  Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 308 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.33 |
Initial searches for Wahl on the net only turn up German sites, and this thread. I wonder where Bate found the 3089 E. Grand Blvd address? Looking at some old maps, and how the numbering system changed, this would either be near Jos. Campau, or after the Blvd takes its turn south before turning towards the Packard factory, which might place it between McDougall & Mt. Elliot. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2075 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
Re: Gray - 614 Charlotte didn't exist pre-1920 as far as I can tell. Charlotte ended at 6th with an address number ~300. After renumbering, 614 would be between 2nd and 3rd. I'm shrugging my shoulders on that one. I think the fancy plant built in 1910 would be the one on Oakland in H.P. Interesting that Gray became part of the U.S. Motor Company in 1910, which also took control of Brush and Maxwell. Hornwrecker posted a 1911 picture of the Brush/Maxwell factory in H.P. on page 11, and maybe there's a connection there. Could it be the same factory? 2102 Mack under the old numbering system is at the DTRR. 22 Lafayette seems incomplete, as the Canton intersection is at 6900. (1082 pre-1921) This is the location of the Gray Marine Motor Company. Re: Wahl
I didn't realize that the address numbering system on the Grand Boulevard started at the ends (river) and increased toward Woodward. Additionally, there was no change to the numbering system in 1921, so 3089 E. Grand Boulevard in 1914 would be the same place it is today, which is at Woodward. What's there now? I did a quick search on Massnick Phipps, and I see Sven posted a Sanborn map of one of their small plants on page 9, which is this building, across Lafayette from the future Gray Marine Motor factory that I posted a picture of above:  (Message edited by MikeM on October 26, 2005) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2076 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
The reference I quoted above is from Szudarek's "How Detroit Became the Automobile Capital". His page on Wahl includes an image of a Wahl newspaper ad. The ad states,
The ad itself doesn't indicate that that is where the factory is, maybe just the front offices, but Szudarek writes as if he has more information than the ad itself. I think Bate has this book as well, so that's probably where he got it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 310 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.33 |
Oops, forgot the zero on the Lafayette address, edited it in, the ad had 220, which still seems incorrect. Probably another misprint, these Gray Motors ads have some of the most variable address numbers that I've seen, must have been cheap ad space in haphazardly printed magazines. The letterhead posted earlier has "Cor. Charlotte and Woodward Avenues" beneath the drawing of the factory, and is dated May 7th, 1912. (probably another wrong address number from an ad.) Now that you mention it, that drawing looks a lot like the Maxwell plant on Oakland near Rhode Island. Will go back and check. Man, I have to go back and figure out the Blvd #-ing system, I too have it all wrong in my mind. The Milwaukee Jct pamphlet has a Ford Motor Co. bldg at the corner of Woodward and EGB with the address of 3088 EGB/7310 Woodward. It now houses some State of Michigan offices. (#36 on the map) So this Wahl bldg would have been accross the street from the Ford bldg. (Message edited by Hornwrecker on October 26, 2005) (Message edited by Hornwrecker on October 26, 2005) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2077 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
Maybe their office was at the corner of Woodward and Charlotte, and a picture of their plant just happens to be above it on the letterhead. I can't picture anything that industrial or that long, in that location. Earlier you mentioned Clayton & Lambert. The only address I have for them is 6283 Beaubien, which puts them in the heart of the Milwaukee Jct in 1925. That would be across Beaubien from the Ford Piquette plant. Does the Milwaukee Jct brouchure show C & L there? They must have moved to the Conner plant the following year. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 311 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.33 |
I see no mention, so far, of Clayton and Lambert in the Jct pamphlet. From the coachbuilt site, here it the early history of the firm, but no mention of the address of their Detroit plant. In Ypsilanti, Michigan, in the year 1882, three young and aggressive brothers named Lambert started a pioneering venture - the manufacturing and sale of gasoline burning blow torches. Mechanics found the intense portable heat of these torches useful and time saving in the soldering of pipes, etc. As word spread about these new handy devices and the demand for them grew, the business flourished. In 1887, a patented firepot for melting lead was added to the torch line. Its inventor, a Mr. Clayton, was taken into the partnership. Growth continued and in the year 1891, Clayton and Lambert Mfg. Co. filed Articles of Association with the state of Michigan. By 1899, demand for the Company's products had increased beyond its productive capacity. A larger manufacturing facility was needed. Detroit was becoming the center of manufacturing for that section of the country and offered many advantages. A site with railroad facilities was purchased and a suitable plant was built. At this time, this location was in the center of a growing automotive industry, with neighbors like Ford, GM and Cadillac. The torch and firepot business continued to grow and prosper with distribution throughout United States and Canada. In 1915 the Company established a metal stamping division for the manufacture of automotive parts. During the World War I, the Company produced powder time fuses, truck cabs and large quantities of torches and firepots for all US services. After the war times were good and business was booming. The metal stamping plant was sold to Hudson Motor Car Company. Clayton & Lambert now headed by Charles F. Lambert moved in to a new factory in 1929 (Message edited by Hornwrecker on October 27, 2005) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bob_cosgrove Member Username: Bob_cosgrove Post Number: 314 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 207.74.111.16 |
