View of workers producing Packard Rolls-Royce Merlin XX engines. Label on back: "In the race against time, men produced while they trained. As units of the machining division were brought to productive completion, apprentices moved in with seasoned workers and the pool of reserve parts began to grow weeks ahead of actual production."
Item #: na043377
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.
View of Viscount Lord Halifax and M.M. Gilman at official inspection of the factory for the Packard Rolls-Royce Merlin XX engine. Label on back: "On November 3, 1941, Ambassador Lord Halifax arrived in Detroit for an official inspection of the Packard Rolls-Royce defense plant. Here he is greeted by President M.M. Gilman of Packard, who pins upon him the badge required for all official visitors."
Item #: na043407
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.
Plan for a Packard factory to build Rolls-Royce Merlin XX engines. Label on back: "Objective of the Packard builders was the creation of more than a million square feet of working floor space. Three new factories were to develop 553,171 square feet of the necessary space. In the interests of time, an additional 500,000 square feet was taken from existing Packard factories through consolidation of departments and other means."
Item #: na043242
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.
View of Sir Henry Self, J.M. Reid and C.R. Fairey inspecting Packard Rolls-Royce parts at dedication ceremonies for production of Packard Rolls-Royce Merlin XX engines. Label on back: "Among distinguished guests inspecting Packard Rolls-Royce parts at the August 2nd dedication were, left to right: Sir Henry Self, Chief of the British Purchasing Commission; J.M. Reid, of the Rolls-Royce staff; and C.R. Fairey, of the British Purchasing Commission."
Item #: na043394
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.
View of the 50,000th built Packard Rolls-Royce Merlin XX engine. Sign displayed over engine reads: "Packard's 50,000th war engine. Packard-built Rolls-Royce airplane engine powers Mustang, Mosquito, Warhawk, Lancaster, Hurricane." On back: "Neg. no. 9292 J. Date: Oct 23, 1944. Main guide: RR. Comment: Packard-built Rolls-Royce Merlin airplane engine, the 50,000th built, October 1944."
Item #: na051726
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.
View of William S. Knudsen, M.M. Gilman, W.L. Shirer, Major General George H. Brett and Sir Henry Self at press conference during dedication ceremonies for production of Packard Rolls-Royce Merlin XX engines. Label on back: "Gathered for a press conference at the dedication were these distinguished personalities, reading left to right: W.S. Knudsen, Chief of the Office of Production Management; M.M. Gilman, host and President of the Packard Motor Car Company; W.L. Shirer, Berlin correspondent, Columbia Broadcasting System; Major General George H. Brett, Chief of the U.S. Army Air Corps; and Sir Henry Self, Chief of the British Purchasing Commission."
Item #: na043395
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.
View of guests at dedication ceremonies for production of Packard Rolls-Royce Merlin XX engines. Label on back: "More than 700 distinguished guests assembled on the floor of the Packard Rolls-Royce assembly building. They heard an international radio broadcast dedicating the first Packard-built Rolls, which was started by a voice impulse from England."
Item #: na043396
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.
View of Major General George H. Brett, M.M. Gilman, Sir Henry Self and Walter Smith at dedication ceremonies for production of Packard Rolls-Royce Merlin XX engines. CBS microphone in foreground. Label on back: "Speaking to an international radio audience on August 2, 1941, these men described the highlights of a Ten-Month Miracle that saw the Rolls-Royce fighter engine brought to American production within the defense plants of the Packard Motor Car Company. Standing at the Columbia microphone beside engine no. 1 are, left to right: Major General George H. Brett, Chief of the U.S. Army Air Corps; M.M. Gilman, President of the Packard Motor Car Company; Sir Henry Self, Chief of the British Purchasing Commission; and Walter Smith, of Packard's Rolls-Royce engine staff."
Item #: na043406
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.
View of Viscount Lord Halifax in propeller test cell for Packard Rolls-Royce Merlin XX engine. Label on back: "In the vaulted dimness of the propeller test room, Lord Halifax stands in contemplation of a thundering engine. In its strength he sees the destiny of a democracy whose challenging voice is the roar of a million such machines along the front lines of American industry."
Item #: na043404
Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.
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