RAINIER TRUCK

Rainier Motor Truck Co. (c1910)

New York City, New York

Rainier Motor Corp.

New York City, New York (1916)

Flushing, New York (1917-1924)

Rainier Trucks, Inc. (1924-1927)

Flushing, New York

This is a Rainier truck radiator emblem (c1918-1920)     mjs
Size: 70mm wide 65mm high    MM: Partly obscured "1918"

John T Rainier had built the Rainier motor car initially in New York City and in Flushing, New York and later in Saginaw, Michigan (see Rainier). When his factory was acquired by General Motors in 1909 following bankruptcy, John Rainier returned to New York City and decided to try again by producing commercial vehicles.

It appears that John Rainier set up the Rainier Motor Truck Company in New York City soon after he returned from Saginaw in 1909. There is evidence that he built some trucks in 1910. I can find no references to the Rainier Motor Truck Company but an original photograph of a 1910 dump truck labeled as No.1 shows "Patent Applied For" and "Rainier Motor Truck Company" on the side. A Rainier building is shown in the background most likely on Broadway, where John Rainier had premises. How many trucks were built by this company is not known.

The Rainier Motor Corporation was organized later and the first Rainier truck built by this company appeared in 1916. It was a 1/2-ton model powered by a Rainier-built four-cylinder engine and worm-drive, and was available with a closed or open express body. In 1917 Rainier moved to Flushing where he had set up his first motor vehicle venture. By 1918, 3/4-ton and 1-1/2-ton models had joined the line of trucks offered. In 1921, 2-ton, 2-1/2-ton, 3-ton and 5-ton capacity trucks were added to the line.

The company was reorganized as Rainier Trucks, Incorporated in 1924.  By 1925 there were seven trucks in the line ranging from 3/4-ton to 6-ton capacity. Production of Rainier trucks ended in 1927.

Emblems

It is unlikely that the Rainier trucks built by the Rainier Motor Truck Company carried any emblem but may have displayed a "Rainier" script on the radiator core.

The first trucks built by the Rainier Motor Corporation in 1916 most likely also displayed the "Rainier" radiator script, but I cannot confirm this.

The Rainier truck radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post has the name "Rainier" finished in red enamel. The emblem has an obscured maker's mark on the back but "1918" is visible. It is assumed, therefore, that the emblem dates from about 1918 or shortly after. This Rainier truck radiator emblem is very rare.

Some similar Rainier truck radiator emblems have been seen, which are fully enameled in relatively bright colors, see examples below. These Rainier truck emblems are rare.

This is a Rainier truck emblem (dates unknown)     mjs
Size: 70mm wide 65mm high    MM: Unknown

This is a Rainier truck emblem (dates unknown)     sam
Size: 70mm wide 65mm high     MM: Unknown

It is not known when these Rainier truck emblems were used. If you have any further details, please let me know in order to update this post.

The Rainier truck radiator emblem was larger by the early 1920's, for example see the following photo of some Rainier trucks was taken in 1921:

This is an original photo showing Rainier truck emblems (1921)    dpl

This following photo shows an example of this larger Rainier truck radiator emblem. This Rainier truck emblem may have had painted finish but I cannot confirm this, as the emblem shown has been sandblasted. This Rainier truck radiator emblem is very rare.

This is a Rainier truck radiator emblem (c1921-1927)     rmc
Size: 138mm wide 130mm high     MM: None

Some Rainier trucks built around 1919 displayed the Rainier name on the hood sides and on the frame by the drivers cab, see photo below:

This is a Rainier truck showing the Rainier name on the hood side and body frame (c1919)    rcc

If you have details of other Rainier truck emblems, please let me know in order to update this post.