Buick Motometer, circa 1925

Summary

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

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

81.99.48

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Metal
Glass (Material)

Dimensions

Height: 5.5 in

Width: 3.375 in

Thickness: 1.25 in

Inscriptions

On obverse and reverse of case: PATENTED / MAY-13-13 / MAR-17-14 / BOYCE / MOTO-METER / PATENTED / JULY-16-18 / AUG-13-18 / THE MOTOMETER CO. INC. / LONG ISLAND CITY N.Y. U.S.A. On obverse of insert: BUICK (logo) On reverse of insert: DANGER STEAM / SUMMER AVERAGE / A COOL MOTOR CAUSES / GASOLINE WASTE / USE RADIATOR COVER / A SUDDEN RISE / INDICATES TROUBLE / STOP AND INVESTIGATE / COOL MOTOR

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