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I noticed this come up under "Recent Photos"

Note "The Ohio Automobile Company". How long was Packrad under this company name? ...and the "Wheel Steering" as a feature. How proud they were, too, of wheel and tire size. With a New York dealer! Probably the dealer did the ad to run in the papers.

But what the heck is that little mouse thingy? Just some ad layout artist's idea of a design element, or is it somehow Packard related?

This is a really neat piece of Packard history from waaaaay back. Wonder whatever happened to Geo. B. Adams, and if he sold a lot of Packards.

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Adams took a partner in 1902 and it became Adams & McMurty.

The company name was changed to the Packard Motor Car Company on October 13, 1902.

I'm guessing you don't have the Kimes book? Might I suggest you buy it and settle in for some good reading.

I do have the Kimes book, I just didn't look it up. I was most interested in the features and the question of the little logo.

Packard was claiming to be the best thing in the world from the get go. However, the Leyland-Faulkener Cadillac and the curved dash Olds had them beaten. Faulkener was involved in both of them while Packard was a product of William Hatcher who was hired away from Winton.

The problem with those early Packards was that the reciprocating parts were just too darn big. The geared transmissions were innovative however.