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Guscha: I 2nd Owen's comment! Great to see those WWII manufacturing pix. I particularly enjoyed the woman's hands "precision finishing" some gears or plates with hand files!

Craig

Gerd thanks for finding those...great pics!

Not sure who owns those pictures, or what copyright exists on them. But if the are not explicitly copyrighted, then perhaps we should archive copies of those pictures here in the event they drop off wherever they are currently hosted.

Both, Merlin aero engines and the marine engines have been built at Packard's main East Grand Avenue assembly plant. Did it take place in a seperate building, apart from car production?

PAC's The Packard Cormorant, issue of Winter 2009 (#137), was dedicated to multiple articles about the facilities at 1580 E. Grand. In a fine article by historian A. J. Balfour there is mention of Building #22 which was completed in 1941 exclusively for the building of the Merlin-type engines. As I remember the marine engines were assembled and tested in the same building. There is a picture of that building in 2009, apparently unmolested and available for lease.

Pages 10 thru 13 are particularly interesting because they identify, circa 1949, what functions and activities were associated with each building and floor of the entire East Grand facility.

If you're really interested in the facility, it's a back issue to consider purchasing. PS - $8 each, postpaid.

RogerDetroit posted some pictures as the Merlin Assy area currently appears.https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=90751#forumpost90751

Ironically, this post goes hand in hand with "ideas on recruiting the next generation"...load them young uns' on a bus and take 'um to see a few Mustangs in action...I can't imagine any generation not appreciating the sight and sound of a P-51 flyby or flyover...if that doesn't grab 'um by the heart then nothing will...son? watch and listen!!!...thats a flying Packard right there!!!...

I'll attest to the phenomenal sound of a P-51 at speed. While taking a day cruise on the WWII Liberty ship John W. Brown from Providence RI to Narragannset Bay, we were "attacked" by a faux Zero and a Type 99 Val and then "saved" by a B-25 Mitchell and P-51 which flew over and by several times at low altitude and high speed. I'll never forget the scream from the Packard engine. The P-51 was "Glamorous Gal" owned and flown by Chris Baranaskas of Long Island, NY. It served with the RCAF for about 5 years after the end of WW II.

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Wow Owen!...bet that whole cruise was an awesome adventure! I've heard 'um...watched 'um too and the whine of that two stage Wright supercharger is enough to bring tears to a mans eyes!...I'm in awe everytime I think about the engineering that went into the development of WWII aircraft but they out-did themselves with the P-51...guys that fly them now say that they are amazed that the pilots of the era could fly them as long and as far as they did...stating that the noise from the engine is excruciating and I'm sure it would be riding behind a what, 1500 H.P. mill with no exhaust system? They also say that the plane requires constant attention to fly it and is somewhat hard to correct and easy to over-correct but it is what it is...in it's day it was unmatched raw high performance...and still is on the racing circuit although I hate it when one goes down.

Yes, Gator, it was quite an experience. I went primarily because of a long-standing interest in steam-powered ships but at the same time I was trying to put myself in the position of those seamen who braved not only the elements but the threat of enemy attack, and how slim their chances for survival were when singled out for attack. Beyond anything I could contemplate.

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Dave, thanks, my interest was directed towards the building after reading that Packard delivered the first stateside Merlin engine by August 1941 according to Robert Neal. In that month Packard also introduced the 1942 cars. I wonder out loud if the Merlin effort and its entrepreneural risks or its anicipated success had an influence in the car production because the Merlin production was a tremendous effort. Take a look at the army of Packard draftsmen that labored over high-precision blueprints for the aircraft engine.
Thanks again for taking the time.