Studebaker announces shut down of S.B.

[lstude]

Here is an article that ran in the Richmond Times Dispatch 43 years ago today.









Leonard Shepherd, editor, The Commanding Leader, Central Virginia Chapter, http://centralvirginiachapter.org/

[avantilover]

quote:Originally posted by lstude

Here is an article that ran in the Richmond Times Dispatch.









Leonard Shepherd, editor, The Commanding Leader, Central Virginia Chapter, http://centralvirginiachapter.org/

Rather a shame that they din't use their profits to modernize their factories over time, then again in the mad days of the 50s I guess they were run over by the big 3. It probably wouldn't have made a difference had they done so without a large capital base to work with and the diversification program was the right thing to do.

John Clements
Avantilover, your South Australian Studebaker lover!!!
Lockleys South Australia

[avantilover]

quote:Originally posted by lstude

Here is an article that ran in the Richmond Times Dispatch.









Leonard Shepherd, editor, The Commanding Leader, Central Virginia Chapter, http://centralvirginiachapter.org/

Rather a shame that they din't use their profits to modernize their factories over time, then again in the mad days of the 50s I guess they were run over by the big 3. It probably wouldn't have made a difference had they done so without a large capital base to work with and the diversification program was the right thing to do.

John Clements
Avantilover, your South Australian Studebaker lover!!!
Lockleys South Australia

[StudHawk60]

Actually, it was announced on Dec 9, 1963 that auto production would end on Dec. 20, 1963.[xx(] Merry Christmas to the Studebaker employees.

[StudHawk60]

Actually, it was announced on Dec 9, 1963 that auto production would end on Dec. 20, 1963.[xx(] Merry Christmas to the Studebaker employees.

[lstude]

quote: Actually, it was announced on Dec 9, 1963 that auto production would end on Dec. 20, 1963. Merry Christmas to the Studebaker employees

Oops! I should have said that the article ran in the Richmond Times Dispatch on December 10, 1963. I have changed the heading[:0]

Leonard Shepherd, editor, The Commanding Leader, Central Virginia Chapter, http://centralvirginiachapter.org/

[lstude]

quote: Actually, it was announced on Dec 9, 1963 that auto production would end on Dec. 20, 1963. Merry Christmas to the Studebaker employees

Oops! I should have said that the article ran in the Richmond Times Dispatch on December 10, 1963. I have changed the heading[:0]

Leonard Shepherd, editor, The Commanding Leader, Central Virginia Chapter, http://centralvirginiachapter.org/

[56H-Y6]

Hi
A sad anniversay, to be sure.

It is interesting to read the comments of the union official noting the outmoded facilities as the cause. He didn't bother to mention the unions' roll in the failure, the overly generous contract they "negotiated" with Studebaker management in the '40' and early '50's that resulted one of the lowest productivity per unit and a unit cost 10-12% higher than industry average. Management shares the blame equally for not working to keep those cost in line with the industry, putting Studebaker at a disadvantage. It would have meant giving up their title as " the friendliest factory in America" Better they should have lost the title and keep the factory viable.

Regardless of how good the Studebakers were, ultimately more competitive prices, model for model, features for features, from cars acceptable to customers decided the issue.

If readers see parallels with the current industry troubles, then you are to be congratuated for being astute!

Steve

[56H-Y6]

Hi
A sad anniversay, to be sure.

It is interesting to read the comments of the union official noting the outmoded facilities as the cause. He didn't bother to mention the unions' roll in the failure, the overly generous contract they "negotiated" with Studebaker management in the '40' and early '50's that resulted one of the lowest productivity per unit and a unit cost 10-12% higher than industry average. Management shares the blame equally for not working to keep those cost in line with the industry, putting Studebaker at a disadvantage. It would have meant giving up their title as " the friendliest factory in America" Better they should have lost the title and keep the factory viable.

Regardless of how good the Studebakers were, ultimately more competitive prices, model for model, features for features, from cars acceptable to customers decided the issue.

