A trade-mark cluttered up with too much detail.
The "Neponset" trade-mark has so much in it, including the picture of a child in a rainstorm, that it loses its character when it is reduced to any practical, small size for advertising purposes. The single word "Neponset", enclosed in a simple design, would be much more effective—or the child holding the piece of roofing over her head would be equally effective, if shown alone, without a background.
An example of a commonplace trade-mark is the big "P" surrounded by a circle. This mark lacks distinction and originality. It makes but little impression upon a reader's mind, and is soon forgotten.
A trade-mark that bears a startling resemblance to a soda-water check.
Compare the big "P" with the admirable "Pacific" Mills trade-mark. The Pacific Mills emblem is graceful, simple, distinctive, and has a swing and a whirl to it that suggest motion. When a symbol is used as a trade-mark it is always advisable to put the suggestion of motion into it, if this can be done without the sacrifice of some other essential quality. A thing in motion arrests the eye, and holds the attention, much better than a still figure. Evidence of this is seen in the well-known Dutch Cleanser trade-mark, where the motion of the lady in wooden shoes dominates every other quality of the symbol.
An arbitrary number may be a valid trade-mark. The number "830" has been judicially held to be a good trade-mark for a brand of hosiery. The number "4711"—an arbitrary arrangement of figures—has been in use since 1792 as a trade-mark for toilet preparations. The numerals "1" to "35" are valid trade-marks, as applied to Humphrey's Homeopathic Remedies.
A numeral indicating quality or composition cannot be protected against infringement.
This design is very attractive. A fine example of a symbol with wording.