The Detroit Historical Museum Milwaukee Junction brochure doesn't mention Clayton and Lambert at all, and certainly not across the street from the Ford Motor Company Piquette Avenue Plant. What is identified in that location is designer William B. Stout's studio. However, the basic research for the Milwaukee Junction brochure was done by two young interns from the National Park Service, who may have missed Clayton & Lambert, especially if they weren't there very long. I found in writing the brochure, that the two interns had done a good job with a few minor exceptions. For example, they had the National Can Company on East Grand at the tracks (the building on Wetherbee Place that's just been converted into apartments) producing aluminum beer cars in 1919. National Can and American Can on Trombly did not produce cans here, they produced automobile parts. National Can made the "Mayo" brand radiator and other parts from sheet metal stampings. Thinking aluminum was being used for beer cans in 1919 is an error of youth. While some car bodies, perhaps the electrics, were made from relatively expensive aluminum in the 1910's on, beer came only in bottles until the c.1935, when steel cans were introduced. Aluminum beer cans came in c.1960. But, you've got to be at least 50 years old to know that, so the interns can be forgiven. Bob Cosgrove Detroit Historical Museum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 4839 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.228.201.115 |
As for the Wahl Address, the City property seach doesn't turn that up as a valid address. I'm guessing it was demolished if there was a factory there... If it was a sales office, then where was the factory? Someone needs to go hit up the Sandborn's... ;) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 313 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.98 |
Here is the second draft of the coachbuilders list, which is getting as big as THE LIST. Should I have two lists, one of car makers and coachbuilders, separately, or one master, overly long list? Detroit Coachbuilders (Mark 1, mod 2) American Auto Trimming Co -(1909-25) 3100 Meldrum, also Walkerville American Body& Wagon Works-1623 Michigan Ave. American Motor Body Corp (1922-28)- 12262 Kercheval Ames-Ratigan Body Co- 9681 Grand River, Anderson Carriage Co.-(1895-1907) 416 Clay St> Anderson Electric Car Beaudette, O.J.-(?-1922 )- Walnut St>Baldwin & Kennet Roads, Pontiac, (Fisher 1922) Bennet & Co.- 3631 Myrtle Bowman, A.P & Son- 11 Garland, Pontiac Briscoe Mfg. Co. -(1910s-1920s)- ??? Briggs -(1909-54)11631 Mack Stamping, Vernor Hwy, Meldrum Ave. HP Ford, E. Outer Dr., Connor, (10 plts around Detroit) Central Auto & Wagon Wks- 567 High St. Clayton & Lambert Mfg. Co.-(1915-1970)- 6282 Beaubien, Devine St. & Conner> Hudson 1929 (Kahn 1925), moved to ??? Chope, E. & Son - 532 Randolph Columbia Body Co. -(1915-1930), 49 Selden, Model T bodies Creative Ind. -(1949-1991)- ???, showcars, Daytona& Superbird,>Masco Tech, Taylor Detroit Auto Products Co.(1916?) 38 Sherman St, 701 Livingston, Ford bodies Detroit Body Company (1911-?)- Clay and St Aubin St, Spider cyclecar, Cadillacs Detroit Carriage Co. -(1898-1910) -???, Olds bodies Detroit National Body Co - 44 Victor, H.P. Dietrich Inc. (1925-36)- 1601 Clay St., 1331 Holden Ave former Lincloln plt >Murray England Mfg Co-?????? Detroit? Erdman-Guider Co-(1913-35)-320 Beaubien, Everitt, B.F.- (1899-1927) 63-65 Fort St. Everitt, B.F.- (1909 or 11) Beaufait & Mack, later Columbia plant 1916 Everitt Bros. Mfg. (191?-2? )- ??? East Jefferson> Briggs Fabric Body Corp.-(1923-1928)- 12-244 GM Bldg, fabric covered bodywork Field Body Corp- 180 Victor, H.P. Fisher Body (1908->)- W. Fort & Livernois Fisher Body Plant #2 (wood kiln)- St. Antoine (d) 1925 Fisher Body Plant #4- Oakland Ave. Fisher Body Plant #7- Harper Ave / see parking lot behind F21 (d) Fisher Body Plant #10- 5140 Riopelle (Cadillac) Fisher Body Plant #12 -1961 E. Milwaukee (d) Fisher Body Plant #18 (aka Cadillac Fleetwood Plant)- 261 West End Ave (d 1993) Fisher Body #19 - Piquette and Hastings. Fisher Plant #21>GMC NATP (1919-1990?) - 601 Piquette (s) Fisher Body #23- used as GMC NAPT assembly 1990-94 (s) Fisher Body #27- (1925>)-E. Milwaukee & Hastings now NewCenter (s) Fleetwood Metal Body Co-(1926->) 261 West End Ave, Fisher #18 (d) Fox Bros. & Co.-(1912-? )-??? associated with Kelsey-Herbert (Tiffany window Newberry Hall - Kelsey Museum U of M) Gotfredson Body Company -(1924-1927) 36253 Michigan Ave. Wayne, MI, 3100 Meldrum, Ste Claire bodies, (Wayne Body Co) Griswold Body Co. (1909-1932)-5838 Commonwealth St, Guider-Sweetland-(1913-3?)- 10226 Woodward, hearse and ambulances Hayes Mfg Co.-(1904-24)-??? Holbrook Body Co- 8828 Russell Holland Trailer & Body co-2037 1st St. Hulet Top & Body Co- 576 Garfield Ave Hussey Auto & Supply (1902-03)- Beaubien & Trombley, 1st Cadillac body LeBaron-Detroit (1928-42)- 3100 Meldrum, Briggs (d) Lindskow, Paul H.- 5764 Cass Ave Martin-Parry Corp- 6201 Woodward Michigan Auto Body Co.-Michigan Body Co. -(1910s) - Milford Model Body Corp -(1920s) 7201 Six Mile Rd, fabric body Monroe Body Company -(1910-1916) - ??? Pontiac, Michigan> Chevy Murray Mfg (1913-24)- Fordyce St and Morrow St., 1600 Clay St. Murray Body(1924-55)- 7590 Russell, 1975 Clay Ave Nagel, J.C. & Sons- 2715 Baker St Parsons Mfg Co- 5301 Bellvue Ave, auto body hardware Pontiac Body Co. - (1902-1916) - Pontiac > Oakland Proctor-Keefe Co- 7741 Dix Ave Reiss, Joseph- 2018 W Fort St Rogers-Woodward Co Inc- 2147 Smith Ave Sievers & Erdman-(1875-1910)- Brush & Woodbridge, 320 Beaubien Springfield Body Co.(?)- ??? Detroit, Square Deal Commercial Body- 1328 Milwaukee Standard Wagon Works-(188?-1908)-??? , Fisher #1? Stewart, W.F., Co.-(1868-1939) -1023 Harriet Flint, Pontiac, Grand Blanc, >GM Testagruzza Brothers Body Co - 1950s - Oxford, Michigan, fiberglass Towson Body Co. -(1922-1925) -1424 Aberle Av >Murray Trippensee Mfg.(1908-2?)- 5685 12th, 2679 East Grand Blvd, >Everitt US Hame Co- 2935 Dunn Rd, Unsoeld, G.C. & Co- 3695 Mack Wadsworth Mfg-(1919-25)-Kercheval and Conners > Chrysler (MI Steel Boat Co.) Wayne Foundry & Stamping Co (1939->)- 3100 Hubbard Ave, Wells, Fred & Son- 4524 Michigan Ave Widman, J.C. & Co. -(1900-1925) - Trombley and Orleans St > Murray Widman, J.C. & Co 14th St., Kirby St. & GTWRR Wilson, C.R.-(1897-1924) 1660 Clay, Milwaukee Jct. cb . Murray Wilson-Hayes Mfg. (1903-16)- 750 Bellevue Ave Wolfe Body Co- 6237 Woodward John McArthur of Detroit Michigan built the aluminum bodies for the DAC or Detroit Air-Cooled Car of 1922-23. Described as a veteran auto body builder. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 4843 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.228.201.115 |
If you want, we could have a master list created on word, and upload it to my website with a link for downloading... That way, when it has updates, we'll just put a new version of the file up. Just a thought... <---- E-mail if you're interested. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 2656 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 24.22.82.162 |
jjaba votes for separate lists. Coachbuilders aren't car nameplates. They don't deserve to be up there with the car makers. The list would get massive when others start adding design shops, parts houses, tire folks, etc. In Detroit's automobile hey day, it seemed like everybody was making something in their garage and basement. You worked all day in a big plant, then at night kept the neighbors up all night with ca-ching, ca-ching, ca-ching. In jjaba's case, a print shop in his coal bin. jjaba, Westside Memories. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 314 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.98 |
