Stude building symbol question

[Mike Van Veghten]

Anyone know the why's and wherefores (real history not conjecture) about swasticas on this Studebaker building ?
This is a shot from the H.A.M.B.

Thanks

Mike

[junior]

one of the most mis-understood symbols since Nazi-Germany...

http://history1900s.about.com/cs/swastika/a/swastikahistory.htm

and

http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/ancientart/f/swastika.htm

[Mike Van Veghten]

junior -

THIS...I know. I did do my homework to find the basics.
What I'd like to know...is...what was the Studebakers familly's thinking ?

Mike

[8E45E]

Like the name, "Dictator", the swastika didn't always have bad connotations.

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?29299-MILT-COMBS-FREE-WHEELING-STUDEBAKER-SWASTIKA-TOKEN

Craig

[Commander Eddie]

Junior,
I guess I could infer from these articles about the history of this symbol that this building and the use of the symbols probably predates the Nazi era and likely prior to the 1920s. Judging from the photograph I think that is a fair assumption. So the question should be what did this symbol mean to the people who built the building? Was it originally designed and constructed for Studebaker, or was there a previous owner/tenant? Was it really just meant to be a design element and today we read too much into it? Since the original architects/builders are no doubt long gone we may never know what they were thinking unless they documented it on their drawings or blue prints.

[LeoH]

Particularly during the Art Deco period. We have a post office building here in town with embossed swastikas back to back outlining certain openings around windows, it was just one popular design element among several at that point in time. There were sculptured eagles on several corners inside the building as well as part of the ornamentation. Also, if you start looking at them, more often than not, the architectural swastikas are presented 'square' and the Nazi use of the symbol had it canted in a more dynamic pose.

If you notice, the swastikas on the Studebaker building are 'backwards' to how they generally are presented. Before the Nazis appropriated the symbol, they were associated with good luck, from their original intent. Irony alert....

[Chris Pile]

Mike - you are assuming that Studebaker is connected to the design feature of the building.
You also know what they say about assuming....

[SN-60]

Halloween prank??

[studegary]

These are ancient symbols and not Nazi swasticas. As LeoH posted, these symbols are the reverse of a Nazi swastica. Also, the building appears to be a Studebaker dealership and not a Studebaker building. The building appears to far predate the Nazi symbol.

[52-fan]

There is, or was, an original tepee on display in the Black Hills area and one of the symbols on it is a swastika. The Nazis ruined the association for us.

[junior]

junior -

THIS...I know. I did do my homework to find the basics.
What I'd like to know...is...what was the Studebakers familly's thinking ?

Mike

sorry Mike, did not intend to offend. I am quick to defend what this symbol has stood for thousands of years pre-nazi times as opposed to most western cultures that tend to equate it to Nazi era Germany. I have no idea why the dealership used this symbol, and if there was a reason other than its a cool geometric form we'll probably never be sure exactly why, but will only speculate. regards, junior

[Mark L]

As the articles point out, the symbol was found in many places years ago. I have a small, curved handle crescent wrench made by the Buffin Tool Company that I was given from my grandfather's estate. There are swastikas cast on either end of the company's name on the handle.

Mark

[Stu Chapman]

These are ancient symbols and not Nazi swasticas. As LeoH posted, these symbols are the reverse of a Nazi swastica. Also, the building appears to be a Studebaker dealership and not a Studebaker building. The building appears to far predate the Nazi symbol.

I quite agree with Gary and LeoH. These are not Nazi swasticas.

Stu Chapman

[Buck]

This is not a Swastika

This is a Bhudist cross. A Swastika turns to the right and stands on it's point.

[Studebaker Wheel]

As an ex-history teacher I was asked about this numerous times. I answered by using the old post card (note the copyright 1907 in lower left corner) shown below from my collection. Yes, as has been mentioned here it is a 2000+ year old symbol for good luck. It has only been associated with the German nazis for maybe 80 of those 2000 years. I guess they were not particularly creative so the had to borrow something that had been around through most of recorded history.