Packard Forum Index » General

I believe the heraldic term for the bird feeding her chicks by piercing herself is "a pelican in her piety". So I agree with the previous post of the bird on the crest is a pelican. However there is artistic license in lengthening the neck to make the bend, making it look more like a cormorant

That's why the NorCal region of PAC calls their newsletter The Pious Pelican. I was it's editor for, I believe, about seven years but many years ago.

Am I the only person who sees the subtle humor in some of these hood ornaments?

For example the Rolls-Royce hood ornament is a high priced prostitute pulling up her bloomers, and the Packard hood ornament a bird throwing up.

Yes, there is a bit of subtle humor in a good many hood ornaments in that era.

Mention of a pelican always brings this verse to mind:

A Wonderful Bird is The Pelican
By
Dixon Lanier Merritt

A Wonderful Bird is The Pelican
His bill can hold more than his belican
He can take in his beak
Food enough for a week
But I'm damned if I can see how the helican.

Hehehehe....

Steve

Even in 1952 the question seemed unresolved.





8x10 black and white Packard Co. file photograph of a 1952 Packard Pelican, hood ornament, right side view. Inscribed on photo back; accessories, hood ornaments, cormorant, restyled pelican emblem, standard hood ornament on 1952 Packard 250, 300, 400, twenty-fifth series models.

Item # EB01e895

Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.

Reproduction Permission Form and Price List

@Guscha
You never cease to amaze me by dusting off an old topic (where I can hardly find a topic we did last week). Fun to read some comments of back then, especially from forum participants we hardly hear from anymore.

Where's O_D or Tim Cole?

Still here.

Good to hear O_D

Leyton Chan pointed out this 1931 General Letter G-347 that references to the Pelican/Commorant accessory.

Quote:
BDC, I couldn't agree more.





Packard Co. file photograph of a 1933 Packard view of front three-quarters of car, parked in street, owner comic strip creator George McManus, standing on left side. Inscribed on photo back; 1933 Packard eight, model 1001, tenth series eight, 8-cylinder, 120-horsepower, 127.5-inch wheelbase, 5-person sedan (body type #603), fitted with deluxe equipment; approved Packard accessories bumper guards, license plate frames, pilot ray light, cormorant emblem, twin trumpet horns, chrome plated wheel discs, dual side mounted spares, rear view mirror, fender guides, radio (trunk & guard removed); purchased 6-14-1933 for $2866.75, purchase order #9103, from LeRoy Spencer, Earle C. Anthony, Inc., Los Angeles. 'George McManus, creator of Jiggs, Maggie, Dinty Moore and other characters in 'Bringing up Father,' says that to date Jiggs and Maggie have been able to agree on only one thing. And that is, that when it concerns motor cars, Packard is the only car to buy.'

Item # EB01e715

Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.