Good idea Aiw, otherwise this thing will be a scrolling nightmare if I keep posting it on every new page. Let me think a bit about some abbreviations, a key for them, a list of sources, etc... that would be good to have in a master list, and how to format into a coherent form. Something like an A for automaker, C for coachbuilder, P for parts, etc... It would be nice if eventually a map could be made if this ever nears completion. Is it time to mention all of the truck, and truck body builders that we've barely scratched the surface on, yet? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 316 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.98 |
How's this for an outline for THE LIST? ****************************** **************************** Automakers (only those who assembled a vehicle) Coachbuilders (body builders/designers, and body stampings) Parts Supplier (engines, radiators, wheels, tires, etc..) Trucks (truck makers, trailers, coversions, etc...) ****************************** ************************ Sources (books, articles, maps, websites, etc...) ______________________________ _______ This might work best for the file, and would be easier to color code locations if it was ever mapped out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 4845 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.228.201.115 |
I like it, it may be big, but... It will save on Lowells bandwith! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sven1977 Member Username: Sven1977 Post Number: 124 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 209.220.229.254 |
I dug through my Sandborn Maps and found Clayton & Lambert on a 1922 map. I was going after the Fisher plants so I didn't get a complete scan of the Clayton factory. The photocopys don't come over very well once the size has been reduced so sorry if you can't read anything. The plant shown was south fo Trombley, west of St. Antoine with Fisher Body plant #3 to the east. Now that the weather is getting cold, I will eventually head back down to the library to look for new old maps. Unfortunately, I've been through all of the good books leaving the research to the microfilms which are all messed up.  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 323 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.125 |
Sven Do you have an address for Fisher #3? another plant not on the list. ( I wish those were higher def, if I squint my eyes and stand back from the monitor, I can almost make out real words. ) Anyone ever see a mention of Fisher plant #1, which I'm guessing was the Standard Wagon Works that they bought from their uncle Albert to start Fisher Body? I sent a copy of the yesterday's draft of the OCF List to Aiw, but will put it into a better format soon. I broke it into four sections, automakers, coachbuilders, trucks, and part suppliers, which makes it easier to work with. It would be nice to pass it around so you could make ammendments, eventually. Would a .rtf or .txt be the most accessible file form, or something else? I've found a few more names when I read an article about the Liberty Truck made for WWI. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 4857 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.228.201.115 |
Hornwrecer, I thought that Fisher Body #1 was in Flint. Home of the famous Sit Down Strike? As for the list, probably .rtf is the best bet. Although it may be more managble in Excel, I could make a .pdf version.... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sven1977 Member Username: Sven1977 Post Number: 125 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 209.220.229.254 |
The address is right where the photocopier ended its scan to the right. Sorry. I resized this on a pc using the computer supplied editor. It's a guessing game as to what size to make it for it to fit. I have Photoshop on another computer where I work with the map photographs which is a lot better.  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 4858 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.228.201.115 |
So.... I was looking though my bookshelf, and found a book, that I forgot about....  It's a promotional book put out by the Windsor area in 1913, touting all the business' that are here... Sorry. Here's a few scans:  How about American Auto Triming? Where did all those Gotfredson's come from?  Dominion Stamping:  A close up of the water tower advertises "Auto Parts & Drop Forgings"  Since it was mentionned a while back.... Here is the Segrave Factory in 1913. The building still stands, but was expanded, and is now in General Disrepair.  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 4859 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.228.201.115 |
I was surfing around on the web, and found some old photos of the Windsor side. These were all on website of the Windsor Public Library. They are property of either the Library, Municipal Archives or Museum. Chalmers  Chrysler Plant # 1  The Old GM Headquarters. Demolished in the 1960's-70's after GM moved out of Windsor  Kerr Engine? Have we covered this one?  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 2665 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 24.22.82.162 |
We have Segrave Fire engines today. Where are they made now? As always, fine scholarship on this thread. Thanks, jjaba. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 4861 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.228.201.115 |
Jjaba, they were bought out a long time ago. I think they are made out in Wisconsin somewhere.... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 4862 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 64.228.201.115 |
Clintonville, WI to be exact.... http://www.seagrave.com/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 2668 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 24.22.82.162 |
Thanks Andrew. Dewitt Clintonville, Wisconsin is a small little town 50 miles West of Green Bay. It is amazing how industry can exist in such places, but they do. jjaba | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 4869 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 209.216.150.127 |
A very rough, and incomplete list of Windsor... Factory - Name - Address - Description - Status - Dates of Operation American Auto Triming Co., Ltd. Painting & Triming Auto Bodies 1911-1925 Baker Motor Vehicle Co. 1913 Border Cities Industries Kildare Rd. 1940 Taken over by GM - Machine Guns WWII, Aircraft Engines, Naval Gun Mounts, Sold to City in 1945 as Bus Depot - Repurchased in 1978 and converted to Transmission Plant Canadian Commercial Car Co. 530 Goyeau Commercial Truck Assembly 1911-1933 Canadian Lamp & Stamping Co. Auto Lamps, Brass & steel Stampings 1913 Canadian Moloney Electric Co. 1913 Canadian Products Ltd. Walker Rd. Walkerville GM Subsidary - Engines & Axles - Taken over by McKinnon Industries 1965 - GM Reacquired it in 1969 1921-23 Canadian Sirocco Co. Fans & Blowers 1913 Canadian Steel Co 1913 Canadian Winkley Co. Windsor Brass Goods 1913 Canadian-Detroit Lubricator Co. Walkerville Radiator Valves 1913 Chalmers Motor Car St. Luke Ford City Assembly Plant 1916 Champion Sparkplug Chrysler Canada Maxwell Chalmers Merge Assembly Plant Dale Iron Works 1913 Detroit Steel Products Co. 1913 Dodge Brothers Walker Rd. Assembly