GADABOUT

Gadabout Motor Corp. 
Newark, New Jersey (1914-1915)
Detroit, Michigan (1915-1916)

This may be a Gadabout radiator emblem (1915-1916)   glc
Size: 51mm diameter     MM: Unknown

The Gadabout was a 12 hp four-cylinder water-cooled, two-person cyclecar with side by side seating featuring a distinctive wickerwork body. Production of the Gadabout started in Newark, New Jersey in mid-1914 but the factory moved to Detroit in mid 1915.

The fashion for cyclecars in America had started to wane by 1915. The Gadabout was given a change in appearance and, by 1916, the Gadabout had a longer wheelbase and had lost its wickerwork body. However, it was too late and it was all over for the Gadabout by mid-1916.

Emblems

There are very few original photos of Gadabout cars clearly showing the radiator. The few original Gadabout photos that I have seen for 1914 and 1915 do not show any sign of a radiator emblem, although the photos are not very clear, see examples shown below:

Gadabout car in Cyclecar Reliability Tour (1914)   dpl

Gadabout ad (1914)  newarkbusiness

Detail showing Gadabout (1914)

Gadabout Cyclecar Model G (1915)  atj

The Gadabout emblem shown above at the top of this post would have been used after the move to Detroit in 1915. 

This particular emblem is believed to have been in the Al Thurn emblem collection.The emblem has the appearance of a reproduction emblem, although I cannot be certain about this. The emblem is similar to some very small monochrome photos of Gadabout emblems in Harry Pulfer's emblem records but is not the same, see examples shown below. If the Gadabout emblem shown above is indeed an original radiator emblem, it would be extremely rare.

The following rather poor photos are taken from several very small photos in Harry Pulfer's emblem records:

Gadabout emblem (1915-1916)   hperc
Size: Unknown 

Gadabout emblem (1915-1916)    hperc
Size: Unknown

The Gadabout name was also displayed on a Gadabout nameplate/serial plate, see example shown below. This Gadabout nameplate/serial plate is very rare.

This is a Gadabout nameplate/serial plate (1915-1916)  mjs
Size: 83mm wide 31mm high

AMERICAN TRUCK (2)

American Motor Truck Co. (1913-1918)

Detroit, Michigan

This is an American truck emblem (date unknown)    mjs
Size: 173mm wide 73mm high    MM: None

The American Motor Truck Company set up in Detroit in 1913 was not related to an earlier American Motor Truck Company operating in Detroit, which built four-wheel-drive, four-wheel-steering trucks from 1906 to 1912.  

The first American motor truck built in 1913 was a 1-ton capacity model powered by a four-cylinder Continental engine with a three-speed Brown-Lipe transmission . A 3-1/2-ton capacity model appeared in 1917, which was also powered by a Continental engine but used a Covert four-speed transmission with Sheldon worm drive. 

Emblem

The colorfully painted pressed metal emblem shown above may have been a radiator emblem but could also have been used as a body side nameplate. This emblem is extremely rare.

If you have any further details or original period photos of trucks built by the American Motor Truck Company in Detroit between 1913 and 1918, please let me know, in order to update this post.

SAMPSON

Alden Sampson Manufacturing Co.
Pittsfield, Massachusetts (1905-1910)
Detroit, Michigan (1910-1912)

This is a Sampson emblem (dates uncertain)  mjs
Size: 57mm diameter   MM: None

The Alden Sampson Manufacturing Company had briefly produced a passenger car called the Alden Sampson in 1904 but in 1905 decided to confine itself to the manufacture of Sampson trucks. 

The main Sampson product initially was a 40 hp four-cylinder 5-ton capacity chain driven truck but by 1909 the Sampson range had widened to include smaller trucks of 1-ton, 2-ton, 3-ton and 4-ton capacity, all with chain drive. In 1910 an 18 hp two-cylinder half-ton truck was offered using shaft drive. From 1908 to 1910 Sampson also built a small number of road trains, which were tractors with 40 hp engines and generators which provided electric power to motors in each of two six-wheeled trailers.

