The American Automobile Timeline 1899-1970
The American Automobile 1899-1970
Multimedial Historical Collection
Page 4
-----------
1914-1918
During these years the Lincoln Highway is opened. It's the first interstate highway, linking Times Square in New York with Lincoln Park in San Francisco. Interstate 80 now follows most of the old 3,389 mile route.
On the 5th of January, 1914, $5 pay for eight-hour day is announced by Ford at Model T Plant in Highland Park (replacing $2.34 for nine hours), attracting thousands of job applicants.
In 1914 the Chevy "bowtie" logo appears for the first time.
Legend maintains that the bowtie shape was inspired by a pattern of wallpaper in a Paris hotel room. In 1908, William Durant reportedly detached a small piece of it and kept it in his wallet, waiting for the day he will put it to use.
Durant hires Louis Chevrolet, a race car driver famous since 1908, to design a car to compete with Ford.
The bowtie will become an advertising icon, and is still the marque of today's Chevrolet.
In 1914 Cadillac is the first manufacturer in the U.S. to produce a V-type, water-cooled, eight-cylinder engine. The 314-cubic-inch engine produces 70 horsepower at 2,400 RPM and is the first major step in development of high-speed, high-compression automotive engines.
In the same year Cadillac becomes the first in the auto industry to use thermostatic control of a cooling system.
For 1914 Buick introduces a new six cylinder to be added to its popular four cylinder line. New this year are the self starter, a new electrical system and left hand steering.
WWI is on, but America will enter the war only in 1917.
Meanwhile, the SFPD is already fighting his drug-war! In 1914 a huge quantity of seized opium is destroyed in San Francisco, at Fisherman's Warf. The journalists and the newsreels cameramen are there, witnessing the event.
In 1915 Cadillac's V-8 engine is installed in all its models and the V-8 emblem is added to Cadillac designs.
On September 13, 1915, Durant incorporates Chevrolet Motor Co. of Delaware. The new corporation includes the original Chevrolet Motor Company and becomes a holding company for the auto companies Durant had put together after losing control of GM.
At the November 16, 1915 stockholders meeting of General Motors Company, Pierre S. Du Pont is elected chairman.
William Durant, having held on to all his stock and acquiring more in the interim since his departure from GM (and receiving a $50 dividend on each share), is back in a position of power.
This year tilt-beam headlights operated by a handle on the dash are introduced on Cadillacs for improved nighttime visibility.
1915 Horace and John Dodge start sending wooden carriages into obsolescence as they introduce all-steel car bodies.
On december the 10th, 1915, one-millionth Ford car is built.
During 1916 a national highway system begins to be designed.
In May 1916, Durant creates United Motors Corp., a combination of five parts and accessories manufacturers that include Hyatt Roller Bearing, led by Alfred P. Sloan, and Dayton Engineering Laