Helmer MasOlle, 1925 (photo)

Helmer MasOlle. Born in Siljansnäs 1884-1969. Swedish painter and designer. Here in his studio. He has portrayed a large number of famous Swedes but is a very famous industrial designer. The background was that the Volvo founders Gustaf Larson and Assar Gabrielsson wanted to build a Swedish car. The car-crazy artist Helmer MasOlle was in Dalarna and he was commissioned to design the body of the first Volvo car ?00564 in 1927. ?0056 means open wagon. The cost of the car at the time was SEK 4,800 and sales were slow. In the first year, 1927, only 297 cars were sold. Helmer also designed the still classic Volvo emblem that can still be found on the front of all Volvo cars: An oblique diagonal and the symbol of iron, also called the sign of Mars. It symbolizes Swedish expertise, quality and Swedish steel.