All Things Buick: October 2011

Monday, October 31, 2011

Buick For 1907.

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.

Machining Buick Aluminum Crankcase 1910

Machining Buick Cylinders 1910

Largest Shipment Of Buick Autiomobiles In 1910.

Here is possibly the same load of Buick's in Denver. When I found this it was listed as 1912 but those mistakes happen. I know the engine is different but they would change engines at different locations.

In California.

Buick City In 1947.

This April of 1947 Popular Science magazine showed a history book for "BUICK, CITY OF FLINT" that was for sale in the classified section. This advertisement came pretty close to the future name for the Buick factory. I believe the book this ad is referring to is "The City Of Flint Grows Up" by: Carl Crow. The price for Carl's book was $3.00 printed on the dust jacket, and it was published in 1945. A 1968 advertisement showing Buick City in 1968. Buick is called Buick City in 1929. Buick is called Buick City in 1937.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Factory #20 The Buick Foundry

This shows the Buick Powerhouse being built in 1920. Filling the background is the foundry #20. Building #15 off to the right is the Pattern & die shop. Complete story.

This north-west view from the Pere Marquette overpass on Leith street shows factory #20 beyond factory #15 in the foreground. Factory #11 engine plant is in the extreme distance.

This photo is the exact opposite direction as shown below (this is north-east). This is the intersection of Leith and Division streets. The bridge is for bringing finished engine blocks to factory #11 for machining. The date is September 24, 1924. This foundry was built in 1916. It was demolished between 1931- 1932. This was the location of building #85 where I hired in during 1972.

This south-west view of factory #20 shows the area for reclaiming the sand for the cores. Excuse the reflection from the Mylar. This is not a building under construction.

Aerial view which shows the direction that the photo above was taken. Photos are from the Buick Research Gallery.

Links:

Leith Street Revisited.

Factory #20

Buick 1932

Charles Nash Testing Vehicle

Factory #20 Foundry Inside

Factory #20 Foundry

The sand for making molds comes from Memphis, Michigan.

Factory #11 Aluminum Mill Work On Buick Crankcase

Pere Marquette Marshalling Yard At Buick

Expansion of the rail yard at Buick. Link for 1918 story. News story. 1927 rail traffic.

Below is an article from May of 1916 for even more expansion.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Safety At Buick

This photo from 1925 shows the area where machine guards were made at Buick. I'm not yet sure which building this work was performed in.

A 1916 report from the Michigan Department Of Labor detailing what safety measures needed attention at that time. E.F. Blank was the Manager of Employment and Safety in 1919.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Buick Blacksmith

This snippet is from the short story: Men...A City... and Buick by George Humphrey Maines and shows the blacksmith shop (shown below) as being located in factory #11 engine plant.

Inside of factory #11 at the north-west corner showing the old blacksmith shop. This photo was dated 1915. Photo is from the Sloan Museum in Flint, Michigan.

Inside the blacksmith shop. The article is from the Ludington Michigan newspaper July 10, 1937. The men are Nels Larsen and Niel Nicholson.

The location for the new blacksmith shop in 1920 at the north-end of the forge plant #03. As I recall we still had one blacksmith working at Buick up until the creation of Buick City in 1985.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Buick During The 1920's (A short film).

This short film shows the chassis line, body drop, radiator department, top department and ends with the "Unified Assembly line". Judging by the radiator surround, I would place this as 1926-1927. This link shows the steam booth that is at the end of this film:

Factory #62 Revisited. I wish I had a copy of this film.

Factory #40 Building #16.

Same line as shown below only a little farther north at the body marriage. I'm not quite sure of the year but I'm guessing 1966 or 1967. For super large view left click photo then right click and choose open in new tab (open new tab) and then left click again.

This is the second floor of factory #40/#16 facing north along the east wall slat line. That is a 1973 Buick Century just passing over the pit that I would stock with parts in the early 80's. This is the car they were building when I hired in during October of 1972.

Links:

All Things Buick