Factory #40

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New York Central System’s new six-car railroad auto carrier, which has a payload increase of 50 per cent, is shown at Flint, Mich., July 29, 1954. Railroad cars usually carry four automobiles for cross-country shipment. The top floor of the car is let down to form a ramp for loading the second deck

Original 1957 Buick.

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Hello Gerry, some info on the Buick. This car has been in our family since 1981. Dad was the third owner. It was built in Atlanta, Georgia and delivered to Adcock Motor sales in St. Petersburg, Florida. Dad bought from a gentleman in Almont, Mi. Dad worked at Buick in Factories 4, 36 and 10 where he retired from in 1988. Dad passed away in November of 1996. The car is mostly all original with 90% of the original paint, I repainted the blue around 1985. Other than a carpet change in 1985 the interior is all original. The drive train is all original with just normal maintenance done to it. Still has one of the original tires in the trunk. It’s been in numerous parades including the UAW 50th Anniversary parade and a lot of car shows over the years. I was invited to display it in Factory 36 during the Buick Centennial in 2003. The guy setting up the displays knew my dad and ask me if the car was still around since it hadn’t been out since dad had passed. I told him I had it and would more than happy to bring it in. Dad would have been very proud to see his Buick on display in the plant. He worked in 36 for a few years and a lot of the guys knew him and his car he talked about. It’s also been used in a lot of family weddings over the years. The car has Factory Air Conditioning, power Windows, Seats and power antenna. With just 79,000 miles still drives like a new car. We treat it as a family heirloom and my job is to preserve for the next generation.

Al Rogers with just one of his pride and joys.
That is my youngest granddaughter Shelby, she’s six years old now. I think most of my nieces, nephews and their kids have had their picture taken in that car seat .

That is the key the dealer included when it was new. 

 

Link to view manual.
 I was invited to display it in Factory 36 during the Buick Centennial in 2003. The guy setting up the displays knew my dad and ask me if the car was still around since it hadn’t been out since dad had passed. I told him I had it and would more than happy to bring it in. Dad would have been very proud to see his Buick on display in the plant. Al was primarily a repairman at the Buick factory in Flint Michigan. I loved watching him work. I once observed while he removed and installed a complete dash assembly on the repair floor at Buick City. Believe me when I say: he knows as much as anyone about building Buick’s.
Still has one of the original tires in the trunk. 

As is said: There only original once.
She’s a real Beauty Al. Thanks for all the memories.

Bygone Days At The Buick

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We are facing east looking at one of the many Weston-Mott factories that rose up alongside the Buick factories. This particular one would go on to become Buick #34. The photo below is after it became #34 and the description at that time follows. Link:  The Weston-Mott factories at Buick.  This factory was built in 1909 and ( partially) demolished in 1939. “First steam” in this plant was December 16, 1909. This plant made hubs and rims. The original cost of this factory was $20,000.
In 1939, the south half of this building was demolished, making room for the new “Buick Service and Parts”. This view of Weston-Mott #04 was taken from the access road that ran north along the “Pere Marquette” rail line. This would be the future site of Buick #84. The story of this factory can be seen below.

We are facing east looking at one of the many Weston-Mott factories that rose up alongside the Buick factories. This particular one would go on to become Buick #35. The photo below is after it became #35 and the description at that time follows. Link: The Weston-Mott factories at Buick. A north facing view of Weston-Mott #5 (Buick #35). This is the axle plant that Harry Bassett , Weston-Mott General Manager, requested to be built next to factory #4 in his letter dated July 31, 1909 to William “Bill” Little (Buick Manager). It just ended up a bit farther north. These factories back then could be up and running in as little as 3 months from the time you contacted the builder. “Not as much red tape as today”. At the time of this photo I believe it was still an axle plant but when this was published in “The Factory Behind The Car” Buick labeled it as to it’s then current use.  
This view of Weston-Mott #05 was taken from St. John Street. This would be the future site of Buick #94. The story of this factory can be seen below. Link: Factory #35 and #94.

On the left is Weston-Mott #6  which would become Buick #36. In the distance, beyond the courtyard, can be seen the “Imperial Wheel Co.” which would become a Chevrolet plant in 1913. It Then was purchased for the Monroe Motor Co. in 1914. About 1915 it was taken over by Buick and was #18.designated building It would eventually become the site of the Buick Parts and Service in 1939. Now, on the right you can see the east wall of Weston-Mott #4, whose story has been given at the start of this post.

Weston-Mott office at left. Judging from the size of the bushes, compared to a dated photo, I would put the date at about 1911.  Buick factory #01 and office beyond. The man leaning on the rail, would be looking at the Bank, in the photo below. Links: 

The Weston-Mott Factories At Buick
The Industrial Savings Bank  was built in 1909. Notice the “W.E. WOOD Building Constructor“ stenciled on the upper window W. E. Wood death notice. The same firm built the Buick office and many other factories for Buick and Chevrolet.  Link: Weston-Mott and Industrial Bank.

Industrial and Hamilton Avenue 1915.

