LENOX

Lenox Motor Car Co. (1911-1917)
Jamaica Plain and other locations, Massachusetts

This is a Lenox radiator emblem (c1913-1916)   khc
Size: 67mm high 53mm wide    MM: Shepard

The first Lenox in 1911 was a 27 hp four-cylinder automobile, which was introduced at the Boston Automobile Show and was offered in a variety of body styles. Production of the Lenox started in Jamaica Plain but a second factory was opened in Boston later in 1911. By late 1912 another factory had been secured in Hyde Park.

The four-cylinder Lenox became the 40 hp Model 4-40 for 1913 and was joined by a 60 hp six-cylinder Model 6-60 offered initially as a seven-passenger touring or a seven-passenger  limousine. The range of body styles available for the Lenox Model 6-60 was increased considerably in 1914.

The Lenox automobile range was reduced to just two touring models for 1915 with a 50 hp four-cylinder speed car model appearing in 1916.

The Lenox team had decided to enter the commercial market in 1915 and new factory sites were opened in Lawrence and Fall River. A three-ton capacity truck and a series of tractors were introduced in 1916. This expansion into the commercial market led to serious financial problems and the Lenox was finished in January 1917.

Emblems

I have been unable to find any original period photos of Lenox cars showing the radiator emblem and there are very few surviving Lenox cars. However, the following photo of a surviving 1911 Lenox Model D Speedster shows a radiator emblem:

Lenox Model D Speedster (1911)    pinterest

This 1911 Lenox speedster has been restored and it is possible that the emblem was added during restoration, although I cannot confirm this.

Lenox advertisements in 1911/1912 show the name "Lenox" in an unremarkable font style, see example shown below:

Lenox car advertisement (c1912)   autopassion

By 1913, the "Lenox" appears in a distinctive trademark style, see example advertisement shown below:

Lenox car advertisement (1913)   ta

This "Lenox" logo script is used on the red, white and mauve enamel Lenox radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post and again below. It is possible that this Lenox radiator emblem was introduced in 1913. This Lenox radiator emblem is extremely rare.

This is a Lenox radiator emblem (c1913-1916)   khc
Size: 67mm high 53mm wide   MM: Shepard

A similar "Lenox" logo script was displayed on the Lenox serial plates, see example shown below. This Lenox serial plate is very rare.

This is a Lenox Model O serial plate (1916)    mjs
Size: 77mm wide 50mm high

The Lenox logo script was also displayed on the hubcaps, see example shown below:

This is a Lenox hubcap (c1913-1916)   dkc

HARROUN

Harroun Motors Corp. (1917-1922)
Wayne, Michigan

This is a reproduction Harroun radiator emblem  thc
Size: Unknown

Ray W. Harroun built his first automobile, a racing car, in 1905 but did not proceed to production. Ray Harroun became a riding mechanic for the Buick racing team, had some success as a race car driver  and later joined Marmon. In 1911, Ray Harroun drove the Marmon Wasp race car to win the first Indianapolis 500 and became a celebrated race car driver.

Harroun designed the car bearing his name, possibly as early as 1915, as it was later claimed that the first Harroun cars, presumably prototype models, were introduced at auto shows in January 1916. However, the Harroun Motors Corporation was not incorporated until September 1917.

The first Harroun Model A-1 was a well-designed, small 43 hp four-cylinder automobile offered in roadster and sedan body styles. 

Production of the Harroun began almost immediately in 1917 and about 500 cars were built by April 1918, when Harroun Motors Corporation received a large government contract to manufacture munitions for the war effort. Some Harroun car production continued with new models introduced in 1919 but a return to full automobile production was delayed because of problems in getting compensation from the US government after the war. 

The consequent lack of working capital and the effects of the post-war depression caused serious problems for Harroun Motors Corporation. An improved Model AA-2 appeared for 1922 but few were built before the company went into receivership in June that year. 

A total of 1135 Harroun cars were produced over the life of the company.

Emblem

The earliest Harroun logo or trademark showed the Harroun name with a larger first letter "H", see 1916 Harroun advertisement and logo shown below:

Harroun advert (Oct 1916)
Detroit Free Press

Harroun logo   ms

The same logo appears on the first Harroun brochure for 1917, see cover shown below:

Harroun 1917 Brochure Cover  ms

This "Harroun" logo continued to be used in advertisements through 1918.

The following Harroun trademark depicting an Arabian horseman was filed in April 1917 with a claim that the trademark was first used in January 1917:

Harroun Trademark (April 1917)   ms

This Harroun trademark was later used in Harroun advertisements but the earliest that I can find is from January 1918, see below:

Harroun ad with logo (Jan 1918)
Detroit Free Press

The earliest original period photo of a Harroun car shows a 1917 Harroun Model A-1 car at the Harroun factory site, see below:

Harroun Model A-1 at factory site (1917)  flp

Close up showing Harroun Model A-1 (1917)

Harroun Model A-1 radiator (1917) 

It can be seen that this Harroun Model A-1 from 1917 carries a radiator emblem with a design that appears to follow the design of the Harroun trademark shown earlier, although the detailed design is unclear. There also appears to be an emblem on the headlight bar, which may also display the "Harroun" name, but this cannot be confirmed. 

