November 07, 2020

CASE

J. I. Case Threshing Machine Co. (1911-1918)
Case Motor Car Div. J. I. Case T. M. Co. (1918-1927)
Racine, Wisconsin


This is a Case radiator emblem (1922-1925)     mjs
Size: 105mm high 41mm wide    MM: Unknown

By 1886 the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company was the world's largest manufacturer of steam engines and later became one of the largest manufacturers of farm tractors and other agricultural vehicles. In 1871 the company helped Dr J. M. Carhart build a steam buggy and in 1895 the company planned to enter a car in the Chicago Times-Herald Contest race but could not complete their car in time. The first Case gasoline powered tractor was produced in 1895.

In 1910, Case took over the Pierce Motor Company, manufacturers of the Pierce-Racine, and the first Case car, which arrived in 1911, was a modified version of the four-cylinder Pierce-Racine 30. A 40 hp model was introduced in 1912 and a 50 hp six-cylinder model was added to the line in 1918. Thereafter, all Case motor cars were six-cylinder models. 

Case had a reputation for robust, rugged quality and was well known outside America. In 1926, Case decided to concentrate its motor car production exclusively on the export market but the Case automobile department was closed by 1927. Thereafter Case made farm vehicles only.

Emblems

Case motor cars used an eagle-on-a-globe as its emblem, see example shown above, which was modeled on "Old Abe", the Civil War era bald eagle mascot of the 8th Wisconsin regiment, see below:

"Old Abe" 8th Wisconsin Regiment mascot

Early Case advertisements in 1911 show a Case 30 car with a "CASE" radiator script but no radiator emblem, see example shown below:

Case ad showing radiator script (1911)  ha

Close-up showing rad script but no emblem (1911)

However, a 1911 Case sales brochure includes illustrations of Case vehicles and has a detailed illustration of a Case emblem on the cover, see below:

Case sales brochure cover (1911)
chuckstoyland

The following illustration of a Case limousine from this sales brochure shows a Case radiator emblem and script:

Case limousine from sales brochure (1911)

This Case emblem is seen on an original photo from about 1911 and on several original photos from 1913 of Case cars taking part in races and other events, see examples shown below:

Case car with radiator emblem & script (c1911)  centerofthewest

Case race car at Indy 500 with radiator emblem (1913)   dpl

This Case emblem is the white and blue enamel Case radiator emblem shown below. This Case radiator emblem is believed to have been used until about 1915 but is, nevertheless, a very rare emblem.

This is a Case radiator emblem (1911-1915)    mjs
Size: 94mm high 40mm wide    MM: Robbins

The following are examples of the Case radiator script. Original Case radiator scripts are scarce.

This is a Case radiator script (1911-c1917)      mjs
Size: 273mm wide

This is a black painted Case radiator script (1911-c1917)    mjs
Size: 273mm wide

The Case radiator emblem was made somewhat larger from 1915, see the white and blue enamel Case radiator emblem shown below. This Case radiator emblem is very rare.

This is a Case radiator emblem (1915-1921)    mjs
Size: 105mm high 41mm wide    MM: Noble

Emblem collectors should beware as there are good reproduction Case radiator emblems similar to the emblem shown above. The original Case radiator emblem has two fixing studs on the back, whereas the reproduction emblems have a single internally threaded stud on the back and no maker's mark. 

The Case radiator emblem had a color change from 1922 to a basically white emblem, see original photo show below:

This is a Case car with white radiator emblem (1924)   dpl

Close up showing radiator emblem (1924) 

This emblem is the white enamel Case radiator emblem with blue enamel letters shown above at the top of this post and again below. This Case radiator emblem is rare.

This is a Case radiator emblem (1922-1925)    mjs
Size: 105mm high 41mm wide   MM: Unknown

Emblem collectors should beware as there are reproduction Case radiator emblems similar to the emblem shown above. The original emblem has two fixing studs on the back, whereas the reproduction emblems have a flat back and some have blue enamel in the eagle's eye.
  
The following white enamel Case emblem finished in gold is believed to have been used as a radiator emblem on some Case models in the 1920's but the dates are unconfirmed. This Case radiator emblem is very rare.

This is a Case radiator emblem (1920's)     mjs
Size: 82mm high 32mm wide    MM: Unknown

If you can identify the use of this Case emblem, please let me know, in order to update this post.

The following photo shows the dashboard of a 1925 Case Model X which has a very small multi-colored Case emblem under the ignition switch, see close up:

Case Model X dash showing light/ignition switch panel (1925)
hemmings

Close-up showing Case ignition switch panel emblem (1925)

This small Case emblem is similar to the brown, orange and white enamel Case ignition switch panel emblem shown below. This Case emblem is extremely rare.

This is a Case ignition switch panel emblem (c1924-1926)   mjs
Size: 45mm high 22mm wide    MM: Unknown

The following black and white oval shaped Case radiator emblem was used from 1925. This Case radiator emblem is scarce.

This is a Case radiator emblem (1925-1927)    mjs
Size: 67mm high 48mm wide   MM: Unknown

The following chrome plated metal Case emblem is often labeled as a Case motor car radiator emblem but it is not. It is a Case emblem used on Case agricultural equipment.

This is a Case agricultural equipment emblem 
Size: 106mm high 44mm wide   MM: None









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