The Star is Decided

In 1921 it was announced by Daimler Benz, that the three pointed star would be adopted as a radiator emblem, and two years later it was registered. Up to 1924 the two firms, Daimler and Benz, were in competition, but in that year they joined in a working agreement to coordinate design, production, buying and selling, as well as publicity, but they kept different trademarks. Two years later, in 1926, the two companies amalgamated to form Daimler Benz A.G. and the new trademark was the three pointed star inside a circle with a border enclosing the two names Mercedes and Benz with branches of laurel joining the words at either end. This has been kept, and the three pointed star is now said to stand for service and the name for pioneering spirit and tradition. The first new Mercedes models after that were the Mannheim and the Stuttgart. The latter was also called the Type 200, a six cylinder upright saloon of 1.98 litres producing 38 bhp at 3,500 rpm and a top speed of 80 km/h, and it had a spare wheel mounted on the rear of the vehicle. The Mannheim name carried on for several years on different models, in 1930 it was on the sporting 370S drophead coupe. In deference to modern safety regulations the three pointed star on the radiator now bends over if pushed. The following year saw the advent of the famous sporting line which culminated in the 38/250, starting with the 26/180 new slk Model S with a supercharger on a six cylinder engine of 6.79 litres offering 180 bhp at 3,000 rpm and 100 miles an hour, a fabulous speed for its day. There was a bewildering multiplicity of models in those years, from the Super new slk Mercedes eight cylinder of 1930 with a 7.66 litre engine and supercharger in a vast saloon body down to the little 130H of 1933 which was a 1.3 litre four, with a modest 26 horsepower and 92 km/h top speed. In the ‘thirties the company was making cars with four, six and eight cylinders and had standardised on the performance and luxury image which later became its hallmark, perhaps because it had to merge two conflicting product lines and two boards of management and ways of thinking. Although the open touring cars had been superseded by saloons, there have always been drophead coupés in the range and two door sporting cars as well as the businessman’s express. The little 13OH (H for Hintem or rear engine), came from Czechoslovakia, was designed by Carl Ledwinka of Tatra, and had a large tube running down the centre as a backbone and independent suspension. The engine was a simple side valve and the whole concept was wide of the Mercedes image, but it was simple, gave a good ride on rough country roads, and had an overdrive fourth gear which could be engaged without using the clutch. The 13OH was in many ways a predecessor of the Volkswagen and fulfilled the same role. Although outside Germany Mercedes have always been seen as purveyors of sporting and luxury cars, in their home country they also supply the taxis and more humble transport for the masses who have traditionally used Mercedes cars. A two seater version of the 1933 13OH was also produced powered by an overhead camshaft engine producing 55 bhp. In contrast to this essentially simple, practical vehicle for country dwellers, Mercedes also marketed a front engined car, the 17OV (Vor for front engined) which was even more successful than the 13OH, and there was also a 170H with the bigger engine. These model numbers were supposed to represent the engine size in cubic centimetres divided by ten, but in modern times Mercedes type numbers have become very confusing as the same ones are used over again for different models. There was also a Mercedes convertible version of the 170V in 1935 with the same four cylinder 1.7 litre engine producing 38 horsepower at 3,200 rpm and giving a top speed of 110 km/h. This was a pretty car with outside pram irons and a forerunner of the later 190 and subsequent models.