DeSoto Radiator Emblem
Social Media Share Tools
Object Details
- Description
- This radiator emblem belonged to the De Soto brand of cars that were produced by Chrysler from 1928 until 1961. The brand was named after 16th century Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto, credited as being the first modern European to cross the Mississippi River. De Soto’s helmeted visage appeared on many radiator emblems or hood ornaments on the De Soto line. This radiator emblem merely reads De Soto above a coat of arms. The emblem is a stylized version of the traditional Soto heraldry, the coat of arms is quartered, with eagles on the first and fourth, three locks in the second, and two locks in the third.
- 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.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Hubert G. Larson
- ID Number
- TR.325528.070
- accession number
- 260303
- catalog number
- 325528.070
- Object Name
- emblem, radiator
- Other Terms
- emblem, radiator; Road; Automobile
- See more items in
- Work and Industry: Transportation, Road
- Radiator Emblems
- Transportation
- Road Transportation
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_840097
- Metadata Usage (text)
- CC0
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a6-7e92-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.