All Things Buick

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Mapping The Buick Site.

This 1920 map from the Sloan Museum shows the very early details and street names. Also some neighborhoods that disappeared. The top of all maps are north. This wonderful map is only a small portion of the original. Enlarge this map for better detail. You can also download it and get an even better and clear enlargement with whatever photo viewer you choose.

A 1998 view of the North Buick site with some main factory numbers. This shows the outline of (most of) the Buick property.

Current 2012 Google map. To view the south-end of Buick in 1907 follow the link below. Links:

Factory Designations

Buick 1920 Aerial View

Overview Buick 1938

The Oak Park Industrial Complex 1907

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Factory #10.

This view is looking straight north up old Michigan Avenue in the Buick Heights. As pointed out by Leonard Thygesen the stacks at the left on the foundry #70 are not belching smoke but steam from the scrubbers that were installed. That would make this at least sometime after 1971. Leonard feels the photographer would be atop the new stacks of the new Power Plant at Buick built between 1971 - 1973. In the distance in order we see #10, #36 and #38.

Links:

St. Johns Industrial Park Urban Renewal near Buick

Buick Test Track During World War II.

Buick North-End 2008 - 2010

Liberator Engine work at Buick.

Factory #05/#10 War Work

Factory #10

Building #38 Warehouse

Work Safely Today - Tomorrow - Always.

This is the same area (shown below on Leith Street) during a later strike.

Here we are facing west during a strike at Buick. That is bridge #20 in the foreground. Factory #11 is on the right. On the left is building #23 then factory #29 followed by #12-A and #12. The bridge in the distance carried axle assembly's from factory #31. In my time the far bridge carried axles to factory #04, which would date this photo after 1940 when the new axle plant was built. Buick had a strike just after the war so I'm thinking this is 1946. Factory #31 was first called 66-A because it was connected to factory #66 crankshaft plant.

This a a closeup of bridge #20 over Leith Street. This is the bridge that carried motors from factory #11 to factory #62. The Safety warnings are the same as shown in the 1934 Oak Park photo.

This east facing view in 2002 shows the overhead bridge conveyor that is shown in the photos above (distant one) being removed. This is a snip from the Leonard Thygesen documentary.

Links:

Bridge #20

Leith Street Revisited Once Again.

Factory #31 During Construction

Oak Park Entrance 1934 - 2001.

Factory #29 Tool Factory.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Oak Park Entrance 1934 - 2001.

This photo location and direction is the same as shown below, only in 2001. This is a still shot from a Leonard Thygesen film.

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This photo facing east shows the Oak Park entrance for the Buick factories in 1934. The closeup above has the message on the bridge as: WORK SAFELY TODAY-TOMORROW-ALWAYS

Links:

Factory #09 Northeast Corner 1923

Buick Driveaway 1923

1968 Strike

Buick Hospital and Personal Welfare Department

Michigan Motor Casting Company

Work Safely Today - Tomorrow - Always.

Factory #12 1934.

This is March 19, 1934 at 4:30 PM. This is factory #12 sheet metal stamping for Buick.

Looking at factory #12 (facing north) along Industrial Avenue.

South-end of factory #12 looking at the west wall.

Link:

Factory #12 Sheet Metal Plant

Demolition At Buick.

This will be the last building left for demolition at the Buick site, (circled). It was part of the old factory #03 spring forge. This was saved from the wrecking ball and converted in 2003 into the Cultural & Diversity Center. This addition to factory #03 was built in 1966. "This will be the grand finale".

This Leonard Thygesen still shot from his documentary film shows the location of building #55-A. X marks the spot. You are so right Leonard: sad.

Leonard Thygesen says:They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I have just one....sad.

Not much left now.

The end of building #55-A. Only one place left. A Leonard Thygesen update.

9:00 a.m. 55 water process.

Links:

Buick Demolition DVD.

Buick Demolition March 5, 2012

Building #55 Waste Treatment Plant.

The Cultural & Diversity Center

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Factory #12 War Work.

This "well known" advertisement shows that almost anything was possible for Buick. The conversion of many factories, including factory #12, where these shell casings were manufactured, were up and running in record time. The last Flint built Buick off the end of the line was on February 3, 1942. Harlow Curtice (manager of Buick) was given advance notice from the government about many important projects to aid the war effort. This steel shell casing was considered one of the most important projects. The work of changing over the factories for the duration of the war, therefore, started as soon as the last car part was out of the building. After many failures the first successful test firing of these shells was done on May 1, 1943. News article

This postcard shows the location of the factory shown below. This view is facing north.

This is factory #12 showing little change since this 1920's photo. This view from Industrial Avenue is facing north-east. In my time this was the "Oak Park" entrance.

This photo from the Sloan Museum shows different examples of the 75mm shell, including the steel version. My father brought one of these empty casings home after the war. His duty on an LST (landing ship tank #1155) was that of a cook. His gun station was up on deck at a 75mm gun. He was wounded at Okinawa in "Operation Iceberg" by shrapnel caused from a Kamikaze attack.

This is a photo I took in 2011 at the Sloan Museum in Flint, Michigan. It shows all the different pressings from the billet to the finished shell casing. The billet was described in a book from that period as: "The size of a Parker House roll". The book that best describes the work done at Buick during the war is "The City Of Flint Grows Up" by: Carl Crow.

This is one of the advertisements showing Buick and General Motors "pride" in achieving this task of making a steel shell when copper supplies were needed elsewhere during world war II. Copper is a main ingredient for making brass, the usual shell casing material.

This photo of 20mm shells (cut in half) shows the wall thicknesses during the die stamping process. Buick also made these 20mm shells in factory #11.

These are the different steps taken to make a shell casing of the right height and thickness.

Creating the first "shallow cup" in a steel billet. "Notice the kiln next to the press".

You will see many different heat treatments during the creation of the shell casing.

The billets used for making the steel 75mm shell casing seen "many alloy compositions", before Buick finally found the correct formula. The basic formula was: PLAIN - CARBON STEEL - with a minimum amount of - MANGANESE.

These billets are just getting a little heat here. The temperature range during the whole process is 2,000 to 360 degrees.

Steel cups being drawn for 37mm. shell.

Heating the billet to 2,000 degrees.

This billet is probably at it's 2,000 degree temperature.

"Slowly but surely" the billet will expand.These early pressings are called "cupping".

These old presses used for making fenders, hoods and other automobile parts, are now, hard at work forming the steel billets of the 75mm shell casing.

A nice "pulled back" view of the old fender presses in action shaping the steel billets.

The billet is steadily getting a longer and thinner shape.

The billet is looking more like a shell casing.

Between every pressing is another heat treat.

Same as below.

One of many pressings to achieve the final dimension.

Rolling on the "Rim".

Inspection after the rollers have placed the "rim" on these casings.

Nearing the final shape.

This method was sometimes used for moving to and from the numerous operations.

This may be the phenolic varnish area but I'm not sure.

One of many heat treating areas. The range of heat, from start to finish was 2,000 degrees to 360.

Drilling for fuse placement.

Not sure what is taking place here.

This looks to be the area that bakes the phenolic varnish on. The heat was 360 degrees.

Always inspecting.

Looks like precision drilling for the fuse placement. The complete shells were not assembled at Buick.

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Plenty of inspection takes place during the numerous pressings, before you get to this point. This is before the finished taper has been rolled in.