There are very few original period photos of Harroun cars and none appear to show the radiator emblem in clear detail. The following photo shows a 1918 Harroun Model A-1 touring car displaying the same radiator emblem:

Harroun Model A-1 Touring (1918)   flp

Harroun model A-1 close up (1918)

Only two examples of the Harroun are known to have survived, one is in storage in pieces, the other, a 1918 sedan Model A-1 has been restored, see below:

Harroun Model A-1 Sedan (1918)   thc

This restored Harroun Model A-1 has been given a reproduction radiator emblem based on the 1917 trademark, see photo at the top of this post and another photo below:

Harroun A-1 Sedan showing repro emblem (1918)  thc

If an original Harroun radiator emblem could be found, it would be extremely rare and likely ultra rare.

KING MIDGET

Midget Motors Corp. (1946-1969)
Athens, Ohio

This is a King Midget emblem (c1948)     mjs
Size: 70mm high 48mm wide    MM: None

The King Midget introduced in 1946, at the time of a post-World War 2 minicar boom, was a small two-seater car made of lightweight steel and aluminium, and powered by a 9 hp single-cylinder engine. The King Midget used independent suspension and the chassis was built using perforated and tubular members to reduce weight. Optional extras included doors, top, side curtains, luggage racks  and speedometer. 

The King Midget was successful and about 5,000 units were built before production ceased in 1969.

Emblem

The King Midget carried a bright red painted shield-shaped emblem, as shown above. This Midget emblem was mounted on the radiator or the hood depending on the style of the King Midget model. This King Midget emblem is scarce.

DUPLEX

Duplex Power Car Co. (1908-1916)
Charlotte, Michigan
Duplex Truck Co. (1916-1955)
Duplex Div. Warner & Swasey Co. (1955-1975)
Lansing, Michigan
Badger & Crane Div. Warner & Swasey Co. (1975-1977)
Winona, Minnesota
Nolan Co. (1977-c1986)
Midvale, Ohio

This is a Duplex radiator emblem (1919)    gcm

The first Duplex vehicle appeared in 1908 and was a 3/4-ton capacity four-wheel-drive delivery wagon powered by a 14 hp two-cylinder engine under the driver's seat. The first production model was called the Model B, which sold well and was the only model built until 1916, when a 3-1/2-ton capacity four-wheel-drive model and a 1-1/2-ton rear drive truck were added. By 1917, the Duplex truck range was four-wheel-drive only, in 2-ton, 3-ton and 3-1/2-ton capacity sizes. During the First World War, Duplex built trucks for the military. After the War, Duplex re-entered the commercial market with a new 2-ton capacity two-wheel-drive truck called the "Limited", which pneumatic tires and was intended for higher speeds.

In the 1920's, both two- and four-wheel-drive trucks were produced. Duplex trucks Duplex trucks were also used in the logging industry and as fire engines. By 1929, the only four-wheel-drive model was the 3-1/2-ton model. The other Duplex trucks ranged from 1-1/2-tons to 5/7-tons. During the 1930's the range of Duplex trucks included models from 2-ton to 7-ton capacity, with a 9/10-ton capacity truck added from 1938 to 1940.

During the Second World War, Duplex built specialist trucks to carry searchlights. After the War, Duplex resumed production of conventional trucks. From the 1950's, crane carriers became an increasingly important part of the Duplex output. In the 1960's, Duplex suffered a serious labour strike, which resulted in a loss of some major customers. Duplex continued to build conventional trucks but put more effort into specialist equipment, including dump trucks, earth-moving machinery, road/rail maintenance units, snowplows and fire trucks. A further labor strike in the 1970's resulted in the decision to stop truck manufacturing but the fire engine chassis line continued.

In 1977, the remaining assets of Duplex were bought by the Nolan Company and Duplex fire trucks continued to be made on a limited basis at a plant in Midvale, Ohio. During the 1980's, Duplex fire truck production increased and an airport crash and rescue vehicle was also produced but it was all over for Duplex by about 1986.

Emblems

Original period photos of the first Duplex Model B truck do not show any Duplex emblem or nameplate. However, it is possible that the production models displayed the "Duplex" name on a rear mounted nameplate, but I cannot confirm this. 

The 3-1/2-ton four-wheel-drive Duplex that appeared in 1916 did carry a radiator emblem in the form of the "Duplex" name cast into or embossed on the top front of the radiator and "Duplex 4 Wheel Drive" was also displayed on the sides of the truck under the driver's seat, probably using a stencil, see Duplex advertisement shown below:

Duplex truck ad (1916)   eBay

Close up showing Duplex radiator emblem & body side nameplate (1916)   eBay

The following photo shows a surviving Duplex 3-1/2-ton truck from 1917 showing the radiator emblem embossed on the front of the radiator. Another example of this Duplex radiator emblem is shown at the top of this post. This embossed Duplex radiator emblem was certainly used through the 1920's and may have continued into the 1930's, although I cannot confirm this.

