AERO / CZ

AERO / PRAG / CZ  ( 1929 - 1947 ) 

AERO was originally a sports aircraft factory in Czechoslovakia. The AERO automobiles, built from 1929 onwards, were manufactured by Dr. Vladimir Kabesin's aircraft factory of the same name in Prague. In the beginning AERO automobiles were of particular interest to ambitious motor sports enthusiasts. Production ceased in 1947. 

The first model was designed to be sporty. It had no emblem, just a script on the radiator.

The Type 30 and Type 50 models built from 1939 onwards were then given a relatively modest emblem with the AERO name on white enamel. 

 

original AERO emblem showing the traces of decades

 

Size	5.0 cm x 2.2 cm
Year	1939 - 1940
Estimate

 

 

Unsuccessful revision, wrong color, wrong technique

 

 

Even though it is only a b/w photo, it is clear that the emblem was light in color, probably white.

 

 

In addition, there was a much more attractive, multicolored emblem showing the name AERO on the Czech flag:

 

The Czech flag in blue, white, and red has existed in this form since 1920.

 

Size	8.3 cm x 3.6 cm
Year	1940
Estimate

 

 

backside without makers mark

 The AERO type 50 had also a hood ornament showing the number 50:

 

1939 AERO 50 with mascot

 

The AERO lettering has always been designed in cursive: 

AERO type 500

 

 

 

another AERO mascot with YIN / YANG symbol...

 

After World War II, the AERO Minor model appeared, featuring a very modest oval emblem. This car was not a commercial success, and production of AERO automobiles was finally discontinued in 1947.

 

 

About 12,643 AERO cars were built in less than twenty years, mostly without emblem so every AERO badge is a rare item. 

If you want to learn more about AERO cars just click here. 

If you want to see more Czech automobile emblems please click here for SKODA or TATRA or WIKOV.

 

For more emblems see older posts or top right ( list of car makers ).

When using a smartphone please use the button webview 

 

ALLRIGHT / GERMANY

 

ALLRIGHT KÖLN - LINDENTHAL / GERMANY  ( 1908 - 1913 ) 

The name ALLRIGHT suggests that it could be an English brand. Far from it. The company ALLRIGHT KÖLN LINDENTHALER METALLWERKE A. G. was based in Germany and only used the commonly known word “Allright” to evoke the association that everything was in order with the vehicle. 

Initially, it was a bicycle factory, but from 1905 onwards, motorcycles were also built, and from 1908 onwards, small cars as well. The vehicles were unable to establish themselves on the market. If the figures on the internet are to be believed, perhaps only around 20 vehicles were built.

Not a single vehicle survived, and I haven't found a photo showing one from the front. However, I´m sure that a radiator emblem can be presented here, as the size suggests this, as do the two original holes for attachment. 

 

The emblem was riveted on; this method could not be used on a motorcycle tank or a hub cap.

Size	5.2 cm
Year	c. 1908 - 1913
Estimate

 

 

backside without makers mark

 

 

one of the rare photos showing a 1912 ALLRIGHT vehicle

 

massive brass script for ALLRIGHT vehicle

 

Of course, you know that there were other car factories in Cologne. To see interesting FORD Cologne emblems please click here!

 When using a smartphone please use the button webview. 

RAPID S.T.A.R. / TORINO / ITALY

 RAPID / STAR Societa Torinese Automobil Rapid  ( 1904 - 1921 ) TURIN/ ITALY

It is difficult to write about the manufacturer RAPID, because the brand was officially called STAR. 

However, all advertisements, brochures, and emblems initially only featured the name RAPID.

This brand was founded by Giovanni Battista Ceirano, who transformed the former La Ceirano & C. brand into the company S.T.A.R. ( =  Società Torinese Automobili Rapid ) 

During World War I, large quantities of projectiles, machine guns, and cannons were manufactured. After WWI, production resumed with the Type 10.

In 1921, however, RAPID was forced into liquidation. 

The SPA takes over the factories, while the automotive inventory goes to CIP, which puts it up for sale under the name STAR. 

 

Size	9.7 cm x 6.7 cm
Year	c. 1908
Estimate

 

RAPID already had a stand at the EXPO ITALIANA in 1905. Unfortunately, the photo is too unclear to really make out the emblem.

 

 

 

Size	9.7 cm x 6.7 cm
Year	1905 - 1906
Estimate

 

 

1906 Italian sales brochure showing a very distinctive emblem never used on a car

 

 

 original blank purchased from the liquidation estate of the Bregonzio enamel factory 

In the USA and England, there were also car brands with the name STAR. Here I am talking about the Italian brand STAR.

This is likely to have been the last emblem used by the Italian brand. The reverse side shows traces of the old solder (see 2nd photo).

 

Size	8.2 cm x 4.2 cm
Year	1921
Estimate

 

 

 

 The only Italian STAR car catalog I know of shows a different emblem:

For more information about the Italian Ceirano family and  Ceirano emblems please click here!

For other emblems see older posts or top right ( list of car makers ).

When using a smartphone pleas use the button webview. 

CHIRIBIRI / TORINO / ITALY

CHIRIBIRI / TORINO / ITALY  ( 1906 - 1927 ) 

Another forgotten Italian automobile producer was Antonio CHIRIBIRI from 1906 to 1927. He built small cars. His production plant was bought by LANCIA in 1928. Here you see the oval emblem in the art noveau style. 