If readers see parallels with the current industry troubles, then you are to be congratuated for being astute!

Steve

[Transtar60]

What is that guy putting in the trunk with his toolbox?
Looks like an electric motor for a machine of somekind??

3E38
4E2
4E28
5E13
7E7
8E7
8E12
8E28
4E2
59 Lark
etc

[Transtar60]

What is that guy putting in the trunk with his toolbox?
Looks like an electric motor for a machine of somekind??

3E38
4E2
4E28
5E13
7E7
8E7
8E12
8E28
4E2
59 Lark
etc

[studeclunker]

there is a photograph that pops up from time to time of the office staff in South Bend holding up a sign announcing the closing of the plant. The thing that bothers me about it is that they all look like it's the happiest day of their lives. All except one man standing to the left and behind. The only sober face in the group.

It's easy to say from our standpoint that the Union did this wrong, the management did that wrong, a case of 20/20 hind sight.

There was a time when one could choose from over twenty American automobile manufacturers. It's currently down to two (Chrysler is now German). Soon it will possibly be one.


Lotsa Larks!
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Studebaker!
Ron Smith

[studeclunker]

there is a photograph that pops up from time to time of the office staff in South Bend holding up a sign announcing the closing of the plant. The thing that bothers me about it is that they all look like it's the happiest day of their lives. All except one man standing to the left and behind. The only sober face in the group.

It's easy to say from our standpoint that the Union did this wrong, the management did that wrong, a case of 20/20 hind sight.

There was a time when one could choose from over twenty American automobile manufacturers. It's currently down to two (Chrysler is now German). Soon it will possibly be one.


Lotsa Larks!
K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Studebaker!
Ron Smith

[John Kirchhoff]

The failure to modernize the factories is certainly true. In early 1950 my folks were in the market for a new car. They toured the Chevy factory and Studebaker. My dad told me of how Studebaker still had dirt floors in areas of the factory. One thing that did impress him was the old men with thick glasses working under a bare bulb assembling a particular component. Who knows, maybe the dim bulb was the cause for the thick glasses! But anyway, those old guys made him think of craftsmanship. Most striking was comparing the way doors were adjusted. Studebaker did it the way we would; adjust and try it, adjust and try it until the door fit right. At Chevrolet they beat on the hinge with a big hammer to bend it one way or stuck the hammer handle into the hinge and then closed the door on it until it bent enough the other way for the door to fit. Needless to say, he said the Chevy guys were very much quicker than the Stude guys but dad also said he didn't want some guy beating on his new Stude with a big hammer!

My folks said at first the bullet nose had to be the ugliest car ever made. But they kept going back to the dealer looking them over until finally they thought those cars were beautful and bought a Champion. Like I've said before, Studes are a lot like babies, no matter how ugly they are to everyone else, their owners/parents think they're the most beautiful thing on earth.

[John Kirchhoff]

The failure to modernize the factories is certainly true. In early 1950 my folks were in the market for a new car. They toured the Chevy factory and Studebaker. My dad told me of how Studebaker still had dirt floors in areas of the factory. One thing that did impress him was the old men with thick glasses working under a bare bulb assembling a particular component. Who knows, maybe the dim bulb was the cause for the thick glasses! But anyway, those old guys made him think of craftsmanship. Most striking was comparing the way doors were adjusted. Studebaker did it the way we would; adjust and try it, adjust and try it until the door fit right. At Chevrolet they beat on the hinge with a big hammer to bend it one way or stuck the hammer handle into the hinge and then closed the door on it until it bent enough the other way for the door to fit. Needless to say, he said the Chevy guys were very much quicker than the Stude guys but dad also said he didn't want some guy beating on his new Stude with a big hammer!

My folks said at first the bullet nose had to be the ugliest car ever made. But they kept going back to the dealer looking them over until finally they thought those cars were beautful and bought a Champion. Like I've said before, Studes are a lot like babies, no matter how ugly they are to everyone else, their owners/parents think they're the most beautiful thing on earth.