Roosevelt radiator emblem
Smithsonian Institution
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This object appears in the following sections:
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Roosevelt radiator emblem
Catalog #: 325,528,
Accession #: 260,303
In collection
From the Smithsonian Collection
Do you recognize the 26th president (1901-1909)? Naming a car after a president can imply a general notion of power and leadership. It may also reflect some of personal characteristics of a specific president. In the case of Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919), it might be his sense of adventure and sportsmanship. |
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Physical Description |
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Dimensions (in mm): 5.5 L x 4.8 W x 0.5 D
Inscriptions: image of portrait of Theodore Roosevelt
Materials: metal
Colors: brown, white
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Details |
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Note: | Indianapolis, Indiana |
Credit: | Gift of Hubert G. Larson |
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History |
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Radiator emblems were colorful metal plates with a manufacturer's name or logo that attached to the radiators of early automobiles. Varying in shape and size, but never more than a few inches across, the emblems were small branding devices. As vehicles became more popular in a national market, people began associating the company name and logo on different vehicle models with a specific manufacturer. Radiator emblems sometimes indicated the type of engine or place of manufacturing. Other times they appealed directly to a driver’s sense of style and class by using iconic images or a catchy motto.
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