In 1910 Alden Sampson came under the control of United States Motors and Sampson production moved to Detroit where a new low-priced 30 hp four-cylinder truck called the Hercules was also built. In 1911 it was decided to build a passenger car again. The new 35 hp four-cylinder shaft drive car was called the Sampson. But Sampson was out of business in 1912 with the collapse of United States Motors.

Emblems

Early Alden Sampson trucks displayed an "AS" script attached to the radiator core, see example shown on the original truck photo in the following Alden Sampson advertisement from about 1906:

Alden Sampson truck ad showing a radiator script (c1906)  ms

The following Alden Sampson hubcap shows a similar "AS" logo:

This is an Alden Sampson hubcap (c1908)   dkc

The 1910 Sampson truck in the following original photo carries a "SAMPSON" capital letter script style radiator emblem:

This is a Sampson truck displaying a "SALMSON" script style radiator emblem (1910)   dpl

The following original photo shows a 1-1/2-ton Sampson truck with a smaller capital letter script style "SAMPSON" radiator emblem:

Sampson 1-1/2-ton fire department truck showing a radiator emblem (1911)  tpw

However, not all Sampson trucks at this time carried a radiator emblem. The following photo taken at the 1911 Chicago Auto Show shows Sampson trucks, which have no radiator emblem but display the "SAMPSON" name in capital letters on brass scripts attached to the radiator core:

This shows Sampson trucks at the Chicago Auto Show displaying radiator scripts (1911)   dpl

The following are examples of brass Sampson radiator scripts. Original Sampson radiator scripts are rare.

This is a Sampson radiator script (c1911-1912)     mjs
Size: 365mm wide

This is a Sampson radiator script (c1912)     ms
Size: Unknown

The following original photo from 1911 shows two similar Sampson trucks:

Sampson trucks (1911)    dpl

The truck on the left has no radiator emblem but has a radiator script, which is like the capital letter script seen on the 1911 Chicago Auto Show trucks shown earlier above. 

However, the truck on the right has no radiator script but does have a radiator emblem, which shows the "Sampson" name with a large letter "S" followed by lower case letters rather than the capital letter script style radiator emblems shown earlier above, see close-up photo shown below:

Sampson truck with different script style radiator emblem (1911)  dpl

The 5-ton Sampson dump truck shown in the following original photo from 1912 displays a similar "Sampson" nameplate script attached to the chassis frame below the driver's seat and a round radiator emblem:

Sampson 5-ton dump truck with rad emblem and nameplate (1912) tpw

Close-up showing a round radiator emblem and chassis nameplate 

The round red, blue, white and gold painted Sampson emblem shown above at the top of this post is believed to be a Sampson radiator emblem. This Sampson radiator emblem is very rare.

However, the round radiator emblem seen on the Sampson dump truck in the photo shown above appears to be larger than the Sampson emblem shown at the top of this post. I cannot find any photos or illustrations of Sampson vehicles, which show the round Sampson emblem at the top of this post. It is possible that this emblem was used for the Sampson automobile built in 1911 but I cannot confirm this.

If you have details of the use of the round Sampson emblem shown at the top of this post, please let me know, in order to update this post.

AEROCAR (2)

Aerocar Co. (1929-1938)

Detroit, Michigan

Curtiss Aerocar Co. (1929-1942)

Opa-locka, Florida

This is an Aerocar emblem (1929)      mjs
Size: 90mm high 68mm wide    MM: None

This enameled emblem appears in several early collections of auto radiator emblems but it is not from a motor car. It was made for the Curtiss Aerocar travel trailer built by the Aerocar Company of Detroit and the Curtiss Aerocar Company of Opa-locka, Florida. The Aerocar travel trailer was designed by Glenn Curtiss in 1927, with the first prototype built in the spring of 1928, and was one of a number of designs produced by Curtiss using aircraft design principles. 

