Universal Film Manufacturing Company

Background
Universal Pictures was originally formed on April 30, 1912 as Universal Film Manufacturing Company by Carl Laemmle, a German-Jewish immigrant who settled in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where he managed a clothing store. It was formed from a merger of several film companies: Independent Moving Pictures (IMP), Powers Motion Picture Company, Rex Motion Picture Manufacturing Company, Champion Film Company, Nestor Film Company, and the New York Motion Picture Company. It is the oldest studio in Hollywood. The word "Universal" means "Omnipresent". In 1915, he opened Universal Studios. In 1923, it was renamed to Universal Pictures Corporation.

1st Logo (September 12, 1913-1914)
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Visuals: Over a black background, we see a drawing of a ringed globe with "UNIVERSAL FILMS" over it. A plate with the text "NESTOR" or "SPECIAL" is seen with the trademark text under the plate. Sometimes, the text "NATIONAL BOARD OF CENSORS" is added under the globe.

Technique: None.

Audio: None.

Availability: Most of their silent films of this time were destroyed, while some went into the public domain and have recreated titles replacing the Universal references. This is known to appear on their early films including The Girl Ranchers and The Ohio Flood.

Legacy: This logo marks the first appearance of the iconic Universal globe logo, which has remained a staple of the studio's branding to this day.

2nd Logo (August 16, 1914-December 22, 1918?)
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Visuals: A sepia rotating model globe with "UNIVERSAL FILMS" on a space background with a "Made in USA" logo (which resembles an interstate shield) on two bottom corners.

Variants:
 * There is a version of the logo.
 * There is a black and white version of this logo.
 * There is a variant where "UNIVERSAL FILMS" is not superimposed over the globe but rather a model. The text is also placed in a lower position than normal. The globe and space background also looks different. The "Made in USA" logo is also gone. The globe animation is also improved as well.
 * In  The Boy Mayor  the logo is bigger with stars all over it.

Technique: Live-action model work.

Audio: None.

Availability: This so far is known to appear on The Hedge Between, The Heart of Humanity and at the end of The Boy Mayor, all which are in the public domain.

3rd Logo (September 29, 1914-191?)
Visuals: On a black background, we see a combination of a circle and a rounded rectangle surrounding the text "UNIVERSAL". To the bottom left and right corners of the circle are the words "TRADE" and "MARK", respectively.

Technique: None.

Audio: None.

Availability: Seen on Shack Next Door.

4th Logo (July 22, 1914-1919)
Visuals: There is a circle with "UNIVERSAL" written above and "FILMS" written below. Inside the circle is some small text that says "TRADE MARK". A Saturn-like ring surrounds the circle, which reads "THE TRANS-ATLANTIC FILM CO. LTD." (Universal's British distributor at the time).

Technique: None.

Audio: The closing theme of the movie. Otherwise, it uses a violin theme.

Availability: Like the last logo, this is hard to come across because most of their silent films of this time were destroyed, while some went into public domain and have recreated titles replacing the Universal references. This is harder to find as there are more films destroyed with reissue titles plastering this logo, though a select few films, however, have turned up with their original credits and this logo intact. It last appeared on a silent film aired on TCM's Silent Sunday Nights. However, it can be found on the film By the Sun's Rays.