All Things Buick: Search results for #78

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Sunday, January 13, 2008

Buick Factory Designations

First is #1 body receiving & paint, #2 final Shipping, #3 drop forge, #5 enamel shop, #6 final assembly, #7 final assembly, #8 new car sales and publications, #9 new car final prep., #10 final assembly, #11 engines, #12 sheet metal, #14 power house, #15 die shop, #16 maintenance & stores, but early on was were the Buick Model 14 was built. The top floor was the soft top shop, #17 truck maintenance, #28 originally small parts but later for storage, I went in there once in the seventies and found numerous experimental Buick's from all different years covered with tarps. update: Kevin Kirbitz (author & Historian) confirmed this to me and stated they were on the 3rd floor of #28. One in particular I remember was a four wheel drive station wagon with electric motors for the front wheels (I wonder what happened to them all?). Now #29 is the tool makers, #31-32 & 33 Axles, #34 hubs and axle's, #38 hospital and personal welfare, (early on this was a foundry). Next #40 transmissions. This factory I knew well I have many story's from my time there. It was said that it was as deep in the ground as it was high above it (4 floors above) but the basements were almost always flooded. One time in the 80's when the water was partially drained for maintenance I went two floors down and the stairs still went down into the water so this story is probably true. Also rumored was that the bench's were still set up with parts for the liberty aircraft engine work during WWII, but I did not see any of this and it was pretty creepy down there. Now on to #62 the area between factories #10 and #07. It was roofed over when the combined factories became #62 (The Unified Assembly Plant), with 3 lines assembling cars at one time. Buick #65 was the personnel building built around 1927. This building was turned over to the city when Buick no longer required it. The new sheet metal plant #04 was built in 1947. Engineering is #78, "there were two places with this designation" on opposite sides of Hamilton Avenue. The one on the south side connected to #08 was also where management from the main office would sign out vehicles. After WWII tank transmission work went on in there. The factory designated #78 (on the north side) of Hamilton ave, in the old Imperial Wheel plant even kept this designation after being demolished and replaced. And last, #85 where I hired into Buick, October 9th,1972. This was the personnel dept. and Metallurgy plant.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Buick 1931.

This is the same location, on the roof of the old Buick garage #08 and engineering #78, as shown in the previous post. This is a series 90 7 passenger sedan. This is the first year of Buick's famous straight 8 which would be built until 1953. I have another photo from this location that I will post as soon as I locate it. 1932 story on the engineering staff of #78.

Link:

Buick 1941 "Staehli"

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Fisher Body #1 1940

This I believe is an advance showing for the district dealers for the all new 1940 Buick. This is in the old Buick garage #08. This is the #78 engineering area of the building. This is the exact same area where the prototype work for the M-18 HellCat tank would soon take place. The body style shown in the background is the new Super Series Century. This model year was the first Buick without a running board. It did however still show a hint of one. This is not Fisher body.

This photo is from the Lawrence Journal a Kansas paper. Follow the Lawrence link for story. For a nice story on the 1940 Buick go here, THE OLD CAR MANUAL PROJECT.

Coming down the line after paint on south Saginaw street in Flint.

Grinding the welds for a smooth look.

Another view of the Jig in place, making sure everything is squared up
correctly.

With the jig in place a Buick C body gets welded.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

M-6 Heavy Tank

These two Buick factories are where M-4 "Sherman" medium tank transmission work and the M-10 (variant) based on the "Sherman" chassis were built. The M-6 heavy tank transmission development work, which eventually led to the M-26 "Pershing" heavy tank was also done here. The total of tank powertrain's being built here is reported at 19,428. This would not include the transmissions for the M-18 "Hellcat" designed and built exclusively by Buick. The M-18 powertrain was assembled at the old Buick garage #08 (south of Hamilton ave.) known at that time as #78. The two factories (#02 & #94) are connected by bridge #23, "which I traveled very often". The year before I left Buick (for work in Bay City, Michigan) I was the only person that worked in 'all' of factory #02 on the night shift. "Sometimes it was kind of spooky". The fork lift maintenance department did occupy a small section of the second floor, south-west corner, near the training department, so I never seen them.

This early World War II "heavy tank" design never saw combat. This was originally created to be the equal to the heavy tanks of Germany and Soviet Russia. This tank weighed in at 50 ton. Buick built the two torque converter versions of the track drive. The other transmission was an electric version. As far as I know, only three prototype versions were built. Supposedly there is only one example left. From the following Wikipedia source, it looks like 20 tanks were actually built using these Buick transmissions, with the whole program being suspended in 1944.

Here is a rear view of the M-6 aluminum variant.

In this view, off to the right (in the background) you can see an M-4 Sherman medium tank drive.

This is another view of the aluminum variant torque converter transmission show farther below. If you will notice, the track drive gears have a different configuration also. This is in factory #02, only this is the west section that was made of reinforced concrete,"like so many other early Buick factories".