The Curtiss Aerocar travel trailer was designed to be hitched to the rear of the towing vehicle by a special Glenn Curtiss Aero Coupler, consisting of a horizontally mounted airplane wheel and tire to provide protection against impact. About 300 Curtiss Aerocar trailers were built.

Glenn Curtiss also built the Curtiss Autoplane, the first flying car, which was shown at the New York Pan American Aeronautic Exposition in 1917 but did not go into production. He also built the Curtiss roadster car in the early 1920's

Emblem

The black enamel Aerocar emblem shown above is scarce.

The following are examples of unused Aerocar serial plates:

This is an Aerocar serial plate (1930's)    sam

This is an Aerocar serial plate (1930's)    sam

STATES

States Motor Car Manufacturing Co. (1916-1918)

Kalamazoo, Michigan

This is a States radiator emblem (1916-1918)     sam
Size: 70mm wide 36mm high    MM: Unknown (some Robbins)

The States was built in the former Michigan Buggy Company plant in Kalamazoo, Michigan, which had more recently been used to build the Greyhound light car. The States was initially a 32 hp four-cylinder five-passenger touring car when production began in 1916. There were presumably problems with the States, because the management team changed in 1917.

A 37 hp six-cylinder States model was also offered in touring and roadster body styles for 1918 but the company was out of business by the end of 1918. Production figures for the States are not known but are likely to have been modest at best.

Emblems

The following original period photo of a States four-cylinder Model B touring car from 1918 shows a rectangular shaped radiator emblem, although the detailed design cannot be seen:

States Four-cylinder Model B Touring (1918)  catj 

This radiator emblem may be the white, blue and red enamel States radiator emblem shown below, although I cannot confirm this as the poor quality of the original photo of the States Model B may be affected by light reflection. This States radiator emblem is extremely rare.

This is a States radiator emblem (1916-1918)      sam
Size: 70mm wide 36mm high     MM: Unknown (some Robbins)

The dark blue, white and red States radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post is also extremely rare. 

It is possible that one of these States radiator emblems was used on the four-cylinder model and the other on the six-cylinder model but I cannot confirm this. If you have further details of the use of these States radiator emblems, please let me know, in order to update this post.

Emblem collectors should beware as there are Pulfer reproduction States radiator emblems, which have shiny flat backs and no maker's mark, see example below:

This is a Pulfer reproduction States radiator emblem   tcc

The following is a States serial plate. This States serial plate is very rare.

This is a States serial plate (c1918)   tcc
Size:

VICTOR TRUCK (2)

Victor Truck Co. (c1920)
St. Joseph, Michigan

This is a Victor Truck radiator showing emblem (c1920)  moroz

It was reported in early February 1919 that the Simpson Motor Truck Company of St. Joseph, Michigan had decided to reorganize as the Victor Truck Company and to increase the capital stock from $50,000 to $150,000. The company also planned to build a new factory.

In March 1919, the Victor Truck Company was advertising a Victor truck builder kit to convert passenger vehicles into trucks. 

In September 1919, the Victor Truck Company was advertising a new Victor Model A 1-1/2-ton or 2-ton truck and a Model B 2-ton or 2-1/2-ton truck all using Continental motors with Fuller transmissions and the Power Wagon Reference Book for 1920 advertised 1-1/2-ton and 2-1/2-ton Victor trucks. 

Very little more is known about the Victor worm drive motor truck built in St. Joseph, Michigan and most truck reference books do not mention this truck at all.

If you have any further details about Victor trucks built by the Victor Truck Company in St. Josephs, Michigan, please let me know, in order to update this post.

Emblems

The Victor truck advertisement appearing in the Power Wagon Reference Book for 1920, shows an original period photo of a Victor truck carrying a radiator emblem and a body side nameplate mounted at the side of the driver's seat, see below:

Victor Truck advertisement (1920)   power wagon reference book

The Victor Truck radiator emblem is more clearly seen in the photo of a Victor Truck radiator shown above at the top of this post and again below:

This is a Victor Truck radiator showing emblem (c1920)  moroz

This is most likely to be a painted cast metal Victor radiator emblem. If you have a better photo of a radiator emblem for this Victor Truck, please let me know, in order to update this post. An original radiator emblem from this Victor truck would be extremely rare. 

