Ford Automobile Emblem, circa 1930

Summary

An automobile manufacturer's badge is fundamental to the company's brand identity -- just as the maker's name is often important to our identity as consumers and drivers. Early automobile badges tended to be small and often discreetly located; today they have evolved into enlarged, prominently placed, and frequently symmetrical logos -- easy to recognize, even at a glance in a rear-view mirror.

An automobile manufacturer's badge is fundamental to the company's brand identity -- just as the maker's name is often important to our identity as consumers and drivers. Early automobile badges tended to be small and often discreetly located; today they have evolved into enlarged, prominently placed, and frequently symmetrical logos -- easy to recognize, even at a glance in a rear-view mirror.

Artifact

Radiator emblem

Date Made

circa 1930

Creators

Ford Motor Company 

Ross Ad Seal 

Place of Creation

United States, Indiana, Indianapolis 

Creator Notes

Made by Ross Ad Seal in Indianapolis, Indiana for Ford Motor Company.

Driving America
 On Exhibit

at Henry Ford Museum in Driving America

Object ID

86.129.145

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Zinc alloy
Chromium
Enamel (Fused coating)

Technique

Cloisonne
Die casting

Color

Blue
Silver (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 1.438 in

Width: 2.938 in

Thickness: 0.05 in

Inscriptions

Center: FORD Verso: AD-SEAL / INDPLS

Connect 3

Discover curious connections between artifacts.

Learn More