The symbol people associate with Lincoln is actually the Continental Star. A Continental Division designer by the name of Robert Thomas designed it just hours before the Mark II was introduced to the Ford Board of Directors. It has since been adopted by the Lincoln Division as the Lincoln emblem.
While compiling information for an upcoming article on the subject I visited the Benson Ford Research Library at The Henry Ford, in Dearborn MI. I was actually doing research on the interaction of Ford and Porsche over the Continental name. Rumor has it that Ford persuaded Porsche to cease using the Continental name on its 1955 356 Coupe and Cabrio because Ford claimed that the name Continental was most associated with its product first introduced in 1939. Porsche did stop using the name for the 1956 model onward.
My search of the Continental records bore nothing along those lines but I happened upon another very interesting trademark infringement interaction between Daimler-Mercedes and Ford over the use of a four-pointed star being used on the Continental. Mercedes claimed to have registered a four-pointed star as "defensive" protection of its three-pointed star and it wanted Ford to cease its use along with the Continental name. Ford pretty much told them to take a hike.
The documents are an interesting dance between two auto giants. They're interesting reading. The most interesting part is mention of a previous trademark infringements between the companies. I'm interested if anyone may have knowledge of that story.
The first letter is Mercedes' New York attorney's letter to Ford. The second letter is an inter-company memo reporting the mercedes demand and the third letter id Ford's counsel's response to Mercedes.
While compiling information for an upcoming article on the subject I visited the Benson Ford Research Library at The Henry Ford, in Dearborn MI. I was actually doing research on the interaction of Ford and Porsche over the Continental name. Rumor has it that Ford persuaded Porsche to cease using the Continental name on its 1955 356 Coupe and Cabrio because Ford claimed that the name Continental was most associated with its product first introduced in 1939. Porsche did stop using the name for the 1956 model onward.
My search of the Continental records bore nothing along those lines but I happened upon another very interesting trademark infringement interaction between Daimler-Mercedes and Ford over the use of a four-pointed star being used on the Continental. Mercedes claimed to have registered a four-pointed star as "defensive" protection of its three-pointed star and it wanted Ford to cease its use along with the Continental name. Ford pretty much told them to take a hike.
The documents are an interesting dance between two auto giants. They're interesting reading. The most interesting part is mention of a previous trademark infringements between the companies. I'm interested if anyone may have knowledge of that story.
The first letter is Mercedes' New York attorney's letter to Ford. The second letter is an inter-company memo reporting the mercedes demand and the third letter id Ford's counsel's response to Mercedes.
