HUG

The Hug Co. (1922-1942)

Highland, Illinois

This is a Hug radiator emblem (c1924-1927)      mjs
Size: 73mm wide 50mm high    MM: None

C. J. Hug was a roadbuilder who could not find an ideal truck on the market to suit his needs and decided to build his own. The first prototype Hug built in 1921 was a 34 hp four-cylinder 2-ton truck, which went into production in 1922 as the Hug Model T. 

In late 1924, Hug also offered 1-1/2-ton Model TA, 2-ton Model HA and 2-1/2-ton Model H4 trucks. In 1925, a 3-1/2-ton Model CH was added to the line, a 6-ton Model 88 appeared in 1927 and , in 1927, the first six-cylinder 3-1/2-ton Model HD6 appeared. 

A heavier Hug truck series was introduced in the 1930's, including 6-1/2-ton, 18-ton and 20-ton models. A huge 60-ton Model C99MA was built in 1938. Other Hug models in the 1930's included Caterpillar powered diesel trucks. In 1938, Hug began to build bus chassis and fully assembled buses. Other truck models appeared in 1941, some using Reo bodies. 

Hug trucks were used widely in the US and were exported to several countries overseas, The last Hug truck left the factory in 1942.

Emblems

The first Hug trucks carried a radiator emblem finished in enamel. It is likely that the emblem was finished in red and white enamel, although I cannot confirm this. I do not have full details of this Hug radiator emblem other than the rather poor quality photo shown below. This Hug radiator emblem is extremely rare.

This is a Hug radiator emblem (1922-1923)     crc
Size: Unknown   MM: Unknown

If you have a better photo of this Hug radiator emblem, please let me know, in order to update this post.

The brass Hug radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post was originally painted red and black and was used from the mid-1920's until 1927. This Hug radiator emblem is rare.

The following red painted "Hug" nameplate was mounted on each side of the hood for some Hug truck models in the period 1926 to 1932. These nameplates were also used as radiator emblems on a few models from 1927 to 1931, and on the rear frame members of lugger models from 1939 to 1942. These Hug nameplates are scarce.

This is a Hug radiator emblem/ hood side nameplate (1926-1932/1939-1942)  mjs
Size: 173mm wide 58mm high    MM: None

From 1927 to 1931, the Hug name was impressed into the aluminum radiator tank top and displayed on nameplates mounted on both sides of the hood on Hug Roadbuilder models, see example shown below:

This is a Hug Roadbuilder with impressed radiator emblem (1927)    brady flickr

This shows the "Hug Roadbuilder" hood side nameplate (1927)    brady flickr

Close-up showing radiator emblem and hood side nameplate (1927)  

The following is an example of the impressed Hug name set into the aluminum radiator top:

This is an impressed Hug radiator emblem (1927-1931)     mjs
Size: 150mm wide 50mm high

The following photo shows a Hug Xpres Six truck with a hood side nameplate. This "Hug Xpres Six" hood side nameplate is rare.

This is a Hug Xpres Six truck (c1928)     lktec

Close-up showing the hood side nameplate

The following painted aluminum Hug radiator emblem was used from 1932 to 1936 and later on some models. This Hug radiator emblem was originally painted red and black, see example further below. This Hug radiator emblem is scarce.

This is a Hug radiator emblem (1932-1936)     mjs
Size: 104mm wide 77mm high    MM: 

This is a Hug radiator emblem (1932-1936)    lktec

This Hug emblem was also used on some later Hug models, see the following 1939 advertisement for the Model HC Hug Lugger, where this Hug emblem is shown displayed on both sides of the radiator:

This is a Model HC Hug Lugger ad showing the Hug emblems (1939)   ms

The following cast nickel Hug radiator emblem was used from late 1935 to the end of production in 1942. This Hug radiator emblem shows the remnants of red paint in the background but is also found painted black. This Hug radiator emblem is scarce.

This is a Hug radiator emblem (1936-1942)    mjs
Size: 101mm wide 52mm high    MM: None

The same Hug emblem was also used as a hood side emblem on some models, see the 1935 Hug truck advertisement shown below:

This is a Hug Model 19A ad showing the hood side emblem (1935)    ms

Close-up showing the hood side emblem (1935)

The following red painted, pressed metal Hug emblem may have been used as a hood side nameplate on some Hug models, but I cannot confirm this and I have been unable to identify this emblem. If you can identify this Hug emblem, please let me know, in order to update this post.

This is a Hug emblem (dates unknown)      mjs
Size: Unknown    MM: None

Removable painted metal radiator top "Hug Lugger" nameplate emblems were also used on a few Caterpillar powered trucks built in c1937-1942.  The "Caterpillar" name was cast into the sides of the radiator. These name plates can just be seen in the following poor quality photo of a Model 20 Hug Lugger from 1937:

This is a Model 20 Caterpillar powered Hug Lugger (1937)  ms

A very few, and possibly only one prototype Caterpillar powered earth mover built in the same period, c1937-1942, displayed a "Tractor HUG Truck" removable painted metal radiator top nameplate emblem.