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A Wednesday 'Weed' mystery (Upd. tire chains!)


David Scott recently acquired a very original Buick and is giving a fettle for further use and preservation. While cleaning her up he got puzzled by the oval plate at front bumper of the car: WEED...!?
Here his letter:
  "I have been tinkering with my Buick, no really nasty surprises so far, in fact astonishingly good for 88 years old and original. But it has this strange plate on the front bumper, there are two other clamps featuring an inverted red triangle, but I have seen similar ones on other Buicks of the same era. Maybe someone can tell me the significance of the plate? It's on the bumper clamping top and bottom blades together in the centre? Weed of course has it's modern meaning but I doubt it's that! I can't think of any 1920's word that would be of sufficent significance to put on the front of a car, it doesn't seem to be an acronym even? We Eat Eggs Daily? You see prohibition-related plates but that seems a bit obscure? I think it came from Wisconsin originally, maybe that's a clue? A Wisconsonian is a "weed", like an Oklahoman was derisively referred to as an Okie?"     

Pubblicato:
martedì maggio 28th, 2013
Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 20:36
WEED was a manufacturer of bumpers for the automobile industry, and many car makes used their products. My 1929 Stutz has the same medallion in the middle of the front bumper.
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Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 19:37
i have a small collection of bumper brackets about 60 or so and have three bunper mfg name on them weed,gemco and new
era just like the radiator emblem or hubcaps dennis
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Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 09:00
Thanks everybody for their input, I suspect that the bumper manufacturer is the correct answer as I understand bumpers were often optional extras ( the Durant I had of similar vintage was devoid of bumpers and appears to have always been so). Certainly period photos show other Buicks of similar age with at least one different design of bumper.

The truth is always out there somewhere!
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Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 05:29
My guess is that it represents Weed tire chains, a common supplier of chains in the northern part of the USA. Weed was selling chains under the name until sometime around 2005-06. They were (and are) some of the best around.
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Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 04:12
Hi David,
Weed was a bumper supplier to various automakers. They were common on 1920's Lincolns. I had an original old bumper off a '20's Lincoln many years ago, and it had the same Weed supplier plate.
Enjoy your car.
Cheers
Eldon
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Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 02:31
Weed very likely refers to the manufacturer of aftermarket equipment. Tire chains (for mud and snow traction) were invented by one Harry Weed in 1904. Perhaps Weed's company also made aftermarket bumpers or supplied these badges to chain customers as a product promotion.
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Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 02:17
Have you tried researching the possibility that WEED was the dealer that sold the car
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Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 02:12
There are Buick dealers in Weed N.California, and Weed New Mexico !
No Deeper history as yet !
Stuart
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Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 02:00
Tire chains! Harry D. Weed patented the "Weed Chain Tire Grip" in 1904 and the rest is history. Spend a few moments searching the Net and you'll find it all.
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Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 01:53
The tire chain as we know it was invented and patented by Harry D. Weed of Canastota, New York.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snow_chains

He apparently sold his patent to the American Chain Company of Bridgeport, Connecticut, which retained the brand name and applied it to other accessories like bumpers.

http://www.kitfoster.com/WeedAd.jpg

The successor company is still around:

http://www.accolifting.com/profile.html
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Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 01:52
weed made snow chains for autos. i don't know if that is their logo or not....rob
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Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 01:42
Weed is the name of the aftermarket bumper manufactor. What do I win?
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Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 01:36
If I recall, Weed was a manufacturer of auto accessories during that period, such as tire chains.
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Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 01:19
Weed was a manufacturer of aftermarket spring loaded bumpers.
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Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 01:12
Weed Company made tire chains and probably made bumpers too.
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Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 01:10
Can send photo of WEED add. How?
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Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 01:08
Just a guess, but is it an accessory bumper from the same company that made Weed tire chains?
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Sconosciuto
29 Maggio 2013, 01:07
This was one of the many accessory items sold by the Weed company which is known mostly for the famous Weed Tire Chains.
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JohnHentges
29 Maggio 2013, 00:10
Not so much a mystery. WEED also made bumpers as well as the better known tire chains. Item 290575885853 on US ebay is an add for WEED bumpers. What else they offered the motorist is now shrouded in the mists of time. Mr. Scot has a seldom seen accessory with the nameplate ! Best wishes......
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Sconosciuto
28 Maggio 2013, 23:29
I have a full page advert for this, I will scan and submit it tomorrow!
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