LEMOON

Nelson & LeMoon (1910-1927)
Nelson-LeMoon Truck Co. (1927-1939)
Chicago, Illinois

This is a Le Moon radiator emblem (c1920-1927 dates uncertain)    mjs
Size: 67mm wide 37mm high    MM: Unknown (some D L Auld)

The first recorded LeMoon truck built in 1910 was a conventional four-cylinder 1-ton vehicle using double chain drive. It was joined by a 1-1/2-ton capacity truck in 1911. For 1913, 2-ton and 3-ton capacity models were added and in 1918 a 5-ton capacity model was introduced. Worm drive replaced chain drive in 1915 on all but the heaviest trucks. 

From 1913 to 1927 the name Nelson-LeMoon was used rather than plain LeMoon, which became the name again after 1927. By 1930 there were no fewer than eleven models in the LeMoon range. By 1931 LeMoon built a 12-ton six-wheeler with double worm drive. LeMoon introduced some straight-eight engines in the early 1930s and Cummins diesel engines were also available from 1932. Cab-over-engine models and articulated truck tractors were also introduced.

LeMoon diversified in the late 1930's by building taxicabs and a motor home but all production ceased in 1939. Lifetime LeMoon production was about 3,000 trucks.

Emblems

The earliest LeMoon trucks did not carry an emblem but would have displayed the "LeMoon" name on a maker's nameplate or serial plate attached to the body of the truck. 

Original photos of a LeMoon truck taking part in the 1911 Chicago Reliability Run confirm that the truck did not have an emblem but it had the "LeMoon" name stenciled in large letters on the radiator core, see example shown below:

LeMoon truck at Chicago Reliability Run (1911)   dpl

It is likely that this bold identification was specially made for publicity purposes at the Chicago Reliability Run. A more modest "LeMoon" stencil may have been used to put the name on the radiator tank top or on the radiator grille of later models but this cannot be confirmed.

From 1913, the "Nelson-LeMoon" name was used, see the following example of the name stenciled on the front of the radiator tank top of a surviving 1915 Nelson & LeMoon truck. However, this truck has been repainted and it is not certain that this style of lettering was used originally.

Nelson-LeMoon truck showing radiator emblem (1915)  natm

Nelson & LeMoon truck radiator emblem (1915)  natm

Although it is reported that Nelson & LeMoon trucks used the "Nelson-LeMoon" name from 1913 to 1927, the following surviving LeMoon truck from 1920 carries a small radiator emblem marked "LeMoon" only. The emblem sits well on the radiator tank top, which appears too small for the larger   "LeMoon" emblems known to have been used from 1927, see later below. 

Nelson-LeMoon truck with small radiator emblem (1920)    gary alan nelson

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

This is a LeMoon radiator emblem (c1920-1927 dates uncertain)  mjs
Size: 67mm wide 37mm high   MM: Unknown (some D L Auld)

The Nelson-LeMoon Truck Company was incorporated in 1927 and a new pressed brass radiator emblem appeared, see example shown below:

This is a LeMoon stake truck (1928)   mecum

LeMoon stake truck radiator & emblem (1928)  mecum

This is a LeMoon radiator emblem (1928)   mecum

The following is a very similar but later black painted chrome, pressed metal version of the LeMoon radiator emblem. This LeMoon truck radiator emblem is scarce.

This is a LeMoon radiator emblem (c1935-1939)    lktec
Size: 159mm wide 75mm high    MM: None