American Auto Emblems

This web-site presents the nameplates, emblems and logos displayed on American auto vehicles from the introduction of the horseless carriage up to about 1950. My intention is to provide a reference base for collectors and researchers. I would welcome any corrections or observations and details of other emblems or vehicle makes to add to this reference base. For more details see the Pages listed on the right. (Contact Mike Shears at murraysbadges@gmail.com)

December 15, 2025

COLEMAN

American Coleman Co. (1925-1986)

Littleton, Colorado

This is a Coleman truck emblem (dates unknown) mjs
Size: 142mm wide 86mm high MM: None

Coleman began in Omaha, Nebraska in 1923 as the Coleman Motors Corporation but production did not start until 1925, when the company moved to Littleton, Colorado and was reorganized as the American Coleman Company. Harley Holmes, who had previously invented a gear-type steerable axle for use on four-wheel drive applications, was the American Coleman design engineer.

The first Coleman trucks were four-cylinder 4x4 and 6x6 load carriers and truck tractors, used mainly for off road highway construction but were also used as log haulers and snow plows. A fire engine was also offered to smaller fire services. In 1928 a 7-1/2-ton truck was introduced for the logging and oil industries.

By 1936, Coleman offered eight models ranging from 2-tons to 10-tons capacity but a 6-ton capacity model was the only truck offered in 1941. Coleman produced crane carriers for the US Army in World War Two. After the War, Coleman 4x4 trucks continued in production but a serious labour dispute kept the factory closed in 1949 and 1950, which lost the company business. Coleman made a comeback in 1952 with a large contract to build towing tractors for the U. S. Air Force. Vehicle development and production continued until 1986.

Emblems

The following Coleman trucks advertisement from 1928 demonstrates the strength and durability of Coleman trucks and includes an illustration of a 4WD Coleman dump truck with a hood side nameplate:

Coleman truck advertisement showing hood side nameplate (1928) american ikons

Early Coleman trucks displayed the "Coleman" name cast into the radiator tank top but the following example appears to have the "COLEMAN" name embossed or pressed into the top of the radiator, possibly on a light duty model:

This is a Coleman radiator showing rad emblem (c1929) moroz

The following example shows a restored 1929 Coleman 5-ton capacity truck with a cast-in radiator emblem and additional "Coleman" nameplates and a maker's nameplate on the side of the truck but I cannot confirm that the restored "Coleman" nameplates are authentic.

Coleman truck with cast rad emblem & nameplates (1929) craig h trout

Front view showing radiator emblem (1929) rpm canada

The following photo shows a close-up of the Coleman maker's nameplate. This nameplate appears to be in the form of a sticker and was most likely attached during restoration. I cannot confirm if this sticker accurately reproduces the original maker's nameplate.

Coleman reproduction maker's nameplate (1929) rpm canada

The following example shows the same type of cast in radiator emblem:

Coleman G-55A truck (c1930) oldcarsweekly

The painted, cast aluminum Coleman maker's emblem/nameplate shown above at the top of this post and again below is original but I cannot confirm the dates of use. This Coleman emblem is rare.

This is a Coleman emblem (dates unknown) mjs
Size: 142mm wide 86mm high MM: None

If you have better details about this Coleman emblem, please let me know, in order to update this post.

The following c1936 Coleman G-55A truck carries a Quick Way Model E shovel and has a hood side nameplate similar to the hood side nameplate on the 1928 Coleman advertisement shown earlier above:

This Coleman truck displays a hood side nameplate (c1936) aths

From about 1946, Coleman trucks displayed the "Coleman" name in the form of a curved base script on the top of the radiator shell, see examples shown below: