The Mercedes Star - a logo with cult status
When people talk about the Mercedes logo, they are talking about a logo with cult status. Even people who are not at home in the car world can easily identify the Mercedes Stern of the car manufacturer from Stuttgart. But what is really behind the Mercedes-Benz logo? Known worldwide, many theories surround the origin and meaning of the emblem of the Mercedes Brand. You can find out how the Mercedes-Benz star actually came into being here.
Mercedes star - how did it come into being?
With the increasing fame of Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, the idea of identifying the Mercedes passenger car with a decorative emblem emerged. The sons of Gottlieb Daimler Paul and Adolf - propose a three-pointed star.
The meaning of the Mercedes logo - a three-pointed star goes up
Gottlieb Daimler had once marked the family home on a postcard with a three-pointed star. At the same time, the three rays symbolize Daimler's vision of using his company's engines in land vehicles, ships as well as in aviation.
A few years later, the three-pointed star was supplemented by a wide ring with a Mercedes lettering and four small stars. By registering the emblem as a trademark, the Stuttgart-based company paves the way for its Mercedes logo to become a proudly enthroned radiator mascot.
Mercedes logo meets laurel wreath - merger with Mannheimer Benz & Cie.
In the course of the merger of Daimler Motoren Werke from Stuttgart with the Mannheim machine and automobile manufacturer Benz & Cie. in 1926, a new joint Mercedes logo was created. The new emblem was intended to emphasize common features of the company and unite the Benz sign with the Daimler star. The surrounded trident star was henceforth joined by the laurel wreath of the Benz sign together with the lettering "Mercedes-Benz".
The Mercedes Benz star - changing through time and space
In 1933, the Mercedes Benz star undergoes another revision: It is a Mercedes logo, which the automobile manufacturer uses mainly for prints. The shape of the Mercedes Benz logo shows a clearly reduced black silhouette of the Mercedes star in an equally black ring. In the following decades, other Mercedes emblems vary, moving back and forth between two- and three-dimensionality.
The Mercedes star emblazoned as a radiator mascot
Until the 1990s, the plastic Mercedes star in the ring is placed on the vehicles as a radiator mascot with an underlying badge showing the complete logo. Later, laurel wreath and the lettering are integrated into the base of the radiator mascot. At that time, it was not uncommon for the Mercedes Benz logo emblazoned on the front of the hood to fall victim to thieves.
A logo with cult status and as loot, which is used creatively in many ways. For example, a broken Mercedes star is used as a fashion accessory on worn leather jackets as well as on hard-wearing earlobes or school bags. Of all things, this is how the Mercedes Benz trademark becomes the most sought-after Mercedes-Benz spare part. In the meantime, however, the Mercedes emblems are well secured: ball bearing with spring package for pliability and locking, they lay flat instead of breaking off.
Also, most models now carry their Mercedes Benz star integrated into the radiator grille. Only the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the Mercedes-Benz E-class and Mercedes Benz C-Class station wagon still proudly wear the Mercedes star where it once was.