1926 and later they had a simple rectangular emblem.

 

Size	5.4 cm  x 9.5 cm
Year	ca. 1920
Estimate

 

perfect period photo form the CHIRIBIRI Tipo Monza Sports  ( photo collection Chlöpfer Chuchi )

 

enameled chassis plate for the CHIRIBIRI MONZA / SPINTO

  

Size	10.1 cm x 5.0 cm
Year	1925
Estimate

 

contemporary picture of the typ Monza from the Klaas Dierks collection

1925 CHIRIBIRI radiator with emblem and motometer , seen in Italy

CHIRIBIRI stand in Milano / Italy in 1925

and nearly 100 years later in Padova / Italy:

CHIRIBIRI  MONZA TIPO SPINTO

 

 

photo collection Chlöpfer Chuchi

 The following rectangular emblem was seen on the last CHRIBIRI in 1926 / 1927:

 

Size	c. 6.5 cm x 4.8  cm
Year	1927
Estimate

 

There a really bad repros made in Italy. They all have a flat back. So have a look at this original and compare before buying.

Fore more LANCIA emblems please click here!

For more  emblems  see older posts or top right of this page ( list of car makers ).
When using a smartphone please use the button webview.

 

ROMEO, NICOLA / MILANO / ITALY

 

NICOLA ROMEO vehicle / MILAN / ITALY  ( 1919 )

In 1915, engineer Nicola Romeo bought into the A.L.F.A. company. He successfully steered A.L.F.A. through the First World War. In 1918, he acquired the absolute majority of the company, which was  than named  ALFA ROMEO (1920 - today).
So much is known. However, it was unclear whether there was also a car that bore the name  ROMEO alone. That was probably not the case. But during WWI, he built an aircraft engine for the military, a huge 6-cylinder V-engine. And Nicola Romeo's emblem was mounted on the exhaust manifolds. A nice idea to show who built the engine.  ISOTTA FRASCHINI also had practised this.

One such engine survived, and in 2017, the Argentine company PUR SANG came up with the idea of installing this engine in a suitable chassis and thus producing a  Nicola Romeo vehicle. Incidentally, the chassis comes from a 1919 LANCIA KAPPA.

the emblem that was initially used on the exhaust manifold and then also found its way onto the radiator.

 

Size	7.0 cm
Year	1919
Estimate

As is almost always the case in Italy, there is no manufacturer's stamp on the back, unfortunately. However, the craftsmanship and signs of age indicate that it was manufactured by the Bregonzio enamel factory in Milan, which was liquidated many years before 2017.

Replica of a NICOLA ROMEO vehicle, built by PUR SANG / Argentina in 2017.

replica badge for the NICOLA ROMEO vehicle, constructed by PUR SANG / Argentine

original Nicola Romeo badge on the exhaust manifold

same idea realized by ISOTTA FRASCHINI in 1906

For the complete ALFA ROMEO emblem story please click here!

For the complete ISOTTA FRASCHINI emblem story please click here!

For the complete LANCIA emblem story please click here!

When using a smartphone please use the button webview.

PICCARD PICTET & Cie / Switzerland

SAG / PICCARD, PICTET / PIC - PIC / GENEVA / Switzerland  ( 1906 - 1922)

The company PICCARD, PICTET & Cie was one of the most important vehicle manufacturers in Switzerland. It was founded in Geneva in 1906 and named after its founders Paul Piccard and Lucien Pictet.

Until 1910, the vehicles were marketed under the brand name SAG (Société d'Automobiles à Genève). Only 165 automobiles were produced by SAG.

After 1910 they were marketed as PICCARD, PICTET only,  commonly known as PIC-PIC. After the First World War, PIC-PIC fell on hard times and ceased operations in 1922.  A total of around 3,000 vehicles were built, of which very few have survived.

I am rather proud to be able to present a very early radiator emblem here, which was embossed from brass and even still has the three letters SAG visible in the bottom left of the circle.

It was possible to date this emblem precisely because a vehicle built in 1906 with exactly this emblem has survived and can be seen in the museum in Martigny / Switzerland.

Size	11.4  cm x 4.9 cm
Year	1906
Estimate

 

SAG in a circle

The emblem was soldered to the radiator, not riveted.

 

original emblem, seen at Techno Classica / Germany in 2019

Size	12.4  cm x 4.5  cm
Year	1910 - 1914
Estimate

This repro emblem was made in the nineteenseventeens by Boutique de l´Automobiliste using the original dies.

the backside was enameled too to avoid tensions when cooling the emblem after firing the enamel

1979 advertisement for repro emblems made by Boutique de l`Automobile / France

top left, fourth row, the PICCARD PICTET emblem

As early as 1914, PIC PIC offered vehicles with V-shaped radiators, eliminating  the flat radiator emblem. Instead, the emblem shown below was mounted on the radiators:

In 1922, the French company GNOME et RHONE purchased the rights to manufacture PIC - PIC automobiles. That is why this advertisement reads: AUTOMOBILES FRANCAISES :

The 8-cylinder car advertised was only built as a prototype, because the entire automobile production came to an end the same year.

For more emblems see older posts or top right ( list of car makers ).

When using a smartphone please use the button webview. 

For more Swiss radiator emblems from FBW please click here.