SHARP-ARROW

Sharp Arrow Automobile Co. (1908-1910)

Trenton, New Jersey

This may be a reproduction Sharp Arrow emblem   bonhams

William H. Sharp had a photographic studio and a Mitchell car agency in Trenton, New Jersey, where he built a 40hp four-cylinder race car that he entered in various racing events, including the Long Island Sweepstakes in October 1908. William Sharp drove his race car to success by easily winning the Garden City Sweepstakes race. This was followed by other race car successes, including the Long Island Automobile Derby in 1909.

Production of the Sharp Arrow began in 1908 in the factory being used to build the Walter automobile. The Sharp Arrow attracted a following due to its race successes and used the slogan "Speed King of American Stock Cars" in its advertising. The Sharp Arrow was available in speedabout, runabout, toy tonneau and touring body styles.

The success of the Sharp Arrow attracted investors and a major expansion of the Sharp Arrow production was planned. Unfortunately, William Sharp was killed in a driving accident during a practice run ahead of the Savannah Grand Prix in November 1910 and the Sharp Arrow venture also died.

Emblems

An original photo of the Sharp Arrow taken at the Long Island Sweepstakes event in 1908 shows a large Sharp Arrow script mounted on the radiator core, see below, There is no clear indication of a radiator emblem.

Sharp Arrow racer at the Long Island Sweepstakes (1908)    dpl

I have not seen an original Sharp Arrow radiator script but, if one could be found, it would be extremely rare.

The following original period photo of a Sharp Arrow chassis at a trade show in 1909 also shows the radiator script and no clear sign of a radiator emblem:

Sharp Arrow chassis at a trade show showing a radiator script (1909)     dpl

However, by late 1909. the Sharp Arrow had lost its radiator script and was given a radiator emblem, as seen in the following original photo taken at the Long Island Automobile Derby pre-race events in September 1909:

Sharp Arrow at a Long Island Auto Derby pre-race event (1909)    classicspeedsters

 

Close up showing Sharp Arrow radiator emblem (1909)

The Sharp Arrow radiator emblem appears to be diamond shaped with the name "SHARP" pierced by an arrow. I have never seen an original Sharp Arrow radiator emblem but it is most likely a painted brass emblem. If an original Sharp Arrow could be found it would be extremely rare and possibly ultra rare.

A reconstructed Sharp Arrow race car exists with a diamond shaped Sharp Arrow emblem mounted on the dash board, see photo shown above at the top of this post. This Sharp Arrow emblem is likely to be a reproduction emblem based on the original photos showing the radiator emblem but I cannot confirm this. Strangely, the radiator has what appears to be a shield shaped radiator emblem but the detail is unclear, see below:

Reconstructed 1908 Sharp Arrow race car   bonhams 

The Sharp Arrow name was also displayed on the serial plates, see unused example shown below. Original Sharp Arrow serial plates are extremely rare.

This is a Sharp Arrow serial plate (1908-1910)    khc
Size: 75mm wide 43mm high