AMERICAN MERCEDES

Daimler Manufacturing Co. (1905-1907)
Long Island City, New York

 This is an American Mercedes radiator emblem (1905)  khc
Size: Unknown   MM: Unknown (prob None)

William Steinway, piano manufacturer from New York, secured the patent rights to Gottlieb Daimler's engines and motor vehicles and set up the Daimler Motor Company in Hartford, Connecticut to produce Daimler engines. In 1896, the company was reorganized as the Daimler Manufacturing Company for the production of motors, launches and some commercial vehicles, as well as the importation of European motor cars. 

Shipping costs and high import duties made foreign motor cars very expensive in America. To reduce these costs, the Daimler Manufacturing Company began to produce exact reproductions of the 45 hp four-cylinder seven-passenger Mercedes touring car at their plant at Long Island City, New York. 

The American Mercedes was introduced at the National Automobile Show in New York in January 1905. In the same month, H. L. Bowden established a world record over one mile with a flying start by driving a Mercedes with two 60 hp engines at Daytona Beach, reaching an average speed of just over 109 mph, thereby giving a welcome publicity boost to Mercedes. Even so, the first American Mercedes was not delivered until 1906.

However, the American Mercedes sold well until a disastrous factory fire in February 1907 brought the American Mercedes to an end. The total American Mercedes production is unknown, but the factory fire destroyed eight completed cars and forty others in the process of production.

After 1907, all Mercedes cars sold in America were imported.

Emblems  

The following original period photo shows an American Mercedes car with an oval shaped radiator emblem. The radiator is painted but the emblem is possibly finished in polished brass. The detail of the emblem cannot be seen.

This is an American Mercedes (c1905)   dpl

The following photos show the only surviving American Mercedes built in 1905. 

This is the only surviving American Mercedes (1905)  
mercedes benz

This car has an original, black painted oval shaped radiator emblem, which is inscribed with the "American Mercedes" name, see below: 

American Mercedes radiator emblem (1905)
mercedes benz

The "American Mercedes" name is also displayed on the hub emblems, see below: 

American Mercedes wheel showing hub emblem (1905)
mercedes benz

The hub emblem is more clearly seen in the following photo:

American Mercedes hub emblem (1905)   khc

The American Mercedes radiator emblem and hub emblem shown above are both ultra rare. If you have the dimensions of either of these emblems, please let me know, in order to update this post.

The following original period photo of an American Mercedes car at a trade show is dated 1907:

American Mercedes at a trade show (1907)  dpl

Close up showing radiator emblem

The painted radiator emblem appears to have a different shape but this may be an illusion due the way it has been painted.