Plant - Imported Parts 1920-1924 Dominion Motors Co. Ltd. Ottawa @ Monmouth Royal Windsor Automobile Assembly - Sold and reopened as New Dominion Motors in 1915 Made one of the First Tractor Trailers 1910-1915 Dominion Paint Works, Ltd. Automotive Paint 1913 Dominion Stamping Co. Ford City Auto Parts, Drop Forgings 1913 Eansor & Co. Carriages & Auto Bodies 1913 E-M-F Montreuil St. Became Studebaker 1908-1920 Fisher Body Co. Edna St. Bodies for Ford - Closed by GM 1923 - Leased by Chrysler 1927 - Desoto Offices 29-30 Burned 1987 1913 Fisher Motor Co. Bought Assets of Tudhope and planned to sell cars as Fisher's. Frank E. Fisher was manager of Studebaker 1913-14 Ford Motor Co Riverside Dr. Ford Assembly Plant Dem. 1969 1913 G.M. Trim Plant Lauzon Rd. Automotive Seat Trim In Use - Lear 1965 General Motors Walker Rd. Walkerville Assembly - 1930 Chevy - Pontiac Cars. Gotfredson Gotfredson Truck Co. Walker & Niagara Merged w/ American Auto Trimming in 1925 Made Auto Bodies for Studebaker & Ford, Made Buses, Taxis & Truck Bodies & Deisel Engines - Stdebaker Took over body body production in 1929 after Gofredson went into Bankruptcy 1925-1960's Auto Bodies Gotfredson-Joyce Inc. Truck Assembly 1923-25 Graham Brothers of Canada Assembly Plant - Merged with Chrysler 1928 Gramm Motor Truck Co. Walker Rd. Turck Assembly 1910-1914 Hupp Motor Car Co. Gilles Blvd. Car Assembly 1911-1914 & 33-36 1911-41 Kaiser Jeep 2525 Central Ave. Jeep CJ Assembly 1959-1970 Kelsey Wheel Co. 1913 Kerr Engine Works 1913 Leggett-Platt Spring Bed & Mfg. Co. 1913 Malleable Iron Works 1913 Maxwell Motor Co. Tecumseh Rd. Assembly Plant - Later Chassis Assembly Chrysler Demolished 1985 1913 McCord Manufacturing 1913 Mitchell Brass Foundry Automobile Castings 1913 Murray Brass Co. 1913 National Spring & Wire Co. McDougall & Shepherd Auto Seat Springs 1913 New Dominion Motors Turck Assembly Packard St. Luke & Huron Church Assembly & Parts Warehouse 1933-40 & 1944-58 Peirce-Arrow R-C-H Motor Co. 1913 Regal Car Co. Walkerville 1910-1912 REO Motor Car Co. Church & Chatham Car Assembly 1922-1928 Sheller Globe Co. Marentette Steering Wheels Sparks Washington Co. Automobile Fans 1913 Standard Paint & Varnish Windsor Coach & Carriage Varnishes 1913 Studebaker Walker & Wyandotte Assembly Plant Burned 1913-1927 Swedish Crucible Steel Co Windsor Steel Castings, Auto Parts 1913 Tate Electric Works Walkerville Made Electric Cars And Trucks - Sold to Chalmers in 1916 1912-1916 Tudhope Motor Car Planned Factory never built - Became Fisher Motor Car 1913 Vincent Steel Process Co. 1913 W.E. Segrave & Co. Walker Rd. Walkerville Fire Truck Assembly Standing 1913 Welles Mfg/Wayne Canada Metcalf St (48-86) Marentette Ave. (86-89) School Bus Assembly Burned 1986 1948-1986 1986-1989 Windsor Carriage Works, ML Menard Truck Assembly 1913 Windsor Mfg. Co. Auto Chains 1913 Windsor Turned Goods Windsor Vechicle Shafts 1913 Wyllis Overland Gilles St. Next to Hupp Assembly only in 1934 1934-1940 Graham-Paige 172 Walker Rd. Then 2470 Wyandotte E. Cars & Trucks 1931-1935 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 4870 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 209.216.150.127 |
Also I solved the riddle of Tudhope from a while back... From Pioneering the Auto Age by Carl Morgan & Herb Colling
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Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 326 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.231 |
I'm glad somebody else, particularly a Canadian, is doing the Windsor list. Damn, that is a long list, and I imagine it will get a lot longer. I started inputing the OCF list into an Excel worksheet. I put in a column named "Type" which has a letter: A for automaker, C for coachbuilder, P for parts supplier, and T for anything to do with trucks. Other letters could be added later, and should make for easily classifying into special type lists. I also have a "Notes" column for miscellaneous stuff. I made it up to H in the makers, and am already going stir crazy mit der kutting und pasting. What is immediately obvious, is how many holes there are in the list. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 4873 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 209.216.150.127 |
True that....  I will reformat and add in the Windsor info. into the list you emailed me. Anytime you come across a Windsor refernce, let me know... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 327 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.231 |
Here is the link to the US Army museum page about the Liberty Truck. Of interest to us is the list of firms who contributed to it. http://www.transchool.eustis.a rmy.mil/Museum/LIBTrucks.htm The main page of the Transport Museum: http://www.transchool.eustis.a rmy.mil/Museum/museum.html | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1013 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57 |
AIW: Just putting a word in for my family connection...the Menard companies...to be sure they are included on your list: Menard Auto Buggy Co. 1908 - 1909 Menard Commercial Car Co. 1910 - 1916 Menard Motor Truck Co. 1917 - 1920 Windsor http://www.windsorpubliclibrar y.com/digi/wow/plants/menard.h tm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 4874 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 65.92.100.73 |
I haven't forgot them K. But I did come across a refernce to "Windsor Carriage Works, owned by ML Menard" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 333 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.40.197 |
Looking through an article on Gotfredson for trucks made in Detroit, I found that the plant was on Gratiot, in the former Kolb-Gotfredson Horse Market (???). They made trucks there from 1921 to 1946, although towards end they were in limited numbers. Article on Gotfredson Trucks: http://www.gotfredson.org/Jerr y1.htm I've been making lots of entries on The List, so far, about 280, and have been clearing up the Chrysler/DeSoto/Plymouth/Graha m/Dodge/Maxwell/Chalmers/etc.. . thing. Probably some Windsor area info in the timelines Aiw. Chrysler history and timelines: http://www.allpar.com/history/ index.html Graham Brothers: http://members.shaw.ca/rjsill/ justwhat.htm The List is up to 138 auto factories, 82 coachbuilders, 55 trucks, and 44 parts suppliers. Oy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 4877 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 65.92.100.73 |
OK, thanks to Hornwrecker and his hard work, I am pleased to host the first public release of the master list. You can find it Here | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 334 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.224 |
If anyone wants a copy of this as an Excel spreadsheet (57k), email me at my username (at) gmail.com. This would make it a lot easier to update, and if only one person could do it at a time, and email it around, it might work better. I haven't gone back over the whole thread again to fill in the blanks yet. Somehow the thought of looking at over a dozen pages for the tenth time, doesn't appeal to me right now. Time for posting some new photos. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 2684 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 24.22.82.162 |
