Engineering & Experimental 1923

The two most likely locations I can find for the engineering & experimental shops is first, the old Imperial Wheel plant which was taken over by Buick after Chevrolet and Monroe were finished there. When Buick took over in 1916 the plant had the combined numbers #18 #21 & #22 but would eventually become just #18. The photo at upper left (when you enlarge the photo above) shows a building with arched windows and slanted roof and points me in this direction, but I need further research. The other possible location would be the old Weston-Mott factory #31/#32/#33 because the photo at the lower left shows daylight streaming in from both directions. "I have since found out that (at least some of) the photos are from Weston-Mott". The east and west wings would provide this only on the second floor. The only other Buick building's with arched windows in Flint would be the original Kearsley st. plant but Chevrolet was using that structure in 1923 in cooperation with Mason Motors. And also the W.F.Stewart plant #3 located south-east behind Stewart #4. Also the original Buick factory #01 on the inside windows of the east and west wings (the part overlooking the single floor center section). As this photo is from at least 1920 they could have been using both #01 and the old Weston-Mott plant. I lean more towards the east wing of the Weston-Mott factory at this time. I'm thinking maybe both locations.

Buick Aerial View 2005

Buick is at the upper right. This view is facing south-west with the Flint river running through the center. The Flint water works is at the center with Dort highway and I-475 previously called (The Buick UAW Freeway)beyond. The area just off to the right of the water tower is old "Sams Salvage Yard" where I seen the two pilot Grand Nationals in the 90's. see link below. This also was our source for parts in the 60's called "Midnight Auto Supply" if you get my drift.

Factory #94

Engine Test Factory #11T / Bldg.#24

Inside factory #11T showing the test stands in action.







This factory below #11T (T stands for test) building #24, was built in 1920 just north of the engine assembly plant #11. This view is looking west from Division st. in 1923.










1922. 1922 part 2.                                                                                                                                                                              Link: 

Buick Engine Testing Building 11-T

Factory #03/bldg #30

Here is #03/#30 during the winter. Division street is just beyond the gate. This view is facing north east.

This model of the factory is at the Buick Research Gallery in Flint.

This view (from Google Satellite) shows the skeletal remains of factory #30 in the center,this view is facing directly south with the foundry, factory #70 beyond. Factory #30 became factory #03/bldg #30 after the old drop forge #03 was demolished in 1963, and supplied coil springs for the assembly plant since 1936 when the Armstrong spring plant finally closed. The building in the foreground is all that was saved from this factory to become the Cultural and Diversity Center for the G.M.Powertrain north site.

This shows aluminum being salvaged. This work was done in the building shown above.

Negro Camp At Factory #30

This view shows the camp for the black workers just to the south of the foundry. The workers from here were placed on the very hot jobs pouring metal and all other dirty work from the beginning of foundry operations to the end of operations in 1980. During the '70s longhairs or "Hippies" were treated as the new blacks at Buick.

Factory #30 Interior

What you see here is the south end chipping and grinding department, which was obviously "WHITES ONLY".

Factory #30/#03 2004

This view is facing west with factory #05 in the background.

This view is facing north east across Division st looking at the skeletal remains of the foundry. In the distance beyond the plant can be seen the Flint City water tower. The south end was the chipping and grinding department where you see the cement pillars.

Factory #30 East Wall

This view is facing directly west at the east wall of the new brass and Aluminum foundry. This will become factory #03 spring plant in 1963. You can super enlarge just about any photo on this blog for viewing small details. The way this is done is a little different depending on which browser is used.

Brass and Aluminum Foundry

You can super enlarge just about any photo on this blog for viewing small details. The way this is done is a little different depending on which browser is used.

Factory #30 Northwest Corner

The brass and aluminum foundry, factory #30 viewed from the northwest. This factory was built on open farm land midway between the "Liberty" engine plant #27 to the north on Stewart st. and the gray iron foundry, factory #20 to the south on Leith st.

