This radiator emblem belonged to a Bell automobile that was manufactured by the Bell Motor Car Company of York, Pennsylvania between 1916 and 1921. The Bell car was an assembled automobile, as its components came from a variety of manufacturers and were assembled at the Bell factory. Bell produced several different car body types that were equipped with four-cylinder Continental engines, this emblem belonged to a comfort roadster. The emblem has a blue enamel rim that reads “COMFORT ROADSTER/YORK, PA.” in silver. The center of the emblem has a raised bell and reads “BELL.”
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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