MTFCA Forum

Often wondered why Henry Ford got so upset with the use of the famous Universal Car Winged Pyramid logo.

It was a rather nice logo, and used for many years until Henry, according to legend, found that the winged part of the logo was a scarab bug, a type of dung beetle. Now that is likely so, as the dung beetle is a rather poor insect as it feeds on such waste.

But if you really look at the symbol of the Ford winged pyramid, it is only the wings and the wide tail, that tail where the Universal Car is added.

My believe is the basis for the design is the beautiful wings of the Sacred Ibis bird, not the wings of the scarab bug. (As a side note, both the bird and the bug were respected in Ancient Egypt).

The below advertisement notes the wings are lightness and grace, and that the word ibis is indeed stated. Unfortunately the proper title is misspelled to read SCARAB instead of SACRED.



Here is an advertisement by Timken, and show of course the Scarab beetle and its wings, which are very different from the Ford logo. Perhaps others showed this to Henry and that got the confusion going..... well, alas, it's now lost to history.

Who doesn't love a dung beetle!?!

The Ford article doesn’t read either “Sacred” nor “Scarab”... but instead reads “Sacreb”...? Pretty clear to me that this would be a typo. And a shame to think that a simple mistake could have caused the logo change

It is interesting tho, that Timken chose to adopt the Scarab beetle into their logo... as dung beetles are naturally excellent at making balls to ease transportation efforts. The perfect mascot for a company the produces ball bearings

While I am in total agreement with the typo explanation (Sacreb vs Sacred) I believe that the artist, Willis, may have been influenced by either the Art Nouveau style (1890-1910) or some early emergence (1912) of the Art Deco Movement (1920-1930's). Egyptian designs were highly decorative, and this was a huge influence on the Art Deco movement that used decorative patterns and design elements. I stumbled across a picture of a Scarab Beetle pendent and slight modifications it can be made Art Deco. Point being, yes the logo idea is of the Sacred Ibis and Pyramid but the designer may have stylized it after the pendent.

Two comments: IMHO the Chrysler building is the most beautiful skyscraper ever built (the Empire State Building is a close second), and if you have any extra Dung Beetles send them here - we have a 90 by 180 foot fenced area for our two big dogs. We can use all the help that we can get. My favorite bug.

The winged pyramid is a damn sight better looking than that blue oval !

Is this a legitimate document? The last line is interesting.

...'burn the story of the Ford into the somewhat fickle mind of the buying public.'

Thanks, Dan, for that explanation. It makes more sense than the one which has been floating around forever. And I agree with Burger.

I’ve only shared this with one good Ford friend and I swore him to secrecy at the time because it was part of my father’s estate and I didn’t have it in hand at the time so I couldn’t verify the makers marks… I finally have it back so here’s the background:

It was purchased at Hershey from John Webster in the early 1980’s, John was a very active dealer in radiator emblems and he also did restoration work. At the time I bought it he had absolutely no explanation for its existence as Ford didn’t have an emblem this early. Even the winged pyramid pins and fobs were being made well after this would have been. It became a Christmas gift for my father Sherman Wetherbee because he collected almost singularly Ford items, my mother needed a gift for him and guilted me into letting her give it to dad. So now it’s been buried away from view for nearly 40 years and my memory of it was a little fuzzy until now.

I am 100% certain that this is a very early version of the winged pyramid as it is well marked by a very early maker of automotive emblems (Shepard Mfg. Co. of Melrose Massachusetts).

My opinion is it matches the scarab wings of the Timken ad above, but arguments could go either way…

Any comments are appreciated, especially if anyone knows of another!

Interesting is that cloisonne or enameled pin. Is the makers mark an "S' or does that mfg name marked in full? Might be a reproduction piece.

Most of the Model T era watch fobs and pins have the normal looking Ford Winged Pyramid.

Which matches the Ford print on products , inserts or advertising of the day.

Don't beetle wings have a vein-like structure? The various Ford pyramid/wing design patterns suggest a feathered bird's wing to me... perhaps a quail or eagle.

IMHO the Chrysler building is the most beautiful skyscraper ever built...

I've always thought the black and gold Richfield Building was pretty attractive.

TheMoneyPit wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 06, 2021 7:17 am

Absolutely 100% genuine, it has the makers mark in full as is described here:

Thanks, that's a well done site of auto emblems, and noted the same pin you have is also on that site. That mfg. went out of business in 1923 and products were silver spoons, collector type with state emblems, and other trinkets. So if that may be another one, just like yours.

The section on that website on Ford does have an error, the author of that site missed this one, and falsely called it original.

It shows one-half of a Garford truck brass script radiator emblem and calls it a 'rare' 1905-06 Ford Model K radiator emblem. That is incorrect as noted in this photo of Garford emblem. The 'Ga' was cut away leaving the funny scrip rford.

Intact Garford script radiator emblem

Good catch on the Garford script error, I will let Mike know about the error. It’s funny, but until you mentioned he had the same emblem listed I didn’t know it was there. It’s interesting to see another one even though I still wish there was some information on it!