Buick's Birthday 2003

B-24 top at Bishop airport. Durant-Dort center. B-17 bottom, with me in blue cap, at Buick's birthday 2003. These photos are from my daughter Julie.

This was the cake set up in front of the Durant-Dort office for Buick's 100th birthday in 2003. My daughter filmed the event these photos came from. "The cake was pretty good".

W.F. Stewart Inside + Postcard

I find it interesting that W.F.Stewart is listed in the Flint City Directory (for 1881-1882) as boarding with William A. Patterson the largest carriage maker in Flint at that time. W.F. Stewart started his own company in 1881. The Stewart's and Durant/Crapo family are related (in later years) through marriage.

An old postcard view looking south-east across Industrial & Hamilton Avenue. at the Buick #4 which was W.F. Stewart #4 before that. I like the numbering coincidences like this.

Workers shown  inside factory #4 building open body's.

Workers shown  inside factory #4 building open body's.

Workers shown  inside factory #4 building open body's.

This old postcard has Stewart spelled wrong. This view is facing south from Industrial Ave. This was where the charitable organization Old News Boys of Flint was started. from the Old News Boys web site: The Old Newsboys, Inc. was founded in 1924 in Factory 4, Buick's Body Plant by O.W. Young, the Plant Superintendent; Horace Hatch, the tool crib attendant; Police Captain McLean; Forest Boswell, Buick Personnel Director; Dr. H.A. Stewart; George McKinley, Park Superintendent; Will Parrish and Harry Berry of the Detroit Old Newsboys or Goodfellows as they were called. The W.F. Stewart co. was incorporated in October 1898.

 Link for more photos inside factory #4:

Inside factory #4 More links:

View of Flint from Buick

Factory #4 Postcard Showing Bank

Factory #4 and #3 Body Shop

Industrial and Hamilton Showing Oak Park Subdivision

This is the same view as below only now the Industrial bank has been built.

Oak Park subdivision facing north west from the roof of W.F. Stewart/Buick #4. Weston-Mott is at the right.

 The Industrial Savings Bank, the youngest of the financial institutions of Flint, was organized in the original bank building being located on the corner of Hamilton and Industrial avenues, near the offices of the automobile industries.

 Link

Factory #4 Postcard Showing Bank

Leith st. 2008

Leith street facing east from Industrial Avenue 2008.

Leith street facing east from Industrial Avenue 1920.

Industrial & Hamilton Avenue 1913

Full Panorama 1913.                                                                                                                                          

Looking north up Industrial from Hamilton.

This view of the #4 Oak Park fire station is taken from the south west. Just across Industrial avenue you can see Buick factory #4 the old W.F. Stewart plant.

This is just another view of #4 station showing the last two fire horses in Flint in 1916. Last horse drawn fire wagon in Michigan was in 1922. Read the story below called the Passing of the horse.

THE PASSING OF THE HORSE. Original link for this story.

At the center is the W.F.Stewart body factory,at this time Buick #4. Next to #4 at the left is the Buick garage, bldg #08. Directly south on Industrial in the distance is the original A.C. spark plug factory. The building at center right with the steeple is the Oak Park fire department. Just right of the fire station are the horse stables. At the extreme left is a small portion of the Weston-Mott office and beyond that in the distance is the first Buick office on Hamilton. This photo was taken from the roof of the Industrial Bank located on the north west corner of the intersection of Industrial ave & Hamilton ave.   

This advertisement from the Civics and Commerce (shown above) just about says it all concerning the future of the horse.  

Weston-Mott Employees

This group of Weston-Mott employees was taken the same day as the large Buick group in 1913.

When you enlarge this photo you can see Chrysler, Mott, Bennett & other dignitaries front & center. You can super enlarge just about any photo on this blog for viewing small details. The way this is done is a little different depending on which browser is used.

Walter Chrysler Photo 5,000 Buick Employees

"Largest Group Of Employees In The World" That was the title of this photo in 1913. This is the same photo as shown below in postcard form.

Link here for  Chrysler story about this photo.