Studebaker appliance

[LeoH]

Just came across this ad in the local C/L http://reno.craigslist.org/for/3744042018.html

[StudeRich]

There was a Refrigerator Division of Studebaker Corp. but not named Studebaker.

[rockne10]

A Studebaker division in the early sixties that manufactured refrigerated display cases for grocery stores?

[Bordeaux Daytona]

Franklin Division



Schaefer made the store refrigerated cases

Franklin division was discused in this thread....

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?45617-American-Restoration-show-On-History-Channel-Kelvinator-fridge&p=497927&viewfull=1#post497927

[Warren Webb]

I believe it was the Franklin Appliance division. If my memory of the 62 annual report is right they made appliances for major retailers under the retailers brand names. It is very possible that they made commercial products under the Franklin name too.

[HAWK64]

I believe it was the Franklin Appliance division. If my memory of the 62 annual report is right they made appliances for major retailers under the retailers brand names. It is very possible that they made commercial products under the Franklin name too.

Your memory is pretty accurate as it is stated in that '62 Annual Report that Franklin Appliances are merchandised under "private label" brands.

[8E45E]

Your memory is pretty accurate as it is stated in that '62 Annual Report that Franklin Appliances are merchandised under "private label" brands.

Yes, Eaton's Department Store in Canada sold them under the 'Viking' label, as the did Guelph Stove, which was also a division of Franklin. I posted a 1965 Viking as an 'April Fool's' Orphan of the Day here: http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...ghlight=viking

I also posted a scan of a 1963 Viking stove from the Eaton's Spring & Summer catalog from that year here: http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.c...ght=frigidaire

Craig

[2moredoors]

My mother in law has a Viking (Franklin) freezer in her basement . She stopped using it a few years ago but it was still running, must be over 50 years old. Many of the older appliances lasted a long time, much longer than today however they may not have been as energy efficient.

[Milaca]

My step-grandpa worked for Franklin in St. Cloud, MN back in the late 1960's and bought a Norge chest freezer for my parents with his company discount. The plant is still in operation building Frigidaire refridgerators and is owned by the Electrolux Corporation of Sweden.

[LeoH]

So no one's interested?

Thanks for the history lesson. The Franklin Fridge has the nice freezer on the bottom layout and a huge freezer at that.

[StudeRich]

I see a Wagonaire in front of the Franklin Building in post #4, maybe the General Manager's Co. supplied car.

[studegary]

I see a Wagonaire in front of the Franklin Building in post #4, maybe the General Manager's Co. supplied car.

Or, maybe the Studebaker employee that was there to take that picture for Studebaker.

[Milaca]

Assuming that the big-shots at Franklin were given Studebakers, would these cars have been processed through a local Studebaker dealer or would they been shipped directly from the Studebaker factory to eliminate the "middle man"? Or do I have it all wrong? Would the big-shots only get a discount to purchase a new Studebaker through a dealership?
Basically what I want to know is, how did the big-shots at Franklin, Onan, etc. get their new Studebakers and on what terms did they get them?

[Bordeaux Daytona]

Assuming that the big-shots at Franklin were given Studebakers, would these cars have been processed through a local Studebaker dealer or would they been shipped directly from the Studebaker factory to eliminate the "middle man"? Or do I have it all wrong? Would the big-shots only get a discount to purchase a new Studebaker through a dealership?
Basically what I want to know is, how did the big-shots at Franklin, Onan, etc. get their new Studebakers and on what terms did they get them?

I don't know but here's the picture of the window sticker of my dad's 65 Wagonaire we've had since 1972. The second pic is a window sticker I got off ebay. What Franklin did with them is a mystery to me.

[8E45E]

Or, maybe the Studebaker employee that was there to take that picture for Studebaker.

John's post immediately above proves it was build for Franklin's use.

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?45617-American-Restoration-show-On-History-Channel-Kelvinator-fridge&highlight=wagonaire+franklin

Craig