E-M-F

Everitt-Metzger-Flanders Co. (1908-1912)
Studebaker Corp. (1912)

Detroit, Michigan

This is an E-M-F radiator emblem (1910-1912)     mjs
Size: 50mm diameter    MM: None

The E-M-F was named after its founders: E was Barney Everitt; M was William Metzger; F was Walter Flanders and the Everitt-Metzger-Flanders Company was established in 1908. The E-M-F 30 was a fine little 30 hp four-cylinder, mass produced car in the medium price range. There were some quality problems and the press referred to E-M-F as " Every Morning Fix-it" and similar slogans. Nevertheless, E-M-F sales were very successful and rose each year but the E-M-F company also suffered from disagreements between the partners.

Everitt and Metzger left in 1909 to build their own car called the Everitt (see Everitt), and Flanders started to build his own car called the Flanders 20 (see Flanders 20), while at the same time making a distribution agreement with the Studebaker brothers to market the E-M-F, which gave Studebaker a key role in E-M-F.

In 1911 Studebaker took control of E-M-F. For a while Studebaker kept the E-M-F name and marketed the cars as E-M-F Studebaker.

Late in 1912 Flanders rejoined his old partners building the Everitt to build the Flanders Six. Following the First World War, Everitt, Metzger and Flanders got together again to build the Rickenbacker (see Rickenbacker).

Emblems

The first E-M-F cars had the name "E-M-F 30" embossed into the top of the radiator, see original photo from 1909 shown below. This embossed E-M-F 30 radiator emblem was used on some E-M-F cars up to 1911 but these may have been left over from 1910.

This is an E-M-F touring car with embossed radiator emblem (1909)   dpl

Close-up showing embossed radiator emblem

The embossed E-M-F 30 radiator emblem is clearly seen on the following photo of the radiator top of a surviving 1908 model:

E-M-F "30" radiator emblem (1908)     ms

The following example of the embossed E-M-F 30 radiator emblem was cut from an E-M-F radiator:

This shows the embossed E-M-F 30 radiator emblem (c1908-1910)    mjs
Size: 150mm wide 50mm high approx.  

The following is an E-M-F maker's nameplate and serial plate. Original E-M-F serial plates are rare.

This is an E-M-F nameplate/serial plate (1909)     mjs
Size: 107mm wide 36mm high 

The E-M-F name was also displayed on the head lamps. See the following red painted emblem from an E & J head lamp:

This is an E & J head lamp emblem used on an E-M-F car (c1910)    mjs
Size: 57mm high 53mm wide

E-M-F cars on display at the 1909 New York Auto Show are seen in original photos to have no other emblem or radiator script. However, factory owned E-M-F cars taking part in the 1909 Glidden Tour display a distinctive brass "E-M-F 30" radiator script, see original photo below. This suggest that the "E-M-F 30" radiator script was most likely an E-M-F factory produced accessory

This is an E-M-F 30 displaying a radiator script (1909)    dpl

The black painted brass "E-M-F 30" radiator script shown below is seen on original photos of E-M-F cars up to 1911:

This is an E-M-F radiator script (c1909-1911)     mjs
Size: 154mm wide 112mm high

The red painted brass "E-M-F 30" radiator script shown below is a variation of the script shown above and is larger. Original brass "E-M-F 30" radiator scripts are scarce.

This is an E-M-F 30 radiator script (c1910)     mjs
Size: 206mm wide 135mm high

There were other varieties of brass E-M-F radiator scripts, see the rare example shown below.

This is an E-M-F radiator script (dates unknown)     mjs
Size: 167mm wide 155mm high

The following EMF 30 radiator script is inscribed "PHILA-EMF-CO" but I can find no reference to this company as a manufacturer of the EMF 30. If you have any further information about this emblem, please let me know, in order to update this post. It is possible that this script emblem was produced by an EMF dealership in Philadelphia, but I cannot confirm this.

This is a Phila-EMF-Co script (dates unknown)   tcc

The following E-M-F 30 advertisement shows a rendition of an automobile that does not carry a radiator emblem but has an "E-M-F 30" radiator script with what appears to be capital letters for        "E-M-F" and the "30" in inverted commas:

This is an E-M-F 30 ad showing a rad script (c1910)  ms

Close-Up showing radiator script (c1910)

Interestingly, the advertisement shows a form of "E-M-F 30" at the top of the advertisement in a very different script style. The following original brass "E-M-F 30" radiator script is in a closely similar style. This "E-M-F 30" radiator script is rare.

This is an E-M-F 30 radiator script (c1910)     mjs
Size: 312mm wide

The embossed E-M-F 30 radiator emblem was replaced on some cars in 1910 by a circular, black painted, brass E-M-F radiator emblem, see example shown above at the top of this post and again below. This E-M-F radiator emblem is rare.

This is an E-M-F radiator emblem (1910-1912)     mjs
Size: 50mm diameter   MM: None

The following photo shows a black and white enamel E-M-F radiator emblem, which is often seen on surviving E-M-F cars. But, emblem collectors should beware. These are reproduction radiator emblems.

This is a reproduction E-M-F radiator emblem    mjs

In 1912, the E-M-F radiator emblem was changed to show that the E-M-F was now a Studebaker product, see gilt finished example below. This E-M-F Studebaker radiator emblem is rare.

This is a Studebaker E-M-F radiator emblem (1912)    mjs
Size: 50mm diameter    MM: None

The following is a Studebaker built E-M-F nameplate/serial plate. E-M-F Studebaker serial plates are scarce.

This is an E-M-F Studebaker nameplate/serial plate (1911)   mjs
Size: 107mm wide 36mm high

The following is a Studebaker built EMF nameplate/serial plate:

This is Studebaker built EMF serial plate (1912)     mjs
Size: 108mm wide 35mm high