Hood Ornament Mascot Identification

[Jarod Buente]

Having trouble identifying this radiator cap mascot. Appears to be a mixture. Wings look like Boyce, but style is similar to one identified as Cadillac on here (had a Dewars stamp on it, but same wire latch style, missing wire here). Stamped with a B that is not Bentley or Bugatti or Boyce. Mascot reminiscent of Chaplin, but not of any style I could find with Google.

[Jarod Buente]

[Jarod Buente]

[Jarod Buente]

The thread containing the similar winged style radiator cap here: Unsure if that meant it was Boyce, but was on a cadillac and had that stamp added, or is indeed a winged cadillac motometer.

 

 

[Walt G]

figure on winged cap and winged cap are the marriage of two separate cost items not one unit necessarily by one manufacturer. When new they were purchased separately.

Figure probably is supposed to represent Chaplin but I do not recall that this figure was just made by one manufacturer- several may have used the theme.

[Jarod Buente]

Yes figured that much on it being a mixture, and yes on the Chaplin. He does indeed have the loose clothing and cane. Are the wings Boyce or Cadillac that you know of? The "B" stamp seems done after the fact too. Didn't know if it was from a specific company or not. Or if that IS a Boyce "B".

[TerryB]

The “B” was a part that could be purchased with the winged piece to personalize the car to the owners name. There was an entire alphabet of letters available for purchase.

[Mark Gregush]

Some caps like this were made with set-screws to hold it on the radiator neck. One cap could fit a number of different necks. If the cap is threaded, that could narrow it down. 

[Terry Bond]

The wIngs are an aftermarket accessory that could have been purchased from a catalog, hardware store or an auto parts store. It has no connection to a specific car and probably was made to fit a wide variety of different vehicles.  The wings were not made by Boyce but were a common addition to the temperature gauge often mounted on then, which was made by Boyce. 

 

The Charlie Chaplin figure is also a novelty piece that was screwed onto the cap. The quality of Charlie is not that good and makes me think it's a later reproduction that's was put onto the much older wings. 

 

The Charlie Chaplin mascots themselves were made in England, France and America.  The French version is perhaps the best known, and was made by Veryka.  It was produced in 1915 and original examples will show fine detail and the registration marks "REG 6650573.  They are 5-1/2 inches tall.  A photo is attached below.

 

Another version was made in England by AEL but it is not of the same quality as the French version.  Other similar versions of this mascot were produced in the US, and most recent versions of it have been imported from overseas. They have been sold periodically for several years on evil-bay and are carefully advertised as "...in the style of..."  their artificially aged finish can be deceiving. 
 

Terry

Edited November 11, 2023 by Terry Bond (see edit history)