This Barley automobile was manufactured by the Barley Motor Car Company of Kalamazoo, Michigan between 1923 and 1924. The Barley Motor Car Company had been producing its more expensive Roamer brand car since 1916, and planned to market the Barley as a less expensive car. The car came with a six-cylinder continental engine in six different body models, and sold between $1395 and $2250. The Barley brand became the Roamer Model 6 in 1924. The emblem reads “BARLEY SIX/ROAMER BUILT,” advertising the car with its Roamer connection, while also harkening to its future.
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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