The Victor truck body side nameplate is more clearly seen in the following blueprint showing a 2-1/2-ton capacity Victor Truck:

Blueprint showing 2-1/2-ton Victor Truck with body side nameplate (c1920)  my companies

This Victor Truck body side nameplate is possibly the same as the radiator emblem, but I cannot confirm this. An original Victor Truck body side nameplate would be extremely rare. 

JUMBO

Nelson Motor Truck Co (1918-1924)
Saginaw, Michigan

This is a Jumbo truck radiator emblem (1919)    hatm

The Jumbo motor truck was built by the Nelson Motor Truck Company in Saginaw, Michigan. 

The first Jumbo truck in 1918 was a 2-1/2-ton capacity model but, in late 1920, the Jumbo truck line was expanded to six sizes, including 1-1/2-ton, 2-ton, 2-1/2-ton, 3-ton, 3-1/2-ton and 4-ton capacity models all powered by four-cylinder Buda engines. Jumbo truck production ceased in 1924.

Emblems

Jumbo stands for a large elephant and the Jumbo truck logo consisted of the name "JUMBO" with the "M" letter partly formed by the head of an elephant, see the 1918 Jumbo advertisement shown below:

Jumbo truck ad showing logo (1918)  ccj

This advertisement also depicts a 2-1/2-ton Jumbo truck with the Jumbo logo used as a radiator emblem, see detail below:

Jumbo 2-1/2-ton truck showing radiator emblem (1918) 

This Jumbo radiator emblem was cast into the top of the radiator, see surviving 1919 Jumbo truck example shown below and the close up view of the radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post:

Jumbo truck showing radiator emblem (1919)   hatm

Jumbo truck advertisements indicate that some models at least displayed the "Jumbo" name on side nameplates mounted on the driver's cab, see original photo from a Jumbo advertisement shown below:

This is a Jumbo truck showing a body side nameplate (1920)    ebay

The detail of this body side Jumbo truck nameplate is unclear but it may be similar to the Jumbo logo panel shown on most Jumbo truck advertisements around 1920, see example shown below:

Jumbo ad showing possible nameplate (1920) ma

The following is a depiction of a possible Jumbo body side nameplate, but this cannot be confirmed:

Possible Jumbo truck nameplate (c1920-1924)
Size: Unknown

If you have further details of Jumbo truck nameplates, please let me know, in order to update this post.

RELIANCE (1)

Reliance Automobile Manufacturing Co. (1903)
Reliance Motor Car Co. (1904-1908)
Detroit, Michigan

Reliance Motor Truck Co. (1909-1911)

Owosso, Michigan (1909-1912)

Pontiac, Michigan (1912-1914)

Reliance truck nameplate style (1906-1910)   ms

The Reliance Automobile Manufacturing Company was organized in Detroit in late 1903 with the first passenger cars appearing in 1904. The Reliance was a good quality two-cylinder motor car initially powered by a 15 hp engine and offered as a side-entrance tonneau. The company was undercapitalized and was reorganized to become the Reliance Motor Car Company in 1904. In 1906 a commercial was added to the line, and in February 1907 the company announced that it would thereafter build trucks only.

Reliance trucks were offered for freight and passenger uses in a wide range of cab-over models up to 5-ton capacity all using chain drive.

The Reliance Motor Truck Company was acquired by General Motors in 1909, along with the Randolph and Rapid Motor Truck companies (see GMC), and Reliance became the heavy duty model of GMC. Reliance was moved to Owosso in 1909 and continued truck production there until 1912, when production was transferred to Pontiac. The last Reliance units leaving the Owosso plant in 1912 carried the GMC emblem and, although some trucks built in Pontiac still carried the Reliance name in 1913, heavy duty trucks were called GMC-Reliance trucks using GMC emblems. In the fall of 1914, the Reliance Cab-Over model and the "Reliance" name were dropped completely. 

