Goodyear Wingfoot
Goodyear Wingfoot
LUMI acquired its Goodyear Wingfoot in January 2021. It is five feet long, so about a size 60 by standard shoe comparison. This particular sign element dates back to 1973, but we haven’t yet determined its exact display location.
We do know the historical and the commercial origin of the classic icon. The Roman god Mercury (Hermes was his Greek equivalent, a.k.a. Nick Vedros) was said to be the “herald of the gods and protector of travelers, merchants and orators—a.k.a. the swift messenger.”
Qualities of speed and traveler protection made Mercury’s winged foot a natural symbol for a company like Goodyear Tires. And we can thank Goodyear founder Frank Seiberling of Akron, Ohio, for suggesting it as the trademark for The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in 1900. One side note: Mr. Seiberling’s inspiration came from a statue of Mercury mounted on the newel post of his Akron home’s staircase.
The LUMI welcomes this fleet-footed, iconic Goodyear sign to the collection and hopes it propels us into a bright future!
LUMI acquired its Goodyear Wingfoot in January 2021. It is five feet long, so about a size 60 by standard shoe comparison. This particular sign element dates back to 1973, but we haven’t yet determined its exact display location.
We do know the historical and the commercial origin of the classic icon. The Roman god Mercury (Hermes was his Greek equivalent, a.k.a. Nick Vedros) was said to be the “herald of the gods and protector of travelers, merchants and orators—a.k.a. the swift messenger.”
Qualities of speed and traveler protection made Mercury’s winged foot a natural symbol for a company like Goodyear Tires. And we can thank Goodyear founder Frank Seiberling of Akron, Ohio, for suggesting it as the trademark for The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company in 1900. One side note: Mr. Seiberling’s inspiration came from a statue of Mercury mounted on the newel post of his Akron home’s staircase.
The LUMI welcomes this fleet-footed, iconic Goodyear sign to the collection and hopes it propels us into a bright future!
