Arro-Meter Motometer, circa 1925

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Artifact Overview

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. Bushnell Manufacturing Company produced this "Arro-Meter" motometer in Berkeley, California, around 1925.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Motometer

Date Made

circa 1925

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

81.99.47

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Metal
Glass (Material)

Dimensions

Height: 4.75 in
Width: 3.0 in
Thickness: 1.25 in

Inscriptions

On obverse of insert: UNIVERSAL / ARRO-METER / BUSHNELL MFG. CO. BERKELEY, CAL. On reverse of insert: COLD/ NORMAL/ SUMMER/ DANGER/ C/ A/ 180/ 212/ POINTS TO YOUR MOTOR/ TEMPERATURE