This radiator emblem belonged to a Case automobile that was manufactured by Case Motor Car Division of the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company of Racine, Wisconsin from 1911 until 1927. The J.I. Case Threshing Machine Company had been manufacturing grain threshers and steam traction engines since 1842. When they began producing automobiles in 1910, they used their famous Case Eagle for the radiator emblem. The emblem consisted of an eagle in white perched on a white globe with the word “CASE” in silver across the globe.
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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