DUPLEX

Duplex Power Car Co. (1908-1916)
Charlotte, Michigan
Duplex Truck Co. (1916-1955)
Duplex Div. Warner & Swasey Co. (1955-1975)
Lansing, Michigan
Badger & Crane Div. Warner & Swasey Co. (1975-1977)
Winona, Minnesota
Nolan Co. (1977-c1986)
Midvale, Ohio

This is a Duplex radiator emblem (1919)    gcm

The first Duplex vehicle appeared in 1908 and was a 3/4-ton capacity four-wheel-drive delivery wagon powered by a 14 hp two-cylinder engine under the driver's seat. The first production model was called the Model B, which sold well and was the only model built until 1916, when a 3-1/2-ton capacity four-wheel-drive model and a 1-1/2-ton rear drive truck were added. By 1917, the Duplex truck range was four-wheel-drive only, in 2-ton, 3-ton and 3-1/2-ton capacity sizes. During the First World War, Duplex built trucks for the military. After the War, Duplex re-entered the commercial market with a new 2-ton capacity two-wheel-drive truck called the "Limited", which pneumatic tires and was intended for higher speeds.

In the 1920's, both two- and four-wheel-drive trucks were produced. Duplex trucks Duplex trucks were also used in the logging industry and as fire engines. By 1929, the only four-wheel-drive model was the 3-1/2-ton model. The other Duplex trucks ranged from 1-1/2-tons to 5/7-tons. During the 1930's the range of Duplex trucks included models from 2-ton to 7-ton capacity, with a 9/10-ton capacity truck added from 1938 to 1940.

During the Second World War, Duplex built specialist trucks to carry searchlights. After the War, Duplex resumed production of conventional trucks. From the 1950's, crane carriers became an increasingly important part of the Duplex output. In the 1960's, Duplex suffered a serious labour strike, which resulted in a loss of some major customers. Duplex continued to build conventional trucks but put more effort into specialist equipment, including dump trucks, earth-moving machinery, road/rail maintenance units, snowplows and fire trucks. A further labor strike in the 1970's resulted in the decision to stop truck manufacturing but the fire engine chassis line continued.

In 1977, the remaining assets of Duplex were bought by the Nolan Company and Duplex fire trucks continued to be made on a limited basis at a plant in Midvale, Ohio. During the 1980's, Duplex fire truck production increased and an airport crash and rescue vehicle was also produced but it was all over for Duplex by about 1986.

Emblems

Original period photos of the first Duplex Model B truck do not show any Duplex emblem or nameplate. However, it is possible that the production models displayed the "Duplex" name on a rear mounted nameplate, but I cannot confirm this. 

The 3-1/2-ton four-wheel-drive Duplex that appeared in 1916 did carry a radiator emblem in the form of the "Duplex" name cast into or embossed on the top front of the radiator and "Duplex 4 Wheel Drive" was also displayed on the sides of the truck under the driver's seat, probably using a stencil, see Duplex advertisement shown below:

Duplex truck ad (1916)   eBay

Close up showing Duplex radiator emblem & body side nameplate (1916)   eBay

The following photo shows a surviving Duplex 3-1/2-ton truck from 1917 showing the radiator emblem embossed on the front of the radiator. Another example of this Duplex radiator emblem is shown at the top of this post. This embossed Duplex radiator emblem was certainly used through the 1920's and may have continued into the 1930's, although I cannot confirm this.

Duplex 3-1/2-ton truck showing radiator emblem (1917)  dbc

Close up showing Duplex radiator emblem (1917)

The following shows an example of the Duplex body side nameplate on a surviving 1918 Duplex truck:

Duplex truck with body side nameplate (1918)  fountainheadauto

The following photo clearly shows the Duplex truck radiator and emblem used until the late 1920's:

This is a Duplex truck radiator & emblem (1919)  gcm

I have not seen the following painted brass Duplex nameplate on any illustrations of Duplex trucks. It is possible that this was used as a rear mounted nameplate on some Duplex models.

This is a Duplex truck nameplate (date unknown)   mjs
Size: 204mm wide 33mm high

The following illustration from a Duplex motor show flyer is dated 1928-1929 and shows a different style of radiator and Duplex emblem. This may be the lighter duty 1-1/2-ton Duplex truck but I cannot confirm this. If you can identify this Duplex truck, please let me know, in order to update this post.

Duplex truck radiator & emblem (c1928-1929) ebay

Heavy duty Duplex trucks used a cast radiator with the "DUPLEX" name cast into the radiator tank top from the 1920's and into the 1940's, see surviving example shown below:

Duplex truck showing cast in radiator emblem & hood side nameplate (c1946)  facebook

Cast-in Duplex radiator emblem (c1946)   facebook

The surviving Duplex truck shown above also displays the "Duplex" name on hood side nameplate, see example shown below. This Duplex hood side nameplate is scarce.

This is a Duplex hood side nameplate (c1945-1960)    mjs
Size: 300mm wide 50mm high   MM: None

A new style of heavy duty Duplex radiator and emblem appeared in 1948, see heavy duty Duplex truck brochure cover and factory photo shown below:

Duplex truck brochure cover (1948)   

Duplex Model L truck showing rad emblem & hood side nameplate (c1950)   facebook