That "Garford" / 'ford' script error has been known about for fifty years! It shouldn't still be presented as fact by anyone.
Fifty years ago, I happened to know (through a close friend and neighbor with a 1915 Studebaker) one of the 'West of the Mississippi" ultimate Studebaker experts. He at that time owned the remains of one of the few remaining Garford automobiles. The Garford was connected with Studebaker before EMF and before Studebaker was building gasoline powered automobiles (they were building some electric automobiles). Unfortunately, my Garford friend died much too young about thirty years ago. And I don't know what became of his Garford's remains. That said, we had talked about the cut Garford scripts at swap meets where both cut and uncut Garford scripts were often found fifty years ago. He showed many people as well as myself what they were. In those days, it wasn't uncommon to see early model Ts with the cut Garford script on them. Model T hobbyists at the time thought they were "different" and "cute" (I thought they were unauthentic! But I was a disagreeable sort even in those days!).

Back in the 1950s and 1960s, a few people reproduced hundreds of early automobile brass scripts. Even though only three Garfords (including his!) were known to exist at that time, they must have cut out a thousand of the Garford scripts! I went to swap meets where eight or ten different people would have them for sale. Often, at least one person would have a small stack of the silly things! I saw a fellow at a swap meet once that had at least a dozen of them!

That anyone today, in the hobbies, with any real knowledge of horseless carriage era scripts, logos, names, or badges, could 'think' those were genuine Ford or in any way rare? Is ridiculous!
Sorry. But it would make me question anything published on such a website.

I suppose that I should add, that I also do recall reading a mention in a book published back in the 1950s showing a photo of a Ford with a cut Garford script on it. Ironically, just last night in response to a query on another forum, I cautioned about the errors in books published so many years ago while also extolling the virtues of reading those older books (beyond the errors, is a lot of wonderful information!). Still, a single erroneous mention in a book more than sixty years ago should not be leading any serious collector today down that particular garden path.

This topic has been an interesting read. I have always loved the ford winged Pyramid and think it has much more character than the later blue oval.
My sign writer has just hand brushed it on the side of my 1916 Pickup. I am pleased to be able to display a bit of early ford history on the side of my T.

Warwick L said "I have always loved the Ford winged Pyramid and think it has much more character than the later blue oval."
I quite agree with the winged pyramid having more character, and I have also liked it very much as a symbol of the early Ford Motor Company. If I ever get to finish one of my current project cars, it may also get decorated with a winged pyramid.
Not often realized, the Ford oval actually does date back to the very early model T days! Rob Heyen did quite a piece on this a couple years ago. If I recall correctly, a few early blue ovals do exist?

Thanks for your comment Wayne. I thought the ford blue oval only came came about in the Model a era. Can you point me in the direction of Robs research/article? I am interested to learn more of the use of the Ford name and logos of the era.

Warwick L, So far, I haven't found the thread I recall. I did however find this one with a photo and some discussion in it,

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/70 ... 1496982990

You need to scroll down this link to get an explanation of the transition from one to another. They explain the history of each image
https://logos-world.net/ford-logo/

TXGOAT2 wrote: ↑

Thu Aug 05, 2021 10:26 pm

Don't beetle wings have a vein-like structure?

Yes they do!

It's pretty clear that Ancient Egyptians and beetles are Aliens! ( But which came first?)

TXGOAT2 wrote: ↑

Sat Aug 07, 2021 5:33 pm

It's pretty clear that Ancient Egyptians and beetles are Aliens! ( But which came first?)

T enthusiasts have wondered that for years!

Egyptian scarab sold in Egyptian markets.

DanTreace wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 06, 2021 9:39 am

TheMoneyPit wrote: ↑

Fri Aug 06, 2021 7:17 am

Absolutely 100% genuine, it has the makers mark in full as is described here:

Thanks, that's a well done site of auto emblems, and noted the same pin you have is also on that site. That mfg. went out of business in 1923 and products were silver spoons, collector type with state emblems, and other trinkets. So if that may be another one, just like yours.

The section on that website on Ford does have an error, the author of that site missed this one, and falsely called it original.

It shows one-half of a Garford truck brass script radiator emblem and calls it a 'rare' 1905-06 Ford Model K radiator emblem. That is incorrect as noted in this photo of Garford emblem. The 'Ga' was cut away leaving the funny scrip rford.

52C05226-B4C1-45D1-8ED1-217A77938E99_1_201_a.jpeg


Intact Garford script radiator emblem

262397.jpg


EAF18B7E-DBD3-47E9-9FE1-549250D18E87_4_5005_c.jpeg

I emailed Mke last evening and received a reply from him indicating he has made appropriate changes to the website. As stated on that site, he welcomes any additional information and is always glad to learn from others about emblems. I know he and his son Murray have traveled the world to photograph, research, and collect emblems. They have amassed what must be one of the finest resources existing, and their willingness to share what they have learned (and continue to learn) is commendable.
Terry

Scarab? Or saucer replica???

I have no problem with the blue oval. I'm reasonably certain that it was an economy measure (as compared to the winged trademark). In printing during the letterpress era, simpler was better. Today it wouldn't make any significant difference.