AIW and Hornwrecker. What a scholarly pair. Thanks, Merci. jjaba | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 339 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.31 |
For a change of pace here are some strike action photos at the Motor Products Corp plant on 11801 Mack Ave, probably taken during the 1930s. There's a little bit of the building showing in each photo, but the rest of the scene is well worth posting.   This must have been one of the early UAW strikes, but I'm not really familiar with labor history. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 4885 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.156.95.2 |
Motor Products was a division of GM, I think... Here is a GM strike in Windsor, 1950-ish... The Windsor Motor Products Factory is in the background of the First one.   | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 4886 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.156.95.2 |
Here are some Ford Strikes.... Including part of the disruption of 1945, that I posted about above.    | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 342 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.31 |
You know, you could search forever looking for Motor Products photos, but do an end-around and search for strikes... et voila! I really like that iron fencing in my photos, and that GMC emblem, probably done in ironwork in your second pic. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 346 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.31 |
An aerial view of the Cadillac/Fisher/Fleetwood plant on Fort St.; an enlargement from a photo that I posted on the 2nd Train Terminal thread.  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 351 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.40.68 |
It's been a bit quiet around here today, so I think that I'll post a photo of the first automobile that graced the streets of Detroit. Charles B. King made this in his machine shop at 112 St. Antoine, near Congress, and took it for his famous spin on March 6th, 1896. This pre-dated Henry Ford's jaunt by a few months.  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kathleen Member Username: Kathleen Post Number: 1016 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.14.122.57 |
Thanks, Hornwrecker!!! I wish I had thought to ask my grandfather (who died in 1977) what he thought of the first car on the streets of Detroit. Grandfather was born in 1891 and so was not quite 5 when Charles King drove his car in March 1896. Since Grandfather lived on Hastings St. between Monroe and Lafayette, he often hung out in the Dodge Brothers garage as a youngster. He also chased fires, knew the locations of all the alarm boxes, and kept a log of the fire runs. Oh, how I wish.... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2088 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
I too wish I had the opportunity to talk to my grandfather. He was the youngest son of the mayor of Ottawa and apparently was quite a trouble maker. What did you do with problem kids when they became of age? You put them on the train to Detroit. I can't remember what year it was except that he came to town when Pingree was mayor. In his last years (1950s) as he became senile, he would often ask my mother if she "remembered how nice the Alger's carriage was?" So who's posing with King? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bob_cosgrove Member Username: Bob_cosgrove Post Number: 324 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 207.74.111.15 |
That's Oliver Barthels in the `896 photo with Charles Brady King (1869-1957) in Detroit's first automobile. Barthels was King's assistant and good mechanic in his own right. Both were involved in automobile mechancial design for many years. You can see a 1956 replica of the King car at the Detroit Hisotrical Museum's Motor City exhibit. It was built in 1956 by the J. L. Hudson Company celebrating 60th anniversary of the first automobile driven on Detroit's streets. It was donated by the Webber brothers, Richard, James and Joseph, nephews of J. L. Hudson, who never married. They ran the J. L. Hudson Company for many years. King and Barthels were consulted in the building of the replica, if my memory serves me right. J. L. Hudson also lent his name to the very successful Hudson Motor Car Company, which he funded, but was never actively involved in its management. To see all the vehicles in the Detroit Historical Museum Collection go to www.detroithistorical.org, click on "Collections," then "Transportation History." Bob Cosgrove Glancy Trains Curator, Detroit Historical Museum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 378 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.22 |
Thanks for the Charles KIng information, I don't think any of my grandparents had any contact with any early automakers, unless some stopped off for some pastries at my Grandfather's bakery on Jos Campau (Warsawa Bakery). He did own a WWI era Dodge. Going along with early makers, I found a couple of photos from the D.A.C at the Henry Ford Museum site, which is obvious from the small res, and huge watermark.   I don't think I've seen an interior shot before of the factory on 1363 Cass Ave. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 2712 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 24.22.82.162 |
Bob Cosgrove, excellent collection for us to see. Thanks. But where do you store the 100 cars and other artifacts of Detroit history? Thanks to Hornwrecker for his great photos. jjaba | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sven1977 Member Username: Sven1977 Post Number: 126 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 209.220.229.254 |
Hey Picture Posters, I have a whole mess of new Sandborn Maps to share. (I bought a $400 digital camera just to take pictures for this thread. Is that dedication or what? - Don't answer that.) What shows detail beter, higher dpi and smaller size or maximum size (500 x whatever) and lower dpi? Any opinions? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 423 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.246.13.131 |
Thats great news Sevn1977. Looking forward to seeing them. Here is a pic of something that never ocured to me, how was the production shipped aside from truck and rail.  WSU Archive | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 2715 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 24.22.82.162 |
And you thought Bumper to Bumper was on the Lodge after the fireworks. Psip, great photo. Where's zit-at, yr. make and models of the cars? jjaba, down by the riverside. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 425 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.246.13.131 |
That is at the Nichols Terminal, I would guess they are GM products of 1930s vintage. The caption on the photo said they were bound for Buffalo. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 2717 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 24.22.82.162 |
