Factory letters, announcements of the era WWI to 1934 bankruptcy

[Walt G]

I will try to share copies of period Franklin letters, information etc issued by the Franklin Company when I have the time to do so, it will be for the period from about WWI to the bankruptcy of the company in 1934. I hope it gives a insight into the inner workings/efforts/etc of the company that has not really been discussed much . Here is a letter to the Franklin ( & Buick) dealer in Catskill ,N. Y . I wish I had an address to see if the building they used is still there. the factory was trying to move/sell 4 or 5 model H ( 6 cylinder) limousines.

they were also a contractor for Artesian Wells, Pumps, tanks, towers and pump engines. AND were a manufacturer of Cider and Cider vinegar.

 

 

Edited September 17, 2023 by Walt G (see edit history)

[Steve Braverman]

It is amazing that these documents were preserved. Thank you for sharing Walt.

[Walt G]

Steve I am most happy to, I can't recall who had them that I borrowed them from and got copies made but it was many decades ago before we have the level of copy machines we do now. Copies I have are good but ...... They are an amazing window of what it was like at the Franklin company to every day life - this letter alone - excess cars at the higher level of price that need to be cleared. The model H 6 cylinder was not a small car at all. More to come but it will take some time.

I only rediscovered these within the past week , they will get filed with the other Franklin material. I have to much stuff - to many stories to tell if all the resources are combined to present a realistic picture of that era.

[Walt G]

Here is one from 1913, I have the form mentioned in the letter regarding how many enclosed bodies the dealer expected to possibly order, that will follow.

 

Edited September 18, 2023 by Walt G (see edit history)

[Walt G]

Here is the order form noted, , it says for cars for July 1914. 5 enclosed body styles total - that is a huge offering for that era when everything was a open body style from roadsters to touring cars of assorted capacity.

[Walt G]

Here is the Franklin Dealer's or Sub-Dealer's ORDER REPORT that was submitted to the factory after it was filled out, note all the details necessary . This would date from the mid teens - note the section that says War Tax.

[pkhammer]

Thanks for sharing Walt! I'm not sure what it is about Franklins but they just check all the boxes for me. Cool cars. Cool history.

[Walt G]

Talking to the employees that worked at Franklin was an opportunity I had in the early 1970s every August for as number of years. The Franklin CLub had an annual picnic during their annual car meet. As many employees as they could locate that were still around were invited to join the club members for lunch. One of the former employees was very active in the club as an officer and a major "go getter" to see things happen. W. Chapin Condit of Syracuse. He knew of my interest in car history and asked me to help him make the contacts and arrange a table for them, get them comfortable when they arrived, greet them  etc. Which I did for many years. Former test drivers, chief draftsman , engineers etc. Oh the stories I heard and I kept in touch with them during the year via letters.  Letters like this that were an insight into the everyday operations really put you there at the factory - and I also visited that as well when it was still standing, did my own tour of all the floors and the basement etc. I even asked the Chief engineer if a rumor  was true  that they stretched a chassis ( with a block and tackle) of a Reo Flying Cloud to turn it into a Franklin Olympic in 1932 ........got an interesting reaction.................

[Steve Braverman]

On 10/25/2023 at 9:06 PM, Walt G said:

I even asked the Chief engineer if a rumor  was true  that they stretched a chassis ( with a block and tackle) of a Reo Flying Cloud to turn it into a Franklin Olympic in 1932 ........got an interesting reaction.................

Please elaborate Walt.

[Walt G]

Hi Steve

I wish I could but the answer/reply would be to long in the forums format. For all to clearly comprehend  I would have to explain the relationship between Hayes body, and the use of similar components by Reo, Franklin, Marmon etc. to really be clear to understand from the perspective of "why" at that time things were done .  It would also take a description of the inside of the Franklin factory which also played a part in that.

Walt

[Walt G]

Here is a letter from late February 1932 from the Franklin Service Manager L.R.Hodge sent out to car owners in the Cleveland ,Ohio area.

[Walt G]

Not seeing much so far as contributions to any air cooled cars here by anyone so thought perhaps I would do another probably my last one.

this spare parts sheet I am guessing dates from the 1932-33 era. NOTE they want the car color as well!!

I have several letters dealing with the company bankrupt proceedings and knew one of the young interns who was involved with the NY bank at the time.  I met him in the 1970s and he lived near by me and liked old cars and their history. those papers plus what he told me would make a decent story but there is no space here to do that  .The Franklin  club publications /magazine utilize the space to list people who attend club events, their town and state so that consumes a lot of room and leaves little for any period material/photos/data that I have or the club librarian could offer if he chose to. The focus is not what it used to be yet so much material never viewed since new exists in file folders to remain there.

[Olympic33]

Walt,

 

Thank you for posting these pictures.  I too have much factory related literature acquired from my father in law Rollie, Fenton Meredith, and Earl Buchman.  I recently received a box of correspondence between Ron Andrew and several early Club members.  There's way more than can be posted here or in any publication.  That said I plan to scan what I have and and contribute it to the HHFC library.  It would be great if you could do the same and/or share via another method.  All of this information is fascinating to me and several others.  It all really should be preserved.   I appreciate your efforts.

 

Thanks,

 

Dan

Edited January 19 by Olympic33 (see edit history)

[Walt G]

Dan

Thanks for the comment. A great deal of my library of period material ( sales literature, photographs, periodicals, postcards etc) will eventually wind up in the AACA Library at AACA HQ in Hershey. It is well staffed by enthusiastic people ( currently  Matt and  Jen ) and has the equipment to properly conserve and protect period data but yet copy it properly to share with one and all. This is why as I have mentioned elsewhere here that the  automotive library that for decades was at the Free Library in Philadelphia was moved in part to AACA as the best location for same, also several car clubs and societies have their library items there for safe keeping - The Buick Heritage Foundation, SAH etc. There are many car museums etc that mean well but are stagnant in their approach or thinking as to preservation and also making the material available. This is not a put down by any means just a personal view of what is and has taken place. I am active as a historian beyond the cars- local and state history and see what is going on in another world so far as what is being done and can be done. Big time reality. It is not an easy task to preserve and share , no way, but most reading this have no idea of what can be done even I do not although I possibly have more of an idea then most.

Walt

[8E45E]

Any idea of how many Franklins were shipped to Alberta, especially the Edmonton area?    There appears to be a number of surviving Franklins in the area.  Most likely, a prime reason for their popularity in northern Alberta was no concern for frozen radiators with them being air-cooled.    

 

Until the formulation of glycol-based 'permanent' antifreeze was perfected in the mid-1930's, I have no doubt Franklins were popular in other northern climates as well.

 

Craig

[Steve Braverman]

3 hours ago, 8E45E said:

Any idea of how many Franklins were shipped to Alberta, especially the Edmonton area?    There appears to be a number of surviving Franklins in the area.  Most likely, a prime reason for their popularity in northern Alberta was no concern for frozen radiators with them being air-cooled.    

 

Until the formulation of glycol-based 'permanent' antifreeze was perfected in the mid-1930's, I have no doubt Franklins were popular in other northern climates as well.

 

Craig

There is a collector in Edmonton that owns a lot of Franklins. but I don't believe any of his cars originated in Canada.