The Franklin Automobile Company: The History of the Innovative Firm, Its Founders, the Vehicles It Produced (1902-1934), and the People Who Built Them (Historic Motor Car Company Series)

Rating:
Summary: Great document of Upstate (NY) Industrial/Cultural History
Review: Great fun to read about an industrial manufacturer located 'way off' the main path of industrial America -- in Upstate NY! I worked @ GMC Truck & Coach in 1966 so I am fascinated with auto/truck assembly-line detail (several pictures of the inside of the factory in Syracuse). But a large part of the book is devoted to the individuals who ran the firm as well as interviews with lowliest shop floor seasonal workers. The company survived and briefly thrived in a hostile environment -- geographically & economically. I would have loved to see photos included of the car's laminated wood frame! Also, toward the 1930's when they used bodies from Reo (in Lansing Mi) was a real inspiration in 'modular assembly'!

Rating:
Summary: Great document of Upstate (NY) Industrial/Cultural History
Review: Great fun to read about an industrial manufacturer located 'way off' the main path of industrial America -- in Upstate NY! I worked @ GMC Truck & Coach in 1966 so I am fascinated with auto/truck assembly-line detail (several pictures of the inside of the factory in Syracuse). But a large part of the book is devoted to the individuals who ran the firm as well as interviews with lowliest shop floor seasonal workers. The company survived and briefly thrived in a hostile environment -- geographically & economically. I would have loved to see photos included of the car's laminated wood frame! Also, toward the 1930's when they used bodies from Reo (in Lansing Mi) was a real inspiration in 'modular assembly'!

Rating:
Summary: The most info ever compiled on the Franklin Automobile
Review: Mr. Powell has done an outstanding job to research and record so many fascinating aspects of the permutations of the company founded by H.H. Franklin.

This book holds your interest throughout its 400+ pages, and includes personal interviews with former employees who were part of the Franklin Automobile Company.

As President of The H.H. Franklin Club, Inc., I applaud Mr. Powell for his in-depth research, and encourage anyone interested in the Franklin Automobile and how early automobile companies were formed to read this book.

The Franklin automobile was produced in Syracuse, NY, from 1902 to 1934. They were the most successful air-cooled auto in US history!

Check it out!