This is the M-6 Heavy tank.

This is an only partially assembled M-6 transmission. I'm thinking this would be in factory #02, but I can't be sure.

This rear view of the M-6 transmission would be in factory #94. Judging by the size of the steel supports shown behind this particular transmission, I would say this is the first floor. The second floor had much smaller supporting beams.

This view with the front cover removed would have been in factory #94.

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This diagram of the Buick built transmission describes some of the parts.

This view is obviously inside the old train shed of factory #02, which had been immediately converted for war work before even the last automobile had been shipped from here. This M-6 transmission is one of two variants built by Buick during the war. This view is from the rear where the engine would connect. This area of factory #02 had many uses over it's life. This particular area shown here was plastic injection molding for many years during my time at Buick. When I left in 1997 this area was A.G.V. repair. They had a test track here (buried cable in the floor) for operating the A.G.V. . I seem to recall that this building was used as "pilot buildup" for new model cars back in the early 70's.

Links: Detroit Tank Arsenal.
Inside train shed 1942 + early '20s
Inside the train shed 1997
Another view inside factory #02/08
Factory #02 train shed 1923
Factory #02 Train Shed Vehicle Entrance
Train Shed At Buick Rail Entrance
Buick Water Towers
Army Air Force Training School
Factory #94
Factory #35 And #94
Factory #28 #17 & #94 Demolition 2000
Factory #94 North Wall
Factory #94 Inside First Floor
Inside Bridge #23
Buick City Building Designations
Division street Buick 50's / 90's

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

My Family at General Motors

This is where my grandfather worked .

My grandfather looked like this when he worked for Fisher Body #2a, located on Chevrolet avenue which was simply called: "Chevy in the hole".

My mother Lorraine (Royer) Godin at Fisher Body #1. I believe (the top left photo) was a baby shower for her upcoming child in 1949 my sister Lynn (Godin) Carley. The top right and bottom right were party's for other employees. Also shown (at bottom left) is her mother Mary (Bernard) Royer retiring from Fisher #1.

These snap shot's are from 8mm home movies my mother took while waiting to pick my Dad up at Buick. The building you see in the background is #08/#78 garage. The garage at this time was also part of engineering #78 . This is the intersection of Hamilton and Industrial facing south-east.

1963 story book of Fisher Body.

Links:

Flint Photos Supplied From The Weaver Family Fisher Body #1 The Fisher Brothers. Happy 100th Birthday Chevrolet.

Monday, January 14, 2008

Buick City Building Designations

The combined factories of Buick City were known as Factory #86. The tank farm was where the chemicals for the paint shop were off loaded, held in tanks then piped to the appropriate places. Factory #44 built in 1974 was the paint dept. Factory #84 was still division #78 Engineering. Old #40 first floor was the tire and wheel room, with the other 3 floors belonging to maintenance. New #40 first floor north end was engine dress, midway south was the body marriage, the south end was all the other things like car pamphlets, floor mats, and front and rear fascia's. From there the car proceeded to the second floor for all it's trim, tires /wheels and such then back down to the first floor, before either going to repair or the final audit. The cars were then reloaded onto a carrier for the long overhead trip to the first floor, north west corner of factory #94 for shipping either by truck or rail. The second floor of #40 was always like my home away from home. At the end we were just considered another trim department, the second floor was connected by four bridges, 2 going to factory #04 and one that crossed Division st. going to factory #02 plus one going to old #40. You could also go all the way over the tracks to #94 second floor or to truck repair in factory #17, you could also exit onto Division st. At the end of Buick City our fork truck repair was located on the second floor factory#02. Factory #44 first floor when first built was the engine line but after Buick City was created the first floor was all large tanks filled with primer which the cars body was submerged in. The second floor was (mostly) robots spraying paint. The first floor of factory #04 was where the seats and other interior parts came together, with the second floor south-end being the sealer line. The north end was another trim dept, with the extreme north end for management office's. The third floor was mostly where the cars just ran around kind of in a holding pattern until they were sent to final assembly, with the north west corner being the Buick crib/stores. The fourth floor may have still contained the ovens but I don't remember. The body shop #12 was where the Robogate was located, then what was called the five line were smaller presses but still huge for stamping numerous smaller parts. The #12c annex was the home of the giant presses, welders, side buildup, floor buildup, doors, hoods, deck-lids, everything you can imagine. Annex #12c still had an inside rail dock. Factory #02 first floor south-end was for welding operations (day shift only), the north-end for fascia storage(where I worked), the old train shed, was for A.G.V. setup (automated guided vehicle). Factory #29 was from start to finish the tool makers plant. Old factory #11 was now #31, building oil and water pumps but previous to Buick City was the axle plant and before that the famous engine plant. That building still survives. Factory #85 was now used just for metallurgy and we held meetings there on different matters. Buick personnel had the hospital and fire department on the first floor. The Union hall is self explanatory. Last but not least Oak Park is still surviving even today.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Hamilton Avenue And St. John Street.

