FORD logo through the years

At some point Ford also employed a beetle image in their logo. When Henry found out it was actually an Egyptian dung beetle he ordered it dropped, understandably.

The Microsoft logo is also interesting. What does it say now about the company? That it's a bunch of squares?
 
700rpm said:
At some point Ford also employed a beetle image in their logo. When Henry found out it was actually an Egyptian dung beetle he ordered it dropped, understandably.
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Bill Stout was a developer of all metal airplanes and when Henry noticed that endeavor he employed Stout and the Tri-Motor came about as a result. In later years Stout, on his own, but with Ford Motor connections for mechanical components built his Scarab. The Scarab was powered by a flathead V8 that was rear mounted and in appearance seems to predate what is commonly known as a mini-van.
A scarab is a dung beetle, but I've never run across the name used by Ford, only Stout. What time frame would this have been?
 
Fordors said:
Bill Stout was a developer of all metal airplanes and when Henry noticed that endeavor he employed Stout and the Tri-Motor came about as a result. In later years Stout, on his own, but with Ford Motor connections for mechanical components built his Scarab. The Scarab was powered by a flathead V8 that was rear mounted and in appearance seems to predate what is commonly known as a mini-van.
A scarab is a dung beetle, but I've never run across the name used by Ford, only Stout. What time frame would this have been?
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Would have been from 1912 to 1916. The wings symbolized the Egyptian scarab. The triangle symbolized the everlasting pyramids. But the company's secretary, E.G. Liebold, supposedly pointed out to Henry that the scarab was actually a dung beetle, and that was the end of that!
 
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Ray, I did a little digging and came up with these facts. The new logo for 1913 was designed by Glen Buck, Ford's advertising manager. In Buck's words "a happy combination of two of the oldest Egyptian symbols-the pyramid symbolizing strength and stability-the scarab wings symbolizing lightness and grace" was seen widespread in Ford ads, dealers were urged to paint it on their windows and were strongly urged to use trademarked letterheads. It was used until late 1916.
For some reason the company Operating Committee questioned whether it should be continued. In referring the question to Ford, Henry abolished the trademark when told (by Liebold?) of the dung beetle connotation, although Liebold was not mentioned in the article.
I gathered these facts from "Ford Life", March-April 1971; it was your comments that made me think of the article.
 
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