All Things Buick: Buick Aerial Views Over 100 Years.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Buick Aerial Views Over 100 Years.

The top two photos are after the numerous additions made to the original west Kearsley Street Buick plant. The bottom two show the original single floor factory. This was the first location of Buick in Flint after their move from Detroit. The Jackson Michigan plant was used for assembly during most of the year 1905 and all of 1906, and was concluded as far as the automobile production was concerned during 1907. All parts were made in Flint and shipped by rail to Jackson. Truck production went on at Jackson until 1912. Flint to Detroit round trip on July 13, 1904. Link: for first Buick built in Flint announced

Flint Michigan Before The Automobile.

1904 Buick

Original Buick Factory In Flint Michigan

Buick Assembly Jackson Michigan 1905-1912

This is Buick in late 1904 when it was still a single floor factory in it’s original form (at the left). It now has it’s engine test building (the white structure ) located to the south. The larger complex is “The Flint Wagon Works” where the first Pilot Buick body was assembled. The W.F. Stewart factory only blocks away to the east built all the following body’s for many years. This view is facing north-west with west Kearsley Street running parallel between the two buildings and ran all the way to Wilcox Street at that time. The bridge crossing the river in the distance is the Wilcox Street crossing. This would become Chevrolet Avenue in the future. This is before the move to the site on the north side of Flint at the old Hamilton farm, or “The Oak Park Industries” site. In 1904, all Buick cars were assembled here. It is hard to believe that it started with this small building. The ground breaking of this first Buick factory in Flint was the morning of September 11, 1903. Just left click for large view of any photos. This is a recreation that I myself made (40 hours work) starting with a postcard of the Chevrolet factory from the 1920's. This would be a very accurate representation of how it looked at that time. I used some real elements such as poles and lumber stacks from actual photos of the original site.

Original factory on west Kearsley st.

Original Buick Factory In Flint Michigan

The Early Years.

The First Buick Workers

The 1904 Model B & Flint Wagon Works.

The First Buick Workers

The 1904 Model B & Flint Wagon Works.

This is 1908 and is facing west. This is the old Hamilton farm, or “The Oak Park Industries” location.

Buick Factory #01.

Division Street

This is 1910 facing west and showing two stacks at the powerhouse #26 now.

The color postcard is from my private collection and can be super enlarged. The width of the Flint river is greatly exaggerated. The bridge was just a fantasy at the time this rendering was done and was still only a shaky foot bridge. A steel truss bridge would never be built at this river crossing.

Suspension bridge at Hamilton Avenue

Just left click, then right click and choose view image, then left click once more.

The Weston-Mott Factories At Buick

A 1910 postcard view facing north-west. That is the Flint Varnish Works in the foreground. Notice the first Buick test track in the distance.

Buick Test Track / Factory #35

This is the oldest from my collection, (excluding postcards) and is from a 1911 Saturday Evening Post dated October 14, 1911. The view is facing west. The one above it is very similar. Follow the 1912 link below for a better view of this.

Buick 1914

Buick For 1912

Just left click, then right click and choose view image, then left click once more. Many photos on here will allow enlargement for viewing or reading.

This 1915 (west facing) view is from a Bridgeport, Connecticut paper put out for World War I, or the “War To End All Wars” as it was known then. That is a panoramic view of downtown Flint at the bottom.

Hamilton & Industrial Avenue 1915.

Factory #03 Buildings

This is using the same well known rendering of Buick as shown below. Most offices at Buick in the 20′s had a framed copy on their walls. These photo re-prints are almost always available on E-Bay. THE FACTORY BEHIND THE CAR

This after 1920 view is facing east at the Buick complex is from a tour book given out in the 1920′s to people on the plant tour.

The Trip I Made

Buick 1920

Just left click, then right click and choose view image, then left click once more.

This is the complete photo show below after 1920. Just left click, then right click and choose view image, then left click once more.

A closeup of Buick after 1920 facing east. This is the north-end up to, and just beyond Leith Street.

St. Johns Industrial Park Urban Renewal near Buick

Just left click, then right click and choose view image, then left click once more.

A closeup of Buick after 1920 facing east. This is the south-end including the A.C. factory at the extreme right. That is the intersection of Hamilton and Industrial Avenue.

A.C. On Industrial Avenue and the Buick Bug.

Inside A.C.

Charles Lindbergh over Flint 1927

Just left click, then right click and choose view image, then left click once more.

This 1920 north-east view is a Crooks studio print. The (Wallace family) donated all of the Crooks photos to the Kettering archives in Flint, Michigan. The family is in possession of J.D. Dort’s old roll-top desk, just as Lawrence Gustin has Billy Durant’s.

1928. Original

This 1930 view is from Life magazine and is facing directly north.

Facing north in 1930 at the whole Buick complex. Original

This south view from factory #30 is from 1936.

Buick 1931 And Just For Fun.

This is from the Buick Gallery and Research Center in Flint, Michigan.

This north-east view is from 1932.

This west north-west view is from 1936. Original

This is 1938 facing directly north at Buick.

Division Street 1936 thru 1938 Production increase in 1938.

Buick in 1940 looking north-west.

Buick 1940

Buick 1941

Buick 1949

Here is the same view from 1952 as shown below. I have more of these but this will do.

Last Remnant Of Factory #36

This view is the same as shown below and above, only this one is from the Buick Research Gallery in Flint, Michigan. This one has some alterations done for some reason.

An original framed copy from Leonard Thygesen. This particular copy once hung in the main office located at Industrial and Hamilton avenue.

Here is the February 2013 updated print from Leonard Thygesen.

This is a well used photo of Buick from the 1953 book put out by Buick for it’s 50th anniversary.

This copy is from the January 1953 anniversary edition of The Flint Journal. Facing south over the whole Buick complex at that time.

This copy is from the January 1953 anniversary edition of The Flint Journal.

Buick Golden Anniversary

This copy is from the January 1953 anniversary edition of The Flint Journal. Just left click, then right click and choose view image, then left click once more. Many photos on here will allow enlargement for viewing or reading.

An overview of Buick’s north-end in 1952 facing south-west from factory #36.

An overview of Buick’s north-end in 1952 facing south-west from factory #36. This copy is from the January 1953 anniversary edition of The Flint Journal.

Factory #36 in 1952 facing north-east. This copy is from the January 1953 anniversary edition of The Flint Journal.

Buick in 1954 facing north-east.

Ralph DePalma

1954 Buick Fisher Body #1

Buick assembly 1964.

A composite of Buick in 1964 facing north-east.

Buick North 1966 Overview

Building #38 Warehouse

Buick in 1973 facing north-east.

1973 Buick

Buick in 1977 facing north-east.

Final Line through The years.

1977.

This before Buick City in 1985.

These two photos (above) of Buick are before Buick City in 1985. The view at top is facing east north-east. The view directly above is facing straight down on the site. Paul Williams supplied this photo. Visit his Buick Facebook site at: Buick Flint North

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Buick Aerial Views Over 100 Years.

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