A before and after photo.

A less seen aerial view of the intersection of Hamilton and St. John from 1939. The addition at the east end of Buick factory #08 known as #78 is seen at the upper right. Filling the photo at the center right is the E.I du Pont de nemours co. or just DuPont as we called it. Directly east across St John st. is the Marvel Carburetor plant who's address was 1609 St John Street and was originally the Armstrong Manufacturing Company that was established in 1897 (they built the springs for the first Flint built Buick on Kearsley street). The parking lot at the lower right is where the Flint Axle plant was. As St John became James P. Cole and was moved closer to the river, it now goes through the footprint of the old axle plant. This photo is from the Buick Research Gallery.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

HellCat Tank Training & Engineering 1943.

Here you can see the major rebuilding of factory #08 in 1920. That is Hamilton Avenue running east and west between factory #08 and the main office which was building #07.

The engineering and training for the Hell-Cat tank was done here during World War II. This south-east view shows factory #08 during it's 1920 remodel. This shows the third floor addition being built. This photo is labeled wrong, as is the one shown below. This one is identified as the main office. The main office was actually directly north across Hamilton Avenue . I think maybe some interns did the cataloging of these archive prints and they really did not know much about the Buick buildings.

This is a south facing view in 1920 of the remodeling of factory #08. This and the photo above are from the Buick Research Gallery in Flint, Michigan. This one is also wrongly identified as another building. So if you do any research there beware of the information attached to these archive prints. This shows the bridge area that will connect with factory #4 body shop. The third floor is being added at this time. That is the W.F. Stewart factory #3 in the left background.

Guarding factory #08 during World War II. I remember these Buick guards well. They commanded much more respect than the Pinkerton guards that replaced them when Buick City was created. These guards were great to work with. They did not wear a side-arm in my time. The Pinkerton guards were always "JERKS". I dealt with security on a daily basis while shipping and receiving parts. The Pinkerton guards always looked and acted like mall security.

The original T-70 wooden mock-up. Some working models were built and rejected by the military. This is factory #08.

Radial engine installed in this powertrain cutaway. This is factory #08.

Training on the turret of the M-18 in factory #08.

Powertrain section cutaway. Hellcat name was going to be used for the 1947 DYNAFLOW transmission. Link here for news.

Training in factory #08.

Inserting the torsion bar suspension which is still used in our modern tanks today. This is factory #08. You can tell this is facing north towards Hamilton avenue because of the trees outside the windows.

Powertrain section training cutaway.

Ready for the "quick change" engine. The engine was on rollers and was slid in place from the rear. This is factory #08.

Transmission training in factory #08.

Engine in factory #08.

Power section in factory #08.

Drive section in factory #08.

Suspension and drive wheel training in factory #08. This would also be the north wall because of the tree branches visible outside the window.

This location is shown two photos below. That is the Oak Park fire station on Industrial Avenue in the background. Since we can see Oak Park #4 fire station in the background (in this 1943 photo) we know that factory #4 body shop has been removed. It was in fact demolished in 1936. M4A2E8 - Upgraded with wide-track Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension (HVSS), fitted with the 76mm M1 gun is shown on the left.

The location of this photo is shown at the bottom, with the south wall of factory #08 in the background. M4A2E8 - Upgraded with wide-track Horizontal Volute Spring Suspension (HVSS), fitted with the 76mm M1 gun shown in profile.

This 1930 aerial photo of the area south of Hamilton Avenue shows the location and direction of the posed M-18 Hell-Cat tanks. The building (#08) is located south of Hamilton and is where the M-18 training school was located during World War II. This building had many functions over it's life span, including: Early Buick Factory Showroom - New model build (pilot cars) - Book publishing (Buick Bulletin) - Training School (WWII) - Day Care Center (during G.M.'s 50th celebration) - Engineering (#78) - Body building (wooden bodies) - Tank Transmission Assembly & Shipping and was always used as the garage for management and their families vehicles. It had it's first major remodeling in 1920 and it's second between 1927-1930. The second addition is the area designated as #08 in the photo. My mother parked here (south of #08) sometimes when we picked my father up after work. Factory #08 was demolished during 1963 when so many other old Buick buildings were removed. As I reported for work (on my first day) at the Hamilton Avenue entrance to Division Street in 1972, I was a bit confused? Because I remembered how it looked when the old main office and Buick garage were still standing when I was a kid.

In this photo you can see the location of the M-18 Hell-Cat tanks posed in the picture. The area circled is the background in the 1943 (inset) photo. The engineering group at Buick was designated as #78 and was functioning in this building and building #84 starting in 1927 Link for news announcement. Building #84 was built on the footprint of the old Imperial Wheel plant on the north-side of Hamilton Avenue.

Links: