Chromeography

Chromeography

In praise of the chrome logos and lettering affixed to vintage automobiles and electric appliances — those unsung metal emblems and badges that are overlooked, forgotten, damaged, lost to time or the dump.

Is this kind of thing up your alley? Check out this short presentation and the exhibition in Berlin.

Under construction. Potholes common. Services minimal. Blame the management.

Best: photography, lettering, badges (overall design)

Color: white, black, gray, silver, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, beige

Era: 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s

Car Make: AMC, Alfa Romeo, Austin-Healey, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, DeSoto, Dodge, Ford, Holden, Hudson, International, Jaguar, Karmann Ghia, Lamborghini, Lincoln, Mercedes, Mercury, MG, Morris, Oldsmobile, Packard, Plymouth, Pontiac, Porsche, Studebaker, Volvo, VW

Car Model: 88, 500, 3000, Apache, Bel Air, Camaro, Capri, Charger, Continental, Cougar, Corvette, Custom, Dart, Fairlane, Falcon, Fury, Galaxie, GT, Hornet, Impala, Mustang, Special, SS, V8

Not Car: bicycle, camera, espresso machine, fan, refrigerator, scooter, typewriter

Letter: A, B, H, M, S, V, Z

Lettering Style: romanscript, sans, serif, script, slab, swash | condensed, extended | baseline connection, underline | italic, backslant

Motif: circle, crown, globe, lightning bolt, rocket, shield, wings

Shift: RSS | All | Random

Exit: Group | Twitter | Badges on eBay | Fonts (1880–1930) | Fonts (1930–70) | This site set in FF DIN Round.

Logo by Laura Serra.

Your ad here. Contact Chromeography for metrics and info.

Estate Stove and Oven (by Stephen Coles)

Original range in our cabin built by my grandparents in the 1930s.

1930s Graham by Doug Haugum

1930s Graham by Doug Haugum

1956 Buick Century (Classic Cars)

1965–73 International Harvester Farmall 656 by Bill Dunford

Champion

1941 Studebaker Champion (by R. Gust Smith)

1970s–80s Ford Courier by Ivan Bettger
Solid. Date unknown, but the lettering style and plastic backing say late 1970s or ’80s.

1970s–80s Ford Courier by Ivan Bettger

Solid. Date unknown, but the lettering style and plastic backing say late 1970s or ’80s.

1970s Adler Tippa typewriter case by Sandra Morlacci

1970s Adler Tippa typewriter case by Sandra Morlacci

Shasta

Shasta Trailers by R. Gust Smith

Σ

ΣΑΡΑΚΑΚΗ (Saracakis) Bus by Typogreek Logo designed by I. Dracoulis, according to Skartsis on Wikipedia.

1963 Mercury Comet (by R. Gust Smith)

1963 Mercury Comet (by R. Gust Smith)

1959 Nobel 200 (by Steve Sexton)

“The Nobel 200 was a licensed copy of the Fuldamobil. While the Fuldamobil was built in Germany, the Nobel was built in the U.K. – Northern Ireland to be exact. They were available from 1958 to 1962 and it uses a 191cc single-cylinder making 10 horsepower (the same one used the Messerschmitt KR 200). It could do 55 mph.” — Classic Car Weekly

Boler Travel Trailer, circa 1975–80 (by Grant Hutchinson)

Boler Travel Trailer, circa 1975–80 (by Grant Hutchinson)

Mercedes-Benz L206D Sterckeman Wohnmobil, 1976 (by Sander Toonen)
“Funny camper van, probably not an original Mercedes factory product.”

Mercedes-Benz L206D Sterckeman Wohnmobil, 1976 (by Sander Toonen)

“Funny camper van, probably not an original Mercedes factory product.”

Dealer Badge: Hugh White of Columbus, Ohio (by R. Gust Smith)

Dealer Badge: Hugh White of Columbus, Ohio (by R. Gust Smith)