WHAT’S IN A NAME.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3704, 15 October 1927, Page 1

WHAT’S IN A NAME.

INTERESTING ORIGINS IN CARS.

A car by any name would run, but some deep thought has been put into the choice of names for many of the cars on the market. In many eases the origin is obvibus, and the majority of automobiles are named after the producer or designer. Henry Ford, A. R. Erskine, 11. M. Jewett, Rollin White, J. N. Willys, E. S. Jordan, W. P. Chrysler, C. W. Nash, F. C. Chandler, W. Durrani, 11. C. Stutz, \Y. R. Morris, Sir 11. Austin, and the Dodge Bros., are among the figures in the industry who have given obvious names to cars.

Among the pioneers whose names survive on ears still in production arc dlolls and Royee, Volsin, Riley, Romeo, Singer, Citroen, and Daimler. Names composed by initials are chiefly used by Continental firms. Instances are Fiat, an abbreviation for Fabriea, Italiana, Automobili Toi’ino, and 5.L.1.M., for Societe Lyonnaisc Industrie Mechanicjue. There is the British G.W.K. after the founders of the Firm Grice, Wood, and Keiller. A.B.C. is a reminiscence of the All-British Engine Company. F.N. is the abbreviation of Fabrique Rationale dc-s Amies de Guerre.

The originators of the Waverley car debated long on the selection of a name for their product, find finally one of the party suggested his favourite.books —the Waverley novels. Alvis was chosen because it would bring the car to the head of any published alphabetical list. The name Clyno is mysterious and those now associated with the firm can give no information concerning its origin. Lagonda was a made up word without meaning, chosen because it sounded well. Rhode is a puzzle and A.C. refers to Auto Carriers, the original firm which constructed a carrier tricycle. Vauxhall owes its' origin to the situation of the founding firm in that quarter of London.

There are many names suggesting efficiency, power or speed. Whippet needs no explanation. Trojan is obvious as was Ajax, now abandoned by the Nash Company. A Hercules car is now an orphan. Louis Chevrolet the racing-car driver supplied the name of the wellknown General Motors product. Oakland is merely the name of the territory in which the factory is situated. Flint has a similar origin. Pontiac was a powerful Indian chief in Oakland. Mr. William Buick began the manufacture of petrol engines in 1903. R. E. Olds began building gas engines in 1880, and automobiles in 1897. The Cadillac organisation is the oldest automobile company in Detroit, and the crest used is that of Sieur Antoine Cadillac who founded the colony where Detroit now stands in 1701. Mr. Henry Ford and Mr. Thomas Edison have been closely associated in laboratory work during the past year and it is, rumoured" that Ford plans to supplement his line with an “Edison Six.”