This is the south end of factory #11. The portions with the boards are where the lunch tables will be. The area off to the left with the pipes is where the wash basins will be placed. Link: 

Factory #11 1909 
This view of the #11 engine plant would have been taken not too long before the one show below. Link: Factory #11 1909
This is the large new Buick engine plant built between 1909 & 1911. This view is facing north. Leith St. is in front with Division St. heading off to the north at right. Link: Factory #11 1924.
This is a great view looking north inside factory #11 when they were just getting ready to start up in 1909.  Link: The last part made here in  the distant future.    
Facing south and factory #11 is just rising.
The sequence of erection is very interesting factory #11.
Notice all the trees still standing behind these wall.
In this east facing view from factory #16 you can see the new St. John neighborhood going up as fast as Buick buildings were rising.  Link: 

St. Johns Industrial Park Urban Renewal near Buick
The north end of factory #12. This is the intersection of Industrial Ave. and Leith St. This is the winter of 1910-1911. I spent many hours in this factory after the creation of Buick City in 1985. Link: 

Factory #12 Sheet Metal Plant
Factory #12 running north along Industrial Avenue. Links: The Factory Behind The Car.

The corner of Leith Street and Industrial Avenue in 1911. Your looking north up Industrial with Leith Street off to the right. Link: 

Factory #16 During Construction
The corner of Leith Street and Industrial Avenue in 1911. Your looking north up Industrial with Leith Street off to the right. Links: 

Factory #16 Southeast Corner 
Buick #04 looking south-east across Hamilton Ave. and Industrial Ave., in  1911, at the body plant. This was the original W.F. Stewart plant #4 until it was absorbed by Buick in July 1908.  Don’t confuse this with the 1947 Buick factory #04.

Factory #06 about 1911. We are facing north with Division St. off to the right. The #03 foundry is visible in the distance. Link: Factory #06 Assembly.

Factory #07 about 1911. This view is facing north up the courtyard between #07 & #06. This empty space will be filled with buildings over the years.  Links: The Courtyard Between Factory #07 and #06.  Factory #07 Seat Stuffing.

This is the “Oak Park Power Company” and I think this is late 1909. We are facing west in the courtyard between Buick factory #01 & Buick #06 and #07. That is Weston-Mott #1 in the background.  Link: 

Oak Park Power Company  Buick Assembly Court Yard.
This is the “Oak Park Power Company” and I think this is late 1909. We are facing south-west. in the courtyard between Buick factory #01 and Buick #06 and #07. That is Weston-Mott #2 with the sawtooth roof. Link: 

Oak Park Power Company
This is a view of the new “Michigan Motor Casting”factory from the south-west in 1911. This factory would become Buick #38 in 1916.That is Industrial Avenue with the trolley tracks in place. This is where Buick factory #04 would be built in 1947.  Link: 

Michigan Motor Castings Company Industrial Avenue Paving. Mystery Speedster.
This photo inside the Kearsley St. plant shows William Beacraft at the right, next to the improved engine (pushrods on top). This was 1904. The worker behind him with the old style engine is known only as Randall. The first man at the left is only known as Morse. The worker behind him is known only as Hiles. The next in line is W.H. Wascher. Beyond him is a worker known only as Daikin. The man at the center (3rd from right) was known as Mr. Green.  Written on back:View of workers posing with machinery at the Buick Motor Company factory. Handwritten on back: “Left to R. 1. Mr. Morres; 2. Mr. Hill; 3. Wm. Washer; 4. Wesley Daken; 5. [blank]; 6. [blank]; 7. [blank]; 8. [blank]; 9. David Randell with Buick over 40 yr.; 10. Beacraft, Wm. Factories–Buick.”  Link: Original Sorry but this is the best information I have, from two sources.
The old “Flint Varnish Works” has now become “The Flint Varnish and Color Works” in 1911. Link: 

Hamilton Avenue and the Dupont plant.
Building #03-D being built in 1910. This view is facing north-east. Link: 

Factory #03 Buildings

This is the D.U.R. (Detroit United Railway) terminal for the Inter Urban cars of that period. This is on Hamilton Avenue across from the Buick factory. You can see the “Flint Varnish Works” in the background at left.  Links: Factory #08 Garage. Main Office Building First and Second Oak Park Industries

Commonwealth Power Company built in 1909 right next to the Flint river. This view and the one below are facing north,just north of Hamilton Avenue.  Link: Go here for full story.

Champion Ignition plant on Industrial Avenue.  Link: 

Champion Ignition Company 1908 – 1911.
Loading 1937 Buick’s at the old “Train Shed” which saw many uses over it’s life span. This view is facing south. Links: 

Factory #02 train shed 1923 Inside train shed 1942 + early ’20s 
This is obviously 1928 judging by the license plate. The water towers place this next to factory #02 west annex where I spent some of my easy time in 1996.  Link: 

Factory #02 train shed 1923    

Factory #02 Train Shed Vehicle Entrance                               Train Shed At Buick Rail Entrance         

This is the first floor of factory #08 after the cement work that is seen being performed below.
“The Buick Garage” getting ready for cement. In this east facing view we can see the “Flint Axle” factory. The unique smoke stacks of the “Flint Varnish Works” are off to the right. At the far left, across Hamilton Ave., can be seen the “Imperial Wheel Works”. Links:
Oak Park Industries Imperial Wheel Company Had Many Faces 
Here we are in 1911 standing on Hamilton Ave. If we turn our head to the right, we will see the Buick main office and factory #01. Links: After the garage became a body plant.

Factory #08 Garage.         
A beautiful, well detailed closeup of the Buick main office around 1911. We are facing north, standing on Hamilton Avenue. Links: 

Main Office Building First & Second