Duplex 3-1/2-ton truck showing radiator emblem (1917)  dbc

Close up showing Duplex radiator emblem (1917)

The following shows an example of the Duplex body side nameplate on a surviving 1918 Duplex truck:

Duplex truck with body side nameplate (1918)  fountainheadauto

The following photo clearly shows the Duplex truck radiator and emblem used until the late 1920's:

This is a Duplex truck radiator & emblem (1919)  gcm

I have not seen the following painted brass Duplex nameplate on any illustrations of Duplex trucks. It is possible that this was used as a rear mounted nameplate on some Duplex models.

This is a Duplex truck nameplate (date unknown)   mjs
Size: 204mm wide 33mm high

The following illustration from a Duplex motor show flyer is dated 1928-1929 and shows a different style of radiator and Duplex emblem. This may be the lighter duty 1-1/2-ton Duplex truck but I cannot confirm this. If you can identify this Duplex truck, please let me know, in order to update this post.

Duplex truck radiator & emblem (c1928-1929) ebay

Heavy duty Duplex trucks used a cast radiator with the "DUPLEX" name cast into the radiator tank top from the 1920's and into the 1940's, see surviving example shown below:

Duplex truck showing cast in radiator emblem & hood side nameplate (c1946)  facebook

Cast-in Duplex radiator emblem (c1946)   facebook

The surviving Duplex truck shown above also displays the "Duplex" name on hood side nameplate, see example shown below. This Duplex hood side nameplate is scarce.

This is a Duplex hood side nameplate (c1945-1960)    mjs
Size: 300mm wide 50mm high   MM: None

A new style of heavy duty Duplex radiator and emblem appeared in 1948, see heavy duty Duplex truck brochure cover and factory photo shown below:

Duplex truck brochure cover (1948)   

Duplex Model L truck showing rad emblem & hood side nameplate (c1950)   facebook

RAPID

Rapid Motor Vehicle Co.
Detroit, Michigan (1904-1905)
Pontiac, Michigan (1905-1912)

This is a Rapid radiator script (dates)    mjs
Size: 238mm wide 120mm high  

The first Rapid truck in 1904 was a light delivery van with a two-cylinder engine mounted under the driver's seat and single chain drive to the rear axle. Rapid moved to a plant in Pontiac, Michigan in 1905.

Rapid introduced a full line of trucks in 1906 with nine different models, including a 1-ton commercial vehicle and a number of buses with up to 20-seats. By 1909 the Rapid line had a total of seventeen models including an ambulance, petrol wagon and fire engine, as well buses for 9- to 22-passengers and 1-ton and 1-1/2-ton trucks. In 1912 Rapid was absorbed by General Motors (see GMC).

Emblems

The following surviving Rapid 9-passenger bus displays the "Rapid" name on an ornate cast brass ornament mounted on top of the dash over the radiator, as well as on the step plate and hubcaps, see photos shown below:

Rapid 9-passenger bus (1905)   conceptcarz

Rapid 9-passenger bus dash ornament (1905)   conceptcarz
Size: Unknown

Rapid 9-passenger bus step plate (1905)   conceptcarz

If an original Rapid brass dash ornament could be found, it would be extremely rare.

1906 advertisements for the Rapid 20-passenger sightseeing bus show a "Rapid" script logo but the bus illustration has the "Rapid" name displayed on the front of the dash in large capital letters, probably using a brass script, see example below:

Rapid 20-passenger bus ad (1906)  ebay

Detail showing Rapid script displayed on the dash (1906)

However, most Rapid buses at this time display the "Rapid" name on the radiator in the same style as the script logo, see the following example also from 1906:

Rapid Pullman bus advertisement (1906)    ebay

Detail showing Rapid script on rad core below the dash (1906)  

The following surviving 12-passenger Rapid bus displays a large brass "Rapid" logo script mounted on the radiator core, as shown below:

Rapid 12-passenger bus (1906)    hfm

Close up showing Rapid radiator script (1906)   hfm

The "Rapid" name is also displayed on a painted cast brass combined Rapid maker's nameplate and serial plate, see below:

Rapid bus nameplate/serial plate (1906)   hfm

The following 1908 Rapid 1-ton truck advertisement also shows a large Rapid radiator script:

Rapid 1-ton truck ad showing large radiator script (1908)    ebay

The following example of an extremely large "Rapid" script probably painted on the dash may be a "special" made for publicity purposes, as the original photo was taken during the 1908 Glidden Tour:

Rapid truck with very large dash script (1908)    dpl

From about 1909, the Rapid radiator script reduced in size but retained the same logo style, see examples shown below:

Rapid truck showing radiator script (1910)  dpl

Rapid sightseeing buses at Mt Rainier showing radiator scripts (c1910-1911)   tom

This is the brass Rapid radiator script shown above at the top of this post and again below. Original Rapid radiator scripts are scarce.

This is a Rapid radiator script (c1909-1912)    mjs
Size: 238mm wide 120mm high