I found this mascot that someone had hidden away many years ago and so I just had to have it. I cleaned it up and mounted it in its proper place on the radiator cap of #22. Does anyone know the history of these little devils ?

Frank,I checked my auto catalogs,clear back to 1919. I couldn't find it. It's nice.

Naughty but nice. Mary does not like it at all, but then that is her problem . . . . it is better than a moto- meter !

Sears spring-summer 1939 catalog it is pictured and marked as,
Jester Ornament 28- L 5531 .19 cent!

JC whitney 1975 has a different version but it has lights in it.

Bob Scherzer Probally knows a little background on those.
JS

Frank,fess up,you bought it new, didn't you?

Sorry Frank but I'm with Mary. It reminds me of an X husband lol

It might be just an ole wives tale but supposedly a race driver back at that time had this ornament on his race car as a show off piece.

I reproduce an ornament similar to yours as well as the devil's head. I think more bikers buy them then T drivers. Bob

image\[devil thumbing his nose]

Mine is like the top one that Bob makes. It is an old item given to me by and old friend shortly before he passed away. My speedster will proudly display it, regardless of anybody else's opinion of it.

Thumbing one's nose at someone indicates rudeness and a lack of respect for rules, etc. It really would be interesting to hear the history....

Lewis, I would think that this would have been used most on speedsters where the drivers were "thumbing their nose" at fate!....Michael

My wife has been very understanding of my T mania and has both encouraged and asked for things on the cars, such as side curtains, bumpers, fatman wheels etc.
HOWEVER! She drew a solid line when I suggested this little tidbit.
The decision was closed with the fall of the fall of the judge's sledgehammer on the bench and she just walked away.
Case closed.

Joe R.

I think back then it would likely be called a "daredevil". Saw a couple on ebay but no history to speak of.

It looks like thumbing your nose at the motorists around you. Enough trouble will come your way accidently without asking for it, seems to me.

Michael, I would like to think what you said is the case and the history. In today's world I would be careful where I displayed one of them. Lewis

I see the same type of item as license plate toppers from time to time on eBay. Currently there is a "snotty devil" at item number 130116597358. This could give a guy a front one and a rear one! Dave.