Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Ford Rouge Factory Tour and Giant Screen Experience will be closed Monday, March 16 for a day of staff learning and development. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Ford Rouge Factory Tour and Giant Screen Experience will be closed Monday, March 16 for a day of staff learning and development. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Oakland 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. Moto-Meter Co. Inc. dominated the American market, producing the popular Boyce motometer and others featuring an automotive manufacturer's name or logo.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Motometer

Date Made

circa 1925

Creators

Place of Creation

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

81.99.49

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Metal
Glass (Material)

Dimensions

Height: 5.25 in
Width: 3 in
Thickness: 1.25 in

Inscriptions

On obverse of insert: PATENTED / MAY-13-13 / MAR-17-14 / BOYCE / MOTO-METER / PATENTED / JULY-16-18 / AUG-13-18 / OAKLAND / PRODUCT OF GENERAL MOTORS / OAKLAND MOTOR CO. / OF NEW ENGLAND / THE MOTOMETER CO. INC. / LONG ISLAND CITY N.Y. U.S.A. On reverse of insert: DANGER/ STEAM/ SUMMER/ AVERAGE/ TO AVOID EVAPORATING/ NON FREEZE SOLUTION/ OPERATE BELOW LINE/ COOL MOTOR USE/ ALWAYS INVESTIGATE/ ANY SUDDEN RISE/ OF TEMPERATURE/ RADIATOR COVER
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