Thanks. Hope other motorheads give us more details. Is Nichols on the Eastside? Sorry, jjaba doesn't know the Detroit River very well. jjaba | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2106 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
Th caption in Psip's post says the ship is the Graham C. Woodruff. Maybe The Rock could give us some details. The sign says Nicholson Universal Shipping Company. Located at 2654 E Atwater. Here's another shot of autos being loaded onto the William F. Fitch, and the caption says it is the first shipment of autos by boat. I thought they would have shipped by ship sooner; maybe the caption means the first shipment that season? This is a later photo of autos being driven on to the T.J. McCarthy, another auto shipping comapny, and here is a picture of their lot near the river, which I think was on E Jefferson near McDougal. I don't know what make of cars those are, but I know Hudson shipped from a location on the east riverfront. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 388 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.95 |
When I was researching Graham-Paige for the spreadsheet, their building on McKinstry near Fort, that remained a mystery, turned out to be a shipping and export center, so it must have been near the river somewhere on the Westside. Maybe it will show up in some old shipping photos. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bob_cosgrove Member Username: Bob_cosgrove Post Number: 325 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 207.74.110.187 |
The T. J. McCarthy and Nicholson steamship companies used converted overage lake freighters equipped with what was nicknamed a "flight deck" erected above the main deck thus providing two levels of automobiles, which of course, were driven onto the ships. I had a ring-side seat looking out my Parke-Davis office window as the ships turned around after loading. The loading area was west of the Coast Guard Station at the foot of Mount Elliot where Harbortown is now. The ships' auto cargos were carried to Cleveland or Buffalo. I don't know if any went west. Due to the excentricities of railroad rating making, the steamships were cost effective versus highway trailer or railcars. They last operated c.1965. The cause of their demise was the Interstate Commerce Commission finally allowed the railroads to adjust their freight rates to be competetive. And, the advent of bi-level and tri-level 80 foot automobile cars was also a factor. Bob Cosgrove | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sven1977 Member Username: Sven1977 Post Number: 127 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 209.220.229.254 |
Here are a few odds and ends from the Sandborn Maps. The b&w shots are all from 1922. They might look bad but have some interesting information. I need to figure out a better way to shoot these. I found two Saxon plants on Beaufait. One that we knew about at Waterloo and another by Gratiot.   Here's a Columbia factory that used to be Hudson that once was Aerocar that probably was a farm that belonged to Jean St. Jaba before he moved to the Westside. Notice the building across the street. It is Young Bros. Co. - Sheet metal Oven Mfg. Could the building to the north be Hank the First's Mack Avenue plant?  Off of Meldrum is American Auto Trimming Co. - Painting & Trimming of Automobile Bodies. The last for today is the location of a C.R. Wilson plant on Howard by St. Anne's Church. I believe the map dates from 1918 but if you look closely, you can see that the building plan has been glued on top of what used to be there.  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sven1977 Member Username: Sven1977 Post Number: 128 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 209.220.229.254 |
Oops. Here's American Auto Trimming.  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2108 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
The first map showing Saxon on Beaufait at Waterloo (Vernor) shows two long buildings, one hugging Beaufait. The factory that's there now doesn't resemble the floor plan on the map, but isn't this the Saxon plant that burned down? I'm loosing track. Today, the SlipNOT company is there; I think they make non-skid floor mats for factory floors and ship decks:  Farther up the block at Beaufait and Charlevoix is this burned out plant, probably no relation either:  On Beaufait just south of Gratiot, where the second Saxon plant on your map is, is this steel processing plant:   The north end, closest to the camera looks like it was built near the beginning of the century. The south end has a newer addition. Finally, we have the answer to the brick factory at Mack & Beaufait - the one with the faded paint that the Detroitblog guy was Briggs; Young Bros Sheet Metal. My 1925 directory lists them as sheet metal workers, 6500 Mack Ave, but makes no mention of oven manufacturing. Maybe Briggs used the building briefly after Young Bros moved on. The site of the C.R. Wilson shop next to St Anne's is now an empty field. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 400 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.67 |
Interesting find on the "new" Saxon plant, so I guess that brings the count up to three, with the McGraw plant. I need to research the company a bit, because I don't know much about them.  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 405 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.40.154 |
While looking for some Saxon info, I did find out that Benjamin Gotfredson (again that name) was president of Saxon Motor Co from 1918-19. Of more interest on this page was a drawing of the Gotfredson Truck factory on Gratiot.  The addresses listed are 3601, 3599 and 3579, which would put it where the Faygo plant, 3579 Gratiot is today. Gotfredson made trucks in the former Kolb-Gotfredson Horse Market from 1921-46. http://www.gotfredson.org/1993_roster.htm From an old forum thread that mentions the Faygo factory. https://www.atdetroit.net/forum/messages/23585/33681.html?1102832654 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sven1977 Member Username: Sven1977 Post Number: 129 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 209.220.229.254 |
A few more Sandborn Maps. Hinkley Motor Corporation - Auto Truck Motor Mfg. I believe 1918. It looks like part of the building is still there.   Scripps Motor and the Norton building (from way early in the thread) on Lincoln pre-1949.  I all of my adventuring through the Sandborn Maps, I have never found any evidence of Reagal being at Woodward and Piquette. (MikeM knows what I am talking about). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 406 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.40.154 |
From some source now unknown, I also have a Scripps-Booth plant at Gratiot & Beaufait. Was this a mistake for the Columbia one? I've got a few photos to post soon of Regal, factory and cars, and a location of Harper & Hastings, maybe the Fisher # 23 parking lot (?). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 412 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.40.9 |
