Smith Automobile Radiator Emblem

This Smith automobile radiator emblem belonged to a car that was manufactured by the Smith Automobile Company of Topeka, Kansas between 1898 and 1907. The company produced Smith automobiles until 1907, and the Great Smith car from 1907 until 1911, when the company went into receivership. The brass emblem reads “ENG. BODY/THE SMITH AUTOMOBILE CO./NO./TOPEKA, KAN./TYPE GEAR.”

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.

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