Packard Motometer and Radiator Cap, circa 1925
Add to SetSummary
Automobiles often came without temperature gauges before the early 1930s, so enterprising manufacturers sold aftermarket motometers. Mounted on a car's radiator, these devices measured and displayed coolant water vapor temperature, notifying drivers if their automobiles were in danger of overheating. Moto-Meter Co. Inc. dominated the American market, producing the popular Boyce motometer and others featuring an automotive manufacturer's name or logo.
Automobiles often came without temperature gauges before the early 1930s, so enterprising manufacturers sold aftermarket motometers. Mounted on a car's radiator, these devices measured and displayed coolant water vapor temperature, notifying drivers if their automobiles were in danger of overheating. Moto-Meter Co. Inc. dominated the American market, producing the popular Boyce motometer and others featuring an automotive manufacturer's name or logo.
Artifact
Motometer
Date Made
circa 1925
Creators
Place of Creation
United States, New York, Rochester
Creator Notes
Manufactured by Taylor Instrument Company in Rochester, New York based on a patented design by Moto-Meter Co. Inc.
Keywords
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
81.99.101
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
White metal
Glass (Material)
Marble (Rock)
Enamel (Fused coating)
Color
Silver (Color)
Black (Color)
Gold (Color)
Light green
Dimensions
Height: 6.25 in
Width: 9.5 in
Length: 3.125 in
Inscriptions
obverse and reverse of case: PATENTED / MAY-13-13 / MAR-17-14 / BOYCE / MOTO-METER / PATENTED / JULY-16-18 / AUG-13-18 / MADE BY TAYLOR INSTRUMENT COMPANIES / ROCHESTER N.Y. obverse of insert: PACKARD / PAT. MAR. 17-14 / MOTOMETER CO. N.Y. U.S.A. reverse of insert: DANGER STEAM / ... / COOL MOTOR / INEFFICIENT COVER RADIATOR / FREEZING WATER
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