OWEN MAGNETIC

R M Owen & Co. (1915)
New York, New York
Baker R&L Co. (1916-1919)
Cleveland, Ohio
Owen Magnetic Motor Car Corp. (1920-1921)
Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania

This is an Owen Magnetic radiator emblem (c1917-1921)    mjs
Size: 82mm wide 57mm high    MM: Unknown

Raymond M. Owen and his brother Ralph R. Owen had been developing the use of the novel Entz electric transmission system since 1912 when they decided to produce the Owen Magnetic using the Entz transmission system. The first Owen Magnetic was a 34 hp six-cylinder car and was introduced at the New York Automobile Show in January 1915. 

The Entz patents belonged to Walter C Baker in Cleveland and the first Owen Magnetics were built in New York under license from Baker. In December 1915 the Owen Magnetic moved to Cleveland and R M Owen & Company joined the Baker R&L Company (see Baker Electric). The Owen Magnetic line was expanded in 1916 to include 29 hp and 34 hp models offered in a variety of body styles, including a striking sport tourer with a Holbrook body all having a distinctive v-shaped radiator. Owen Magnetics were large, expensive luxury cars bought by celebrities and new larger models were introduced in 1918. But Baker R&L decided to concentrate on the war effort and production of the Owen Magnetic was discontinued in mid-1919. 

Raymond Owen then moved to Wilkes Barre in Pennsylvania, set up the Owen Magnetic Motor Car Corporation and resumed Owen Magnetic production. A large order from the UK was received in early 1920 for 500 cars to be called the Crown Magnetic. However, by late 1920, Owen Magnetic was in receivership and it was all over in 1921.

Emblems

It is difficult to be precise about the dates of use of Owen Magnetic emblems, due mainly to the almost complete lack of original period photos of Owen Magnetic cars and the possibility of incorrect emblems being used when restoring surviving cars.

The only early period photo that I can find of Owen Magnetic cars was taken in 1915, see below:

Owen Magnetic cars with no emblems (1915)   dpl

But, none of the Owen Magnetic cars in this photo appear to have a radiator emblem. Perhaps this photo was taken before full production was underway, although it is possible that no radiator emblem was intended to be used initially.

The "Owen Magnetic" name would likely have been displayed on the hubcaps, probably using a design based on the Owen Magnetic logo as seen on the cover of the 1915 Owen Magnetic brochure, shown below:

Owen Magnetic brochure (1915) ebay 

The Owen Magnetic was aimed at a wealthy clientele and became one of the most expensive motor cars in America at the time. Like Pierce Arrow and some other luxury cars before, it was presumably felt inappropriate to advertise Owen Magnetic cars too overtly. Owen Magnetic advertisements were placed in magazines for the wealthy and used refined illustrations emphasising the "unobtrusive elegance" of the Owen Magnetic, which "banishes the commonplace in appearance". It is highly likely that either no radiator emblem was contemplated initially or, at least, a discrete emblem.

There was a discrete Owen Magnetic radiator emblem, which is seen on some surviving Owen Magnetic models, see the example shown below from 1916:

Owen Magnetic Model O-36 radiator emblem (1916)  bonhams

This is the white enamel Owen Magnetic radiator emblem shown below. This Owen magnetic radiator emblem is very rare.

This is an Owen Magnetic radiator emblem (c1916-1917)  mjs
Size: 60mm high 59mm wide   MM: Unknown

The following is the corresponding hub emblem. This Owen Magnetic hub emblem is rare.

This is an Owen Magnetic hub emblem (c1916-1917)  mjs
Size: 47mm diameter   MM: None

The following white and blue enamel color variation of this Owen Magnetic radiator emblem appears to be original. If so, then this Owen Magnetic radiator emblem would also be very rare.

This is an Owen Magnetic radiator emblem (c1916-1917) sam
Size: 60mm high 58mm wide   MM: Unknown

Another, largely original, surviving Owen Magnetic car from 1917, carries a similar radiator emblem design with what appears to be a blue colored outer border but the detail cannot be clearly seen in the available photos, see below:

Owen Magnetic Model M-25 with rad emblem (1917)  prewarcar 

Side view showing radiator emblem & hubcap (1917) prewarcar

Detail showing the hub emblem (1917)   prewarcar

A depiction of the Owen Magnetic emblem shown earlier above is also seen in highbrow magazine advertisements in 1918 and 1919, see example shown below:

Owen Magnetic ad (1919)  country life

The striking Owen Magnetic radiator emblem with white lightening flashes shown above at the top of this post does not appear in the Owen Magnetic highbrow magazine advertisements but is seen in regular newspaper advertisements from 1917, see example shown below:   

Owen Magnetic ad (Jan 1917)  ms
Brooklyn Daily Eagle

This radiator emblem is also seen on a car illustration in a Owen Magnetic newspaper advertisement in 1919. This is the black, red, white and gold enamel radiator shown again below. This Owen Magnetic radiator emblem is rare.

Owen Magnetic radiator emblem (1917)   hyman

This is an Owen magnetic radiator emblem (c1917-1921)  ms
Size: 82mm wide 57mm high   MM: Unknown

Emblem collectors should beware as there are reproduction Owen Magnetic radiator emblems with this design. These reproductions are usually flat rather than folded to fit a v-shaped radiator and have either a flat shiny back without a maker's mark or a distinctive back with a threaded stud similar to that shown below:

Owen Magnetic reproduction emblem   ms

The following unusual red and black enamel color variation of this Owen Magnetic radiator emblem appears to be original. If so, then this Owen Magnetic radiator emblem would be extremely rare.

This is an Owen Magnetic radiator emblem (dates uncertain) sam
Size: 82mm wide 57mm high   MM: Unknown 

The following is a blue and white enamel color variation of this Owen Magnetic radiator emblem. It is not clear whether this is an original emblem, but if so, this Owen Magnetic radiator emblem would also be extremely rare. 

This is an Owen Magnetic radiator emblem (dates uncertain) caam 
Size: 82mm wide 57mm high   MM: Unknown

The following are examples of Owen Magnetic hub emblems:

This is an Owen Magnetic hub emblem (c1916-1921)  ms
Size: Unknown  MM: None

Owen Magnetic wire wheel hub emblem (c1916)    caam

The following is a reproduction Owen Magnetic wire wheel hub emblem:

This is a reproduction Owen Magnetic wire wheel hub emblem  ms

It is not clear what emblem, if any, was carried by the last few Owen Magnetic cars built in 1920 and 1921. Some surviving Owen Magnetic cars carry the black oval emblem with the lightening flashes but the only original photo that I can find of a 1920 Owen Magnetic has no emblem, see below:

Owen Magnetic with no rad emblem (1920) motoringpicturelibrary