Emblems

The Reliance Motor Car Company logo is seen on the cover of the 1905 Reliance brochure:

Reliance brochure cover showing logo (1905)  shiawasseehistory 

The Reliance passenger car did not carry a radiator emblem but would have displayed the "Reliance" name on a small maker's nameplate/serial plate attached to the rear of the car or under the driver's seat. 

The following original period photo of a Reliance car displays a "Reliance Detroit" side nameplate but this appears to have been made especially for the photo:

Reliance passenger car showing temporary side nameplate (1906)   dpl

The first Reliance trucks also appear not to have carried a radiator emblem, see original 1906 Reliance truck photo shown below:

Reliance truck ad showing no radiator or body side nameplates (1906)  shiawasseehistory

Whereas, other original period photos of Reliance trucks did display the Reliance name on the body sides by the driver's seat and/or on the main chassis frame member, see rather poor quality original period photos shown below. These Reliance nameplates may have been painted using stencils or by using decals.

Reliance truck showing "Reliance Detroit" chassis frame member nameplate (1906)    shiawasseehistory 

Reliance truck showing "Reliance" body side nameplate (1907)   shiawassseehistory

These "Reliance" nameplates sometimes display "Reliance Detroit", as shown in the Reliance company logo shown earlier, and sometimes simply "Reliance" only in the same style as the company logo. The precise location and style of these Reliance nameplates seen on original period photos appears somewhat arbitrary, as noted in the photos shown above and below. 

The following original Reliance truck photo used in a 1908 Reliance truck advertisement shows no Reliance nameplates on the radiator or the body sides:

Reliance truck advertisement showing no Reliance nameplates (1908)   eBay

However, the following photo of a Reliance truck from a 1908 Reliance catalog displays a "Reliance Detroit" body side nameplate:

Reliance truck showing body side nameplate (1908)    shiawasseehistory

Other Reliance truck photos in a later 1908 catalog also show nameplates inscribed "Reliance Detroit" on the top of the radiator and on the body side:

Reliance Model C truck showing radiator emblem (1908)
shiawasseehistory

Reliance Model K truck with body side nameplate (1908)
shiawasseehistory

However, the following original photo of a Reliance Model G3 2-ton truck, labelled 1908, shows "Reliance" only nameplates at the bottom of the radiator and in a different location on the body side by the driver's seat. It is not clear if the radiator nameplate is a decal or impressed in the radiator shell.

Reliance Model G3 2-ton truck showing radiator and body side nameplates (1908)   khc

The following original photo showing a Reliance truck built in Owosso displays the "Reliance" only nameplates on the body side and on the main chassis frame:

Reliance truck built in Owosso showing body side and frame nameplates (c1909)   

However, the following original photo of a Reliance truck dated 1910 still displays the "Reliance Detroit" nameplate but has no radiator mounted nameplate:

Reliance truck with body side "Reliance Detroit" nameplate (1910)
shiawasseehistory

Close up showing body side nameplate

I can find no original period photos of Reliance trucks after 1910 with the "Reliance Detroit" nameplate.

The following original photo of a 1911 Reliance coal dump truck displays a "Reliance" only body side nameplate:

Reliance coal dump truck showing body side nameplate (1911)     shiawasseehistory

It seems reasonable to expect "Reliance Detroit" nameplates to have been used before the move to Owosso and the "Reliance" only nameplates to be used thereafter. A possible explanation may be that the nameplates were indeed decals and there was a surplus of "Reliance Detroit" decals, which continued to be used after the move to Owosso. 

The following illustration from 1912 shows the standard Reliance truck chassis displaying GMC emblems on the body side and main chassis frame member:

GMC-Reliance standard truck chassis (1912)   shiawasseehistory

The surviving 1910 Reliance truck shown below displays the "Reliance" name cast in the bottom radiator frame in a completely different style but this truck has been restored and the nameplate may not be original :

Reliance truck radiator nameplate (1910)  trombinoscar