A photo of the Regal Motor Co (1907-20) factory that is labeled Harper and Hastings, from the DPL/NAHC. This is the photo that the postcard was probably made from.  Here's an aerial shot from around the 30s showing the intersection of Harper and Hastings.  A 1907 Regal Underslung  Honus Wagner (in the backseat) of a Regal 30. Wagner was the Regal rep for Pittsburgh, and five of the Pirates owned them.  1911 Regal ad.  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 447 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.246.13.131 |
Thanks for the aerial shot of Harper and Hastings, I had a shop at 944 Harper. It is right in the middle of the block of Harper, in the bottom middle of your picture. (2 story front, 1 story back part) If anyone has a Sanborn map of that area, I would be interested in seeing what company was there. When I was there, the Goodyear sign was right inside of the building,the supports went thru the roof. PS. can we have a new page?? (Message edited by Psip on November 09, 2005) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 413 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.40.9 |
The whole photo, well worth seeing.  If anyone wants the full size photo, do a search for Fisher at WSU/VMC. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 2729 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 24.22.82.162 |
Hornwrecker, here's some more info. about Honus Wagner sent to jjaba from a life-long Pirates Fan, Rich Nase. After his retirement in 1917, Honus Wagner owned a Pittsburgh Regal dealership. In tribute, a 1911 Regal Underslung Raceabout is on view alongside one of his caps, an autographed ball, his Gold Lifetime Pass to Major League ballgames, and Frank E. Bingham's famous photograph print of "Honus Wagner", 1910. You can see these at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh. jjaba, research dept. with a little help from a friend. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sven1977 Member Username: Sven1977 Post Number: 130 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 209.220.229.254 |
I took almost 200 Sandborn Map shots on Saturday and Wednesday. I figured I had pretty much everything covered but alas, I relize that I missed locations. Factories that were non-automotive at the time of the maps but later became a car foctory or vice versa. Oh well. I'll start on Beaufait/Bellevue. Some of these shots are repeats but have been re-shot. Saxon on Beaufait in 1922 and the same area today. The long white building seems to match.    Aerocar/Hudson/Columbia. The two long buildings match. Notice the Malcomson Coal Company above the Columbia plant. Alexander Malcomson was a money partner of Henry Ford. Wasn't Henry's Mack Ave. plant across the street?   Saxon at Waterloo.  The local Edison plant yesterday and today.   Kerr Specialty Co. Mfrs of Auto Bindings. The map seems to match a rooftop in the lower portion of the groop of dark roofs.   Finally, this square building is either 1111 Bellevue which has been identified as Standard Truck or via Google Maps, it could be 1305 Bellevue which was a Saxon/Demotcar/Princess factory but that may be wrong. I have more information to follow. Nothing on the Sandborn Maps match 1305.   | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 414 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.40.204 |
Sven An address for Princess that I got off of one of your color Sanborn maps previously is 1201-15 Frederick near Bellvue; in business from 1905-??. That's all I've got on Princess. The Saxon plant at Waterloo and Beaufait was the Abbot-Detroit factory from 1910-18 from what I've got. Jjaba Thanks for finding some more Regal info, albeit more about Honus Wagner. It's funny that most of the info that we can find about Regal, even with them being in business for around 13 years, is of their most famous dealer. I don't think this view of the Electric Refrigeration Co./Kelvinator/Nash-Kelvinator/AMC/Chrysler/DCX factory on Plymouth has been posted yet. Probably from the 30s, and from the usual source. I hope this hasn't been posted yet.  I'm adding another column to the spreadsheet for photo/map, so that one can see if there's been a photo or a Sanborn map posted for it. It might help keeping track of what's been done so far, if that is at all even possible. So far only a (p) for photo, and (s) for Sanborn, but can use different letters to denote other things if anybody has any suggestions. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 415 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.40.204 |
A short article on Princess. http://info.detnews.com/joyrid es/mywheels.cfm?id=20 It mentions a first plant on Clay before moving to the Bellevue, former Saxon plant., went out of business in 1919. (Message edited by Hornwrecker on November 11, 2005) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sven1977 Member Username: Sven1977 Post Number: 131 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 209.220.229.254 |
I found my 1305 Bellevue address from the Szudarek book but here's why I think it might be wrong. The Domotcar factory became Princess at the Frederick address according to the Sandborn Maps.   | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bob_cosgrove Member Username: Bob_cosgrove Post Number: 327 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 207.74.110.38 |
While he did a wonderful job identifying and talking about so many of Detroit's auto companies, anything you read in Szudarak's book bears double checking. He should have had a couple of good automotive historians review his work in terms of accuracy. For as good a job as he did, there are more errors than one should expect. And, a complete index would have made it so much better. It lacks even an index arranged alphbetically by car company. The only index is one is car company names arranged by page number. To find a given car company, you have to go through the whole index. I received my copy from company that printed the book and from it's first run. If there have been additional printings, maybe some of these shortcomings have been corrected. Bob Cosgrove | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sven1977 Member Username: Sven1977 Post Number: 132 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 209.220.229.254 |
Hornwrecher asked for the Sandborn Maps of harper & Hastings and of the building by the Fisher plant on Hastings. See the Regal info above. I believe these are from 1915.   | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Psip Member Username: Psip Post Number: 456 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 69.246.13.131 |
Thanks Sven, I think the building I was in was the Central Distributing Company. Its hard to see but it looks like Factory and Mill Supplies. Perhaps now I can do a little digging. When I had my shop in that building, the southeast corner was already chopped off to make room for the SB I75 exit ramp to I94. I will never forget the 1" think steel I beams holding up the Goodyear sign. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 2732 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 24.22.82.162 |
