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The Triumph Logo[s]

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davelgee

davelgee

Senior Member
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Hi group:
I have a question about the Triumph logo as used on the car line. There seem to be at least two - one a "wreath", which makes sense given the name of the autos.
The other is not so easy, might be a grill of a 30's era auto or maybe an open book, or something else entirely.
I am guessing that this may have something to do with Leyland(?) purchasing the firm in the 50's (60's?) but don't really know.
Does anyone know if these were used at the same time, or did one replace the other at some point?
Which one is "preferred"?

TIA
Dave G.
 
the explaination given by the factory of the orignal logo is that it is a stylized version of a mythical winged creature... kind of like a gryphon but that isn't the name of it. It's a bit of a stretch but I've seen it mentioned on a couple of websites. I'll dig around and see if I can find it. There's a specific name for the beast. BL bought Triumph and retained the "proper" triumph logo for some years before they went to the wreath so it doesn't exactly coincide with the takeover.

"Preferred" is a relative thing. If you've got a TR7 then the 'wreath' is the factory correct logo for your car and I've never seen the shield version on it.

Just for the sake of argument the TR2 first appeared with a similar shield but it had a Globe on it and the globes were retained on the hubcaps for several years.
 
The globe also placed center stage on the 4a. I've always heard the TR shield referred to as a book also...
 
Hi all,

Yes, I thought it was an "open book", too, during the Standard Triumph years: on TR3 (red & black) TR3A & 4 (blue & white). Then the globe on TR4A, which was well into the Leyland era. Next the laurel wreathes started appearing.

And let's not forget the British Leyland logo that eventually got stuck on the cars here and there in later years... aka, "the Puckered Sphincter".

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
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BL bought Triumph and retained the "proper" triumph logo for some years before they went to the wreath so it doesn't exactly coincide with the takeover.

[/ QUOTE ]

I assume "BL" refers to British Leyland. Actually, it was Leyland that bought Triumph in the early 60's... don't recall the exact year, but right around the introduction of the TR4 I think. The "shield" continued for the TR4 then was replaced with the globe with the introduction of the TR4A. British Leyland was formed when Leyland and BMC merged in the late 60's.

I've also read that the "shield" logo represented a radiator grille. It certainly appears to resemble the grilles on some of the pre-war Triumph saloons.
 
The "open book" or "shield" logo actually has some connection with the city of Coventry and its coat of arms. Kurtis is correct about the globe or "world" logo and its use on the TR4A, but that logo actually predates the introduction of the "shield" logo as used by both Standard and Triumph from the early 1950s; the world logo appears on the early postwar Renowns and Roadsters as well as on the Mayflower...and, of course, on all TR2/4A hubcaps.
 
Thanks for the additional information Andy. I know the company name "Triumph" was originally selected by Bettmann because of it's "global" meaning. I wonder if that had anything to do with the globe logo.
 
[ QUOTE ]
The "open book" or "shield" logo actually has some connection with the city of Coventry and its coat of arms.

[/ QUOTE ]

yeah... that's it - the coat of arms has a pheonix on it I think. I've been digging and I can't find where I read it. There's a website somewhere talking about the marble Triumph monument in Coventry with the shield logo and it mentions how it "morphed" from the pheonix on the city crest.... but for the life of me I cannot find it. Darn this internets thing... it should just know what I'm thinking and tell me the answer /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

There's a very fiesty codger on the triumph email list that worked at the factory and I'd bet he'd know. I'll post it and see what comes up....
 
[ QUOTE ]
There's a very feisty codger on the triumph email list that worked at the factory and I'd bet he'd know. I'll post it and see what comes up....

[/ QUOTE ]

John Macartney, His father was Charles Macartney and held some very high positions in the Standard Motor Company. John started with Jaguar before moving to Standard Triumph. He was even the personal assistant to the chairman (Stokes) shortly after the formation of British Leyland. If you think he is feisty on the internet, you should meet him in person. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

When he was still working part time at the museum in Gaydon (The British Motor Industry Heritage Trust) I asked him to lead a tour for a group of my local car club members that were doing a trip to England (myself included) and he graciously agreed. Very knowledgeable about the happenings of the day. Very outspoken and opinionated as well though.

I have heard the older logo as both the shield and open book.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
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