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Acme Radiator Emblem

National Museum of American History

Object Details

Description
This radiator emblem belonged to an Acme automobile that was manufactured by the Acme Motor Car Company of Reading, Pennsylvania from 1903 until 1911. The Acme is notable for its “perpetual guarantee” or a forever warranty. The company did not last long enough to honor their guarantee as it was sold for $250,000 in 1911. The emblem has a spread-winged eagle perched on a laurel wreath, with a white “ACME” in the center of the wreath.
Radiator emblems are small, colorful metal plates bearing an automobile manufacturer's name or logo that attached to the radiators grilles of early automobiles. Varying in shape and size, the emblems served as a small branding device, sometimes indicating the type of engine, place of manufacturing, or using an iconic image or catchy slogan to advertise their cars make and model. This emblem is part of the collection that was donated by Hubert G. Larson in 1964.
Location
Currently not on view
Credit Line
Hubert G. Larson
ID Number
TR.325528.005
accession number
260303
catalog number
325528.005
Object Name
emblem, radiator
Other Terms
emblem, radiator; Road; Automobile
See more items in
Work and Industry: Transportation, Road
Radiator Emblems
Transportation
Road Transportation
National Museum of American History
Record ID
nmah_840118
Metadata Usage (text)
CC0
GUID (Link to Original Record)
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a6-68ef-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
Acme Radiator Emblem
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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