ACME TRUCK

Cadillac Auto Truck Co. (1915-1917)
Acme Motor Truck Co. (1917-1931)
Cadillac, Michigan 

This is an Acme truck radiator emblem (c1930-1931)    mjs
Size: 110mm wide 68mm high    MM:None

The first Acme trucks were built by the Cadillac Auto Truck Company and were sometimes known as Cadillac trucks. The first line of Acme trucks were standard assembled trucks of 1-ton, 2-ton and 3-1/2-ton capacity powered by four-cylinder engines. 

The company name was changed to the Acme Motor Truck Company in 1917. The Acme was a conventional truck mostly using Continental engines. A wide range of trucks was offered from the 1-ton Acme Flyer speed truck up to 6-ton capacity heavy duty trucks. Bus chassis for 16 to 21 passengers were also made in the mid to late 1920's.

Acme acquired the United Truck Company in 1927 resulting in Acme tractors for 7-1/2-ton trailers using six-cylinder engines. Acme ceased production in 1931.

Emblems

The first Acme trucks carried a radiator emblem, which depicted the company seal trademark, see original photo detail from an Acme truck advertisement shown below:

This is an Acme truck with radiator emblem (c1916)   ms

The radiator emblem is more clearly seen on the following, later factory illustration of a 5-ton chassis Acme truck:

Acme truck showing the radiator emblem (c1923)   lktec

This is the, originally painted, metal Acme seal truck radiator emblem shown below. This Acme truck radiator emblem is rare.

This is an Acme truck radiator emblem (c1916-1925)    mjs
Size: 63mm high 60mm wide    MM: Unknown

The same Acme seal radiator emblem continued after the change to the Acme Motor Truck Company in 1917 until about 1925, see following advertisement from 1923:

Acme ad with seal rad emblem (1923) americanikons

Close-up showing the Acme seal radiator emblem (1923) 

Acme trucks also displayed the "Acme" name on nameplates attached to the sides of the truck under the driver's seat, see examples shown below:

Acme 5-ton truck showing body side nameplate (c1923)  lktec

Acme Model A dump truck with body side nameplate (1917)
wheelswaterengines 

Acme Model B 1-ton truck with body side nameplate (1917)
wheelswaterengines

A similar "Acme" nameplate was also displayed on the truck bed rear cross member, see factory illustration shown below:

Acme 5-ton truck showing rear nameplate (c1923)   lktec

The following are examples of these "Acme" body side and rear nameplates. Original Acme nameplates are rare.

Acme truck nameplate (c1920)   wheelswaterengines

This is an Acme truck nameplate (c1920)    lktec
Size: 303mm wide 131mm high    MM: Unknown

By about 1925, Acme light and medium duty trucks carried a painted flat brass Acme nameplate on the front of the radiator and similar nameplates on the body sides. see examples shown below:

Acme truck with radiator emblem (mid-1920s) justoldtrucks

This is the usually green painted Acme radiator emblem shown below. 

Acme truck radiator emblem (mid-late 1920s)    alamy

This is an Acme truck radiator emblem (c1925-1929)   ms
Size: 165mm wide 70mm high     MM: None

This Acme radiator emblem can also be found finished in black, see example shown below:

This is an Acme radiator emblem (c1925-1929)    mjs
Size: 165mm wide 70mm high     MM: None

The Acme body side and hood side nameplates were of similar design, usually painted green but can be found in black, see examples shown below:

This is an Acme truck nameplate (1920's)    mjs
Size: 168mm wide 76mm high     MM: None

This is an Acme truck nameplate (1920's)     mjs
Size: Unknown    MM: None

Later heavy duty Acme trucks had a cast iron ribbed radiator tank top with the "Acme" name cast into the radiator, see example shown below:

This is an Acme Model 125 5-ton truck (1926)    natam

Close-up showing cast-in Acme truck radiator emblem (1926)    

The radiator emblem for the Acme light and medium duty truck was changed from about 1930. This is the red and white enamel Acme radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post and again below. This Acme truck radiator emblem is very rare. 

This is an Acme truck radiator emblem (c1930-1931)   mjs
Size: 110mm wide 68mm high    MM: None