was color painted to match the body color, see the following original period photo of a light colored Moyer seven-passenger tourist phaeton with matching hubcaps:

Moyer seven=passenger tourist phaeton with color matching hubcaps   gsc/mfa

Close up showing painted hubcap

Hubcap collectors should beware as there are counterfeit Moyer hubcaps using a blank vintage hubcap with a fake "Moyer" hub script soldered on, see example shown below:

This is a counterfeit Moyer hubcap       ms

The "Moyer" name was also shown on a small brass oval shaped serial number tag riveted to the part of the chassis frame where the transmission system was held, see example shown below. These serial number tags were used throughout the production life of the Moyer.

Moyer tag serial number 203     gsc
Size: 36mm wide 28mm high

From 1913 to the end of Moyer production, an additional serial plate was mounted on the kick board under the front passenger seat giving the car number and engine number, see example shown below:

Moyer serial plate car number 235     gsc
Size: 89mm wide 38mm high

Some surviving Moyer cars also display the "Moyer" name on a reproduction brass script mounted on the radiator core, see example shown below:

Moyer Model C roadster with rad emblem & script (1914) ms

Reproduction Moyer radiator script    ms

This reproduction brass "Moyer" radiator script, most likely based on the design of the "Moyer" hub cap script, was first used to decorate the radiator of Moyer Model 5 touring car #145 shown earlier in a photo from the 1950 Glidden Revival Tour. The Moyer factory never did make or supply a brass "Moyer" radiator script for any of their car models.

I am most grateful to Moyer historian and registrar, Gary Smith of Sahuarita, Arizona for his very helpful advice and for access to his Moyer photo collection. Any errors in my interpretation of his advice are entirely down to me. It is noted that some items in the Gary Smith collection are copied from the Moyer Family Archives, courtesy of Mr Jeffery Moyer, g-g grandson of H. A. Moyer, Binghamton, NY.