GARDNER / USA

There had been five ( ! )  American car makers using the name of GARDNER..
The only successful company was the GARDNER of St. Louis / Missouri.
It was in business from 1920 to 1931. The company was founded by Russell E. Gardner.
The GARDNER was an assembled car using Lycoming engines.
The first year they sold 3,736 car.  Their best year was 1923 with more than 6,390 cars.
In 12 years 43,406 cars were built.

this emblem was used  the first six month only

Dimensions	9.6 cm x 4.4 cm
Year	1920
Estimate

in 1920 / 21  the emblem was modernized

Dimensions	9.6 x  4.4 cm
Year	1921 - 1922
Estimate

emblem of the GARDNER TOURING

Dimensions	9.6  x  4.4 cm
Year	1923- 1927
Estimate

backsides of two black emblems. a flat and a pressed one from two different suppliers

1928 round radiator emblem showing the family coat of armes

Dimensions	4.5  cm
Year	1928 - 1930
Estimate

last GARDNER radiator emblem

Dimensions	4.5 x  6.5cm
Year	1930
Estimate

reverse of the last radiator emblem showing makers marks from THE D.L.AULD CO.

For more beautiful car emblems see older posts or top right 8 list of car makers ).

IMV / Yugoslavia

The firm " INDUSTRIJA MOTORNIH VOZIL " had assembled the German DKW light commercials since 1955.
1960 they introduced their own designed series of light commercials still using the same engine, front wheel drive principle and mechanicl units. Built as a van, truck minibus and ambulance the IMV 1000 was powered by the DKW 3-cylinder two stroke gasoline engine. Later they used an AUSTIN engine.
 From 1975 on they offered also a MERDCEDES Diesel engine.
Production ceased in 1991.

This is not a prewar emblem, but it is worth to be mentioned as the emblem is enameled and very hard to find.

Dimensions	9.0 x  6.0 cm
Year	1960 - 1970
Estimate

reverse without makers mark

IMV Bus seen in a Czech museum in 2017

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

MADISON / USA

The MADISON MOTORS CO. was founded by Cecil Gibson and Henry Nyberg.  Before H. Nyberg had his own car factory in Anderson / Indiana.

They offered a straight six engine with 22 hp, later with 24 hp.
Again there was no commercial succes and car production ceased in 1919.
Only 453 cars were sold so you have to look years for an MADISON emblem.

This emblem was part of the Lee Roy Hartung collection that was up for auction in 2011 ( please see Lee Roy Hartung  in the list  - top right ).

the two holes are not original

Dimensions	4.8 cm
Year	1915 - 1919
Estimate

no makers mark on the reverse

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

AEROCAR / USA

The AEROCAR Company of Detroit Michigan was a short lived company ( 1906 - 1908 ).
Their slogan was: The car for to-day, tommorrow, and years to come.
They used an air-cooled engine designed by Milton O. Reeves
In 1907 they offered a water - cooled engine designed by Leo Melanowski.
After financial troubles they were out of business in 1908.
Then the factory was used to build the first HUDSON.

To my knowledge there was only one radiator emblem.
In 1906 it wasn´t common yet to use  enamelled emblems so this badge is made of brass only.

emblem showing traces of more than hundred years

Dimensions	5.1  cm
Year	1906
Estimate

reverse without makers mark

contemporary ad showing the emblem

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

How were emblems affixed to the radiator ex works ?

There are five main methods:

1. It was relatively rare for emblems to be screwed or riveted on. The danger of theft had always been high. For example, the French DFP  emblem was rivited:

The LAGONDA emblem

 and the FBW emblem were screwed ex works:

SELVE, PEUGEOT and KRIT worked with false, only intimated screws or rivets. However, the emblems were actually soldered on:

SELVE emblem with false screw

PEUGEOT emblem with false rivets

2. The second most frequently used affixation method was thus soldering. It made theft virtually impossible, unless you were carrying a blowlamp with you. Any dismantling attempt without a blowlamp caused severe damage to the emblem. That´s why so many bent and cracked emblems are to be found.

this emblem has been soldered on to the radiator

emblem dismantled by force

3. The third most frequently used affixation method was clipping. The radiator grille has a round hole where the emblem is affixed and the emblem has a metal plate soldered on the back.

FORD model A radiator emblem with plate

This plate is then inserted through the somewhat larger hole and a U-shaped clip is pushed onto the back of the grille from above.  Result: to dismantle from the front either a blowlamp to unsolder the plate is needed or the grille has to be unscrewed to allow the clip  then be pulled from behind.

4. Many American  and German car companies  cutted the plate in bands and soldered the whole thing to the radiator backside:

5.  A rarely applied method was used by BUGATTI:  Sheet metal frames were soldered onto the radiator, the emblem was then inserted and the sheet metal frame was beaded with a special wood tool.

Typical BUGATTI: Why adopt an easy approach, if there´s a more complicated one as well ?

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

TEMPERINO / ITALY

The three TEMPERINO brothers, Maurizio, Secundo and Jim  had  the great idea of marketing a mass produced cyclecar in Turino / Italy in 1915.  The body was made by FARINA but WW1 stopped the production. After the great war they started again. The TEMPERINO was an attractive little car but only small numbers of cars were built, so you have to look years for an TEMPERINO emblem.

Dimensions	8.3 x 4.0 cm
Year	1923- 1925
Estimate

flat reverse:    no makers mark

emblem with contemporary ad ( 1923 ).

early brass emblem

Dimensions	8.7 cm x  4.2 cm
Year	ca. 1919
Estimate

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

MORRIS LEON BOLLEE / FRANCE

In 1924 Sir William R.  Morris, the famous founder of the British Morris Motors Ltd,  bought the French LEON BOLLEE factory in Le Mans.  He had the idea to breach the French tariff walls from inside.
The first  Morris Leon Bollee had a 4-cylinder engine made by  Hotchkiss. In 1928 a 3-litre straight -8 was offered. The bodies of the Morris Leon Bollee were all made in France and were considerably more attractive than their British counterparts.

flat emblem  mounted on a 1932 radiator shell

Dimensions	5.0 cm
Year	1925- 1932
Estimate

reverse without makers mark

1932 radiator shell still missing the emblem

the first years the emblem was vaulted

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

MIESSE / BELGE

One of my all time emblem favorites:

A large picture for a large emblem

The MIESSE started producing trucks and buses in 1905 in Belgium. Since 1932 vehicles were equipped for years with the British GARDNER diesel engines made under licence.

What do you remember from your bible reading ? Guess what MIESSE is showing.

It is St. Michel killing the Satan. What a strange idea for an autocar emblem.
I don´t know a second official vehicle emblem with a bible theme.
The St. Christopherus is an accessory emblem only.

Dimensions	8.2 cm x 11.7  cm
Year	1950
Estimate

Here comes a much smaller MIESSE emblem. It is from 1933.

MIESSE radiator emblem

Dimensions	4.1 cm x 6.1 cm
Year	1933
Estimate

reverse without maker´s mark

1933 advertisment showing the emblem

There was also a round MIESSE radiator emblem. I guess it was used before 1933. If you know more, please send me an email.

Dimensions	ca  6.0 cm
Year	unknown
Estimate

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