Background of William T. Walker.
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| This was the first factory built in the Oak Park Industrial Complex, which would later become the largest grouping of factories for the sole purpose of building automobiles (BUICK) in the world. Later to be surpassed by the Ford Rouge complex in Detroit Michigan. Flint Motor Axle Link. |
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| The spot that this factory occupied would later become a parking lot and is still vacant as of this posting. This view is facing north east. |
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| This group photo shows some of the men who worked in the rear-end housing department at Walker-Weiss Axle Co., Flint, which built axles for some early auto makers. The firm was headed by W. Thomas Walker, Fred J. Weiss and former Durant Dort sales manager Charles H. Bonbright. It was an outgrowth of the Flint Axle Co. which moved to Flint to build axles for Durant-Dort in 1900. Later the firm became the Flint Motor Axle Co. but went out of business in 1924. |
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| The Flint Journal article was supplied by Steve Weiss Grandson of Fred J. Weiss. |
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| This is how the factory looked after Walker-Weiss took over control of the Flint Axle works and built numerous additions. In my time James P. Cole blvd. would be routed directly through the location where this factory once stood. Hamilton Avenue would cross the Flint river just behind this addition to the south end of the factory. In the foreground is the old original St. Johns Street which would be relocated farther east towards the Flint river and actually run directly through the center-line of this factory. Only a small parking lot would exist here in my time. I only parked in it a few times when the other lots were full. Link to view new street routing. |
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| Fred J. Weiss. |
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