JENKINS

Jenkins Motor Car Co. (1907-1912)

Rochester, New York

This is a Jenkins radiator emblem (c1911-1912)     sam
Size: 85mm wide 55mm high     MM: Unknown

J. William Jenkins was a shoe manufacturer from Rochester who decided to enter the automotive field and established the Jenkins Motor Car Company in 1907.

The Jenkins began as a Special 40/45 hp four-cylinder touring model. The wheelbase of the Jenkins grew each year but otherwise remained much the same until 1912, when the engine size was reduced a little to 38 hp.  

Production numbers for the Jenkins are unknown but were likely to have been modest. J. William Jenkins gave up his automobile business in 1912.

Emblems

The first Jenkins cars did not carry an emblem but displayed the Jenkins name on a Jenkins Special nameplate attached to the body of the vehicle, see example below. This Jenkins Special nameplate is extremely rare.

This is a Jenkins Special nameplate (1907-c1909)    mjs
Size: 89mm wide 41mm high

The following is a Jenkins serial plate . Original Jenkins serial plates are rare.

This is a Jenkins serial plate (c1909)     sam
Size: 95mm wide 38mm high

The Jenkins did carry a diamond-shaped, blue on white enamel radiator emblem, probably from about 1911, although I cannot confirm this date, see example shown above at the top of this post. Original Jenkins radiator emblems are extremely rare.

Beware, there are reproduction Jenkins radiator emblems in blue on white enamel, similar to the emblem shown above at the top of this post, and in white on blue enamel, see examples below. Reproduction Jenkins radiator emblems have smooth backs and no makers mark.

This is a reproduction Jenkins emblem    tcc
Size: 83mm wide 54mm high

This is a reproduction Jenkins radiator emblem     ms
Size: 83mm wide 54mm high

I do not know, if there was an original white on blue enamel Jenkins radiator emblem. If such an emblem exists it would be extremely rare.