Hornwrecker does the Westside proud with the 1927 Nash-Kelvinator Plant. Wonderful photo. The admin. bldg. squares with Mark Twain Street along Plymouth Road. The admin. bldg. designed by Amedeo Leoni, the industrial layout by Wallace McKenzie, and the tower enclosure and industrial units by Willam E, Kapp, of Smith, Hinchman and Grylls. South of the factory along Mark Twain are workmen's housing in tudors and bungalows. They sold for $5,000 to $15,000, built by the land developers, Miller-Storm Company. These houses were built to accompany the factory. jjaba, Proudly Westside. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 418 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.11 |
I'm glad Jjaba liked the Lord Kelvin plant, although I was a bit frightened being that far out on the Westside. I've updated the spreadsheet with the Demotcar/Princess info, but can't find anything else on Demotcar. Surprisingly the spreadsheet is turning up as one of the top links on google at Andrew's site. Any idea of how many downloads/views of the PDF there have been? It's getting pretty bad when you're searching for something, and all that shows up is our research. The more I look at all of those Fisher plants around Milwaukee Jct, the more confused I get. I've been playing around with PS for labeling pics, and for this I'm comfortably back on the Eastside for the Conner Corridor. I'm trying to see what colors, fonts, and sizes will work best against a B&W photo, at this resolution.  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hamtramck_steve Member Username: Hamtramck_steve Post Number: 2546 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.41.216.17 |
The green against the darker elements. The yellow looks good against nothing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jjaba Member Username: Jjaba Post Number: 2735 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 24.22.82.162 |
Good eye, Hamtramck Steve. You've got an eye for color. The idents. come up just fine. Thanks. jjaba knows Plymouth Rd., it isn't that far out on the Westside. Although in 1927, Kelvinator must have seemed like Yeminsville. In jjaba's youth, Livonia was way out. Oak Park and Southfield way out. And to schlep to Ann Arbor, fogettaboutit. jjaba, tells is like it tis. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Mikem Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 2137 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 68.43.15.105 |
Detroit Motor Car = Demotcar Formed 1909. Factory initially on 21st Street. By December 1909, moved into 40,000 sq ft former Sun Stove Company factory at 1305 Bellevue. Translating that to the current address scheme places it on the west side of Bellevue, between Frederick and the Grand Boulevard, or at the south end of the Packard complex. The car was announced in September of 1909 with an estimated 3000 cars to be marketed. The Harper-Aldrich Auto Company at Woodward and Warren were the distributors for the state of Michigan. The Demotcar Company went bankrupt in August 1910, and production continued under receivership. In December 1910, the company president acquired possession of the plant to resume operations. The company and officers moved to Madison, Wisconsin where they reorganized as the Ritter Automobile Company. Ritter produced a larger car but production ended in 1912. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 425 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.120 |
Thanks for the Demotcar info, I should be getting the Szudarek book from the library this week, and will try to notate the spreadsheet a bit. There was also another Detroit Motor Car Co. (company or corp.) that produced the Detroiter about 1912, with an address of 1915-17 Holbrook & Greeley to cause any confusion where none existed before. While searching for "Detroiter" I came upon this site about the Packard diesel Detroiter aircraft engine that you mentioned very early in this thread. Packard Diesel aircraft engine Not sure if you've seen this page before. Here are a few odd photos which don't fit anywhere else. An interior shot of the Scripps-Booth factory, DPL/NAHC, appears to be a gas engine powering the belt drive system for the machine shop, or some type of primitive engine dyno.  The boys of C. R Wilson coachbuilding shop on a special occasion. Of interest in the second row, second from the left is a youthful Henry Ford, with mustache, and fifth from the left, also wearing a derby is Frederick Fisher. WSU/VMC  There are a few articles on this website about Barney Pollard a past, Detroit car collector who amassed around 600 cars, and about a musuem that never was. (Message edited by Hornwrecker on November 13, 2005) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 426 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.120 |
Just found some info on the Doble-Detroit steam car, 1914-17; the company mentioned in some brochures, besides the Doble name is the General Engineering Company of Detroit, Michigan. Maybe this name will show up somewhere. Doble-Detroit brochure Doble photo archive I found these at the Bancroft Library archive at Cal Berkley, and found this site searching for info on an Oliver steam car made in Detroit about the same time. Nothing other than a name and nebulous dates on Oliver so far. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sven1977 Member Username: Sven1977 Post Number: 134 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 209.220.229.254 |
To complicate Hornwrecker's map, it looks like Continental was a Kaiser-Fraiser plant at some point.  Does anyone know anything about the Weier Smith Truck Co.-Mfg. Auto Trucks that was located in Birmingham? The road to the north is Maple Road with Woodward just to the west.  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hornwrecker Member Username: Hornwrecker Post Number: 429 Registered: 04-2005 Posted From: 63.41.8.213 |
I found a bit about Weier-Smith, one of the first 4WD trucks, at a Birmingham history site: Weier-Smith Trucks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sven1977 Member Username: Sven1977 Post Number: 135 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 209.220.229.254 |
I figured out that the Demotcar/Princess factory in the Sanborn Maps above is 1305 Bellevue. I always try to show the cross streets and this time I didn't and didn't realize that vertical street was Bellevue. Thanks for the investigation on Weier-Smith Hornwrecker. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sven1977 Member Username: Sven1977 Post Number: 136 Registered: 04-2004 Posted From: 209.220.229.254 |
These Paige buildings are still around.   | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bob_cosgrove Member Username: Bob_cosgrove Post Number: 334 Registered: 03-2005 Posted From: 207.74.111.66 |
Is that East or West Lafayette? What is the nearest cross street(s)? Bob Cosgrove | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Aiw Member Username: Aiw Post Number: 4978 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 69.156.95.2 |
Hornwrecker - 49 Downloads. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discuss Detroit » Hall of Fame Threads » Old Car Factories » Old Car Factories - 13 |
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