Re: Mechanical Car Wascher
Posted by Leeedy On 2016/11/16 18:57:57
Quote:
Ahh, yes... I was indeed there... regularly. My dad owned commercial property on Mt. Elliott... which crosses Grand Blvd. right at the Packard Plant. So I very vividly remember the storage lot on that corner filled with gleaming new Packards. To this day, I have to wonder why no one ever seems to pay attention to this important location and the building erected on that site (the last one put up in connection with Packard and STILL STANDING to this day, although somewhat modified). Transport trucks with new Packards on them left from this very spot-even after Conner was going... but nobody talks about it today.
And my uncle's store was located on East Jefferson Avenue not far from the old Hudson Plant, just off of Conner Avenue. So I also passed Conner Packard Plant regularly too. I saw Conner start up...and I saw it close.
As for photos of the plants and environs? I have tons. In the 1960s and 1970s I took lots and lots. I even still have photos of "The Packard Bar" that once stood on Mt. Elliott directly across from the yellow brick building I mentioned. They had a pool table and sold great hamburgers.
Of course there is already a series of books with photos of Packards from the NAHC at DPL. But I wish they would get some real Detroiters from the old days who really knew the cars in there to re-caption some of these photos that turn up on the internet and in books these days. Much of this stuff is obviously captioned by college kids or librarians (Hey, you! We got this box of old pictures we need identified. Write up some descriptions on the backs why don't ya?). Some the resulting captions can be almost hilarious... some are embarrassing...others kinda sad when you realize due to today's situations and mindsets, so much knowlege is being lost as we speak!
A book just about the Packard Plant would be a fabulous thing and I sure likely have enough to do one... especially combined with what the DAHC/NAHC has. Wonder if the new owner of Grand Blvd. is listening?
Here is a photo I took from the roof of the Packard Plant in the 1970s. You are looking at the company street. Note that the plant was still very much in use at the time... just no Packards...
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DaveB845 wrote:
There goes Leeedy again, making me envious of his being near both East Grand and Conner when they were still cranking out our cars. I could almost do the same with the St. Louis Corvette plant, circa 1954-81. At least some of you have access to the gallery of Packard plant photos that reside in the Detroit Public Library archives. Does anyone know if or when some of these photo treasures might have been published in large book format? Such a book might have separate sections or chapters for each of the major Detroit/Flint/Dearborn and Lansing brands.
I love studying factory photos for seemingly insignificant details, but can recall seeing less than fifty taken in either Packard plant in places like this website or The Cormorant. For example, it appears that one gasoline dispensing hose started the life of every Conner 55/56 Packard car.
If I have missed a source, I would appreciate being pointed to it. Hopefully, someone was documenting the Packard saga as it was unfolding. Until that happens, I will be content to hear the stories and see pictures of the young people who were witnesses, in person. Kudos to Roger and Leon for what they have done to add color to what once was.
Ahh, yes... I was indeed there... regularly. My dad owned commercial property on Mt. Elliott... which crosses Grand Blvd. right at the Packard Plant. So I very vividly remember the storage lot on that corner filled with gleaming new Packards. To this day, I have to wonder why no one ever seems to pay attention to this important location and the building erected on that site (the last one put up in connection with Packard and STILL STANDING to this day, although somewhat modified). Transport trucks with new Packards on them left from this very spot-even after Conner was going... but nobody talks about it today.
And my uncle's store was located on East Jefferson Avenue not far from the old Hudson Plant, just off of Conner Avenue. So I also passed Conner Packard Plant regularly too. I saw Conner start up...and I saw it close.
As for photos of the plants and environs? I have tons. In the 1960s and 1970s I took lots and lots. I even still have photos of "The Packard Bar" that once stood on Mt. Elliott directly across from the yellow brick building I mentioned. They had a pool table and sold great hamburgers.
Of course there is already a series of books with photos of Packards from the NAHC at DPL. But I wish they would get some real Detroiters from the old days who really knew the cars in there to re-caption some of these photos that turn up on the internet and in books these days. Much of this stuff is obviously captioned by college kids or librarians (Hey, you! We got this box of old pictures we need identified. Write up some descriptions on the backs why don't ya?). Some the resulting captions can be almost hilarious... some are embarrassing...others kinda sad when you realize due to today's situations and mindsets, so much knowlege is being lost as we speak!
A book just about the Packard Plant would be a fabulous thing and I sure likely have enough to do one... especially combined with what the DAHC/NAHC has. Wonder if the new owner of Grand Blvd. is listening?
Here is a photo I took from the roof of the Packard Plant in the 1970s. You are looking at the company street. Note that the plant was still very much in use at the time... just no Packards...
Attach file:
(199.18 KB)
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