B.C.K. Motor Car Co. (1910-1911)
York, Pennsylvania
Kline Motor Car Corp.
York, Pennsylvania (1911-1912)
Richmond, Virginia (1912-1918)
Kline Kar Corp. (1918-1923)
Richmond, Virginia
 |
| This is a Kline Kar radiator emblem (1910-1911) mjs Size: 70mm wide 38mm high MM: Unknown |
James A. Kline built his first gasoline car in 1900 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In 1905 he moved to York to refine the design of the York motor car, which was marketed as the Pullman. In 1909 Kline joined Samuel Baily and Joseph C. Carrell to set up the B.C.K. Motor Car Company to produce the Kline Kar, which went into production in 1910 with a 24/30 hp four-cylinder roadster and a 40 hp six-cylinder model offered in several body styles.
The B.C.K. company also had some success with two dirt track racing specials, which attracted the interest of a consortium of businessmen from Richmond, Virginia, who bought the company, which they reorganized as Kline Motor Car Corporation in 1911. Kline production was moved to Richmond in late 1912.
The Kline Kar was always promoted as a quality vehicle and was expensive. Kline production fell from 200 in 1911 to just 86 in 1914. The Kline Motor Car Corporation went into receivership in 1915 but managed to survive and production grew to nearly 500 by 1917. But the post war recession badly affected the Kline Kar business and production fell each year until the end in 1923 with the final few cars being sold in 1924.
The B.C.K. company also had some success with two dirt track racing specials, which attracted the interest of a consortium of businessmen from Richmond, Virginia, who bought the company, which they reorganized as Kline Motor Car Corporation in 1911. Kline production was moved to Richmond in late 1912.
The Kline Kar was always promoted as a quality vehicle and was expensive. Kline production fell from 200 in 1911 to just 86 in 1914. The Kline Motor Car Corporation went into receivership in 1915 but managed to survive and production grew to nearly 500 by 1917. But the post war recession badly affected the Kline Kar business and production fell each year until the end in 1923 with the final few cars being sold in 1924.
Emblems
The first Kline Kar carried the white and blue enameled radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post. This B.C.K. Motor Car Company Kline Kar radiator emblem is extremely rare.
The company name was changed to the Kline Motor Car Corporation in 1911, while production of the Kline Kar continued in York. The new owners planned to transfer production to a new plant in Richmond, Virginia. The transfer was completed in 1912 but some production appears to have begun in Richmond before the York plant was closed. The following white and blue enamel Kline Kar radiator emblem carries the new company name, as well as the names of both the York and the Richmond plants. This Kline Kar radiator emblem is extremely rare.
 |
| This is a Kline Kar radiator emblem (1911-1912) pcc Size: 70mm wide 38mm high MM: Unknown |
After the move to Richmond and the closure of the York plant, the radiator emblem was changed again, see the white and blue enamel Kline Kar radiator emblem shown below. This Kline Kar radiator emblem is very rare.
 |
| This is a Kline Kar radiator emblem (1912-c1918) sam Size: 70mm wide 38mm high MM: Unknown |
There are some other Kline Kar radiator emblems without company or location information, see examples below.
The Kline Kar radiator emblem shown below is finished in deep red and white enamel and has the appearance of an early emblem. It is possible that this emblem predates the radiator emblem shown at the top of this post, but I cannot confirm this. This Kline Kar radiator emblem is extremely rare.
The green and white enamel Kline Kar radiator emblems shown below are believed to be original and are both very rare.
 |
| This is a Kline Kar radiator emblem (date unknown) sam Size: 38mm wide 25mm high MM: Unknown (some Grammes) |
The green and white enamel Kline Kar radiator emblems shown below are believed to be original and are both very rare.
 |
| This is a Kline Kar radiator emblem (date unknown) sam Size: 64mm wide 36mm high MM: Unknown |
 |
| This is a Kline Kar radiator emblem (date unknown) sam Size: 64mm wide 36mm high MM: Unknown |
It is possible that the green and white enameled Kline Kar emblems shown above were used for the cars made by the Kline Kar Corporation after 1918 but I cannot confirm this.
The following emblem is a Kline Kar hub emblem. This Kline Kar hub emblem is rare.
 |
| This is a Kline Kar hub emblem (c1918) sam Size: 45mm diameter |
If you have more information about any of the Kline Kar radiator emblems shown above or their dates of use, please let me know in order to update this post.
No comments:
Post a Comment