A variety of Meteor automobile makes were manufactured during the early 20th century. This radiator emblem belonged to a Meteor car that was manufactured by the Meteor Motor Company of Piqua, Ohio between 1915 and 1930. Passenger automobiles were only produced until 1917, as the company shifted its focus to profession vehicles, mainly ambulances and hearses. The blue oval emblem reads “Meteor” in the center with a shooting star underneath, the white rim reads “METEOR MOTOR CAR CO./PIQUA, OHIO, USA” in silver text.
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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