BIRCH

Birch Motor Cars, Inc. (1916-1923)

Chicago, Illinois

This is a Birch radiator emblem (c1916)    mjs
Size: 90mm wide 41mm high    MM: None

Birch cars were assembled cars sold by direct mail order only, mainly through magazine advertisements. The car was probably named after Ralph Birchard, who was not only President of Birch Motor Cars but also President of Birch Motor College, where some car assembly was carried out by its students, although most production was undertaken by established motor car companies, including Crow-Elkhart of Indiana and Seneca of Ohio.

The first Birch car appeared in 1916 and was a 19.6 hp four-cylinder touring model. A 21.6 hp six-cylinder touring was added to the line in 1918 and the range of body styles increased significantly by 1921. Production had ceased by 1923.

It is not known how many Birch cars were actually built and sold but it is not believed to be many. 

Emblem

The only photos of Birch cars that I can find are those used in Birch advertisements and in Birch sales literature, most of which was cheaply produced magazine quality material and most of the photos lack clarity in detail.

The Birch radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post is rare.