EARL

Earl Motors Inc. (1921-1923)
Earl Motor Manufacturing Co. (1923)
Jackson, Michigan

This is an Earl radiator emblem (1922-1923)    mjs
Size: 57mm diameter  MM: None

Clarence A Earl took control of Briscoe Motor Corporation when Benjamin Briscoe departed in October 1921 (see Briscoe). He immediately announced the formation of Earl Motors Inc and a new 37.5 hp four-cylinder motor car called the Earl, which was in reality an improved, slightly larger version of the Briscoe. 

Production of the Earl began in late 1921 for the 1922 model year and was reported enthusiastically by the motoring press but there were problems. There were financial difficulties left by the previous Briscoe business and the bankers put their people in to direct the running of the company. Clarence Earl objected to this interference and left the company in November 1922. The bankers took over completely and reorganized as Earl Motor Manufacturing Company in early 1923 but the business failed and was sold in early 1924 after a total production of less than 2000 cars.

Emblem

Earl advertisements following the announcement of  the formation of Earl Motors, Inc. extoled the virtues of the 1921 Earl motor car and included a depiction of a round emblem showing the "Earl" name, see example shown below:

Earl advertisement (1921)   ms

Earl advert detail showing radiator emblem (1921)

This is the white and red enamel Earl radiator emblem shown below. This Earl radiator emblem is extremely rare.

This is an Earl radiator emblem (1921)    mjs
Size: 57mm diameter  MM: Greenduck

This Earl radiator emblem may have been used on very early prototype models of the Earl and those first shown publicly at an automobile show in Lansing, Michigan in late 1921, although I cannot confirm this.

The Earl radiator emblem was soon changed, however, to a possibly more dignified emblem depicting the Earl crest. This Earl radiator emblem was included in almost identical advertisements to that shown earlier above, which appeared in December 1921 for the 1922 model year, see example shown below:

Earl advertisement (Dec 1921) detroit free press

Earl avert detail showing radiator emblem (Dec 1921) 

This is the round blue and red enamel earl radiator emblem shown above at the top of this post and again below. This Earl radiator emblem is scarce.

This is an Earl radiator emblem (1922-1923)   mjs
Size: 57mm diameter  MM: None

Emblem collectors should beware as there are reproduction Earl emblems. These Earl reproductions lack the in depth detail of the original emblems and have a differently colored shield and a white enamel background, see example shown below, probably based on the white background seen in the 1921 advertisement shown above.

This is a reproduction Earl emblem     ms