GEORGES RICHARD / FRANCE

 

GEORGES RICHARD / PARIS / FRANCE   ( 1902 - 1903 ) 

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who invented the enameled radiator emblem ?

Of course all collectors are  asking the main question, which automobile company used an enameled radiator emblem for the first time and when was that? 

After years of research, I have come to the conclusion that it may have been the French company Georges Richard in 1903. Their first emblem showed a four-leaf clover, which, as far as I know, is regarded internationally as a lucky symbol.

But if you look closely, their first emblem was not a radiator emblem, but a hood emblem, as the radiator was located under the hood at the front.

 

It could also have been the enamel emblem of the Lohner Porsche truck  in 1903:

I have never seen an original, only repros are known

Here it can be seen that it was not a radiator emblem, but it was attached to the side of the vehicle. In the same place where carriages also bore a coat of arms:

 

And on the next photo it looks like a real radiator emblem, because the LOHNER PORSCHE emblem was mounted in the top center of the front.
Here we are dealing with a real hybrid vehicle, because the range of the pure electric LOHNER PORSCHE was already considered too short at the time.

But if you look closely, you can see that the emblem was attached above and behind the water cooler. So this emblem is also not the first enameled radiator emblem in the literal sense.

After watching a presentation about the GORDON Bennett race, which took place in Germany in 1904, I noticed that RICHARD BRASIER's car was the first and only vehicle to have an enameled radiator emblem. It was the emblem with the four-leaf clover. I then researched the history of Richard Brasier and discovered that the predecessor company GEORGES RICHARD had already mounted an enameled cloverleaf on the water cooler in 1902/1903.  I had finally identified what I believe to be the first real enamel radiator emblem:

1902 / 1903 radiator emblem  which was probably the first of its kind.

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

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