Re: Hood Ornaments in '55 & '56

Posted by 55PackardGuy On 2009/2/17 0:36:40

Quote:

Does that mean the buzzards are circling? Gee, I hope not. This is just getting interesting. THANKS Owen, for including that bit of info on the build sheet on top of the glove box! I remembered reading it was somewhere in that area, and I can't wait to hear what AL finds out about his "hotrod." Somebody who worked at Packard may have been able to order all kinds of stuff... or he took it home piece by piece in his lunchbox like Johnny Cash.

Back on topic:

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Now, to me, that kind of settles the argument. I always wondered what inscription that coat of arms would have had, were it not taken off of all depictions I have ever seen. See below.

Here's what Kimes has to say:

1928: Packard family crest was adopted as the company's emblem, a pelican being the central figure in that crest.
1932: Packard introduced its new pelican hood ornament which was the result of the design department's efforts to symbolize and stylize the bird, which appeared in the crest.
Late 1930's: Advertising first referred to it as a cormorant.
1949: Hugh Ferry sent interoffice memo dated November 17, 1949, "I have always been under the impression that our ornament was intended to carry on the tradition of the Packard family whose escutcheon carries the pious pelican."

Packard, A History of the Motor Car and the Company, 1978, Automobile Quarterly, Beverley Rae Kimes, Ed. pp 764-765. [paraphrased to follow dates]

So, blame the advertising department for shying away from waxing eloquent about a pelican. They probably feared the competition would seize upon it to ridicule them with "Pity the poor pelican, its beak... etc. etc.

So were any of the Packard family alive in 1928? I'm too tired to look it up.