The
Oakland Motor Car Company was organized in 1907. Later, they began
manufacturing Pontiac automobiles for the consumer market.
In
January, 1926, the first Pontiac vehicle was manufactured for the auto
industry. It was created to fill the gap between the Chevrolet and the
Oldsmobile production vehicles. The company name was changed to Pontiac
Motor Company in 1931-32 when Pontiac took over all production
facilities.
Final Inspection on 1939 Pontiac
At
a cost of $15 million, the Pontiac manufacturing facility was located
on 135 acres. The plant was known as the daylight plant because of the
amount of glass used in the construction. This facility in Michigan was
one of the homes for Pontiac until it was closed in later years. It was
a modern production facility where many of the men and women were
highly trained and skilled craftsmen that always accomplished great
quality results as they assembled Pontiac automobiles.
For
example, the men and women would work within the factory at Pontiac
with over 150 powerful Pontiac engines from aluminum pistons to
crankshafts along with connecting rod and pistons that could be produced
in one single hour.
Other
Pontiac assembly line responsibilities included giant presses that were
capable of exerting pressures up to 2,500 tons which were used in
stamping out fenders, hoods, bumpers and other manufactured parts for
the assembly line workers. Pontiac workers also had to work with small
parts for assembly line production. The small parts sometimes were
supplied by outside firms that had to be constantly checked to insure an
adequate stock at all times. The lack of one tiny part could cause the
entire assembly operation to be suspended until the part was restocked.
1958 Pontica Body Drop
Pontiac
factory workers also participated during the war time efforts as well.
After the last vehicle rolled off the Pontiac assembly line, the Pontiac
factory workers began to take a part mile after mile of overhead
conveyors. Huge machines were then torn from concrete areas by Pontiac
factory workers and placed into storage yards.
Workers
with drills would cut gaping holes in the floors to set a foundation
for heavier machinery that was needed for Tank and plane production
manufacturing. Word had come from Washington that all existing war
plants were to be enlarged. One of the Pontiac Motors war production
assignments was the manufacture of the Bofors 40 mm field gun along with
parts for tanks for the U.S. Army and high-volume production of
aircraft-launched naval torpedoes along with other parts as well.
After
the war had ended, post-war Pontiac models began their manufacturing
process on Sept. 13, 1945. However, the full line of 1946 Pontiac models
did not appear until June 10, 1946, due in part to the United Auto
Workers Union striking General Motors on Nov. 21, 1945.
1965 Factory Worker Striping the GTO
One
of the first factory workers that started with the Oakland Motor Car
Company was Charles J. Long, who had been with Oakland/Pontiac assembly
since 1919. He worked as a foreman, tool trouble-shooter and on special
assignments and was considered a great factory worker and was very much a
part of Pontiac manufacturing assembly line operations for many years.
To
all the men and women, including Charles Long, who were a part of our
great automotive heritage and its great labor movement, who helped to
build and shape Pontiac automobiles on the assembly line; honor is
given.
1966 GTO on Production Line
Pontiac
sales continued to increase during the 1950s and 1960s. In 1959,
Pontiac Motor Division had to hire over 3,000 factory line workers along
with adding an extra factory shifts just to keep up with factory sales
for the consumer market demanding over 217,303 Pontiac models. On March
14, 1962, General Motors celebrated its 75 millionth vehicle. This
special milestone in Pontiac’s history was a joyful occasion for many
Pontiac workers.
As
the 1960's moved forward Pontiac began manufacturing the popular G.T.O
models along with the first generation Fire-birds, and the popular Grand
Prix models as well. The assembly line workers became very busy
manufacturing Pontiac's for the high demand throughout the 1960's and
the early 1970’s.
1970 Pontiac Grand Prix Assembly Line
By the time General Motors celebrated its 75th
Anniversary, technology, robots and lasers were a part of the Pontiac
assembly line process featuring scanners that could verify dimensions of
openings in car bodies or even check dimensions of a windshield. It was
the beginning of the new age technology and computers being featured
within the work place at Pontiac Motor assembly. Today many of the
Pontiac manufacturing plants and processes are no longer with us.
However, the great men and women and their families who contributed to
the legacy of assembly line workmanship will always have a special place
in automotive history.
A
special thanks to Robert Tate, Automotive Historian and Researcher, for
donating the story to the MotorCities Story of the Week program.
Photographs are courtesy of the National Automotive History Collection.
(Bibliography: Gunnell John. “75 Years Of Pontiac Oakland” Crestline
Publishing 1982. GM Folkes No. 2 February 1940. Published by Public
Relations General Motors News.)
For further information on photos please visit
http://www.detroitpubliclibrary.org/ or email
nahc@detroitpubliclibrary.org. Please do not republish the story and/or
photographs without permission of MotorCities National Heritage Area.
If you have a story that you would like to donate to be featured as a
MotorCities Story of the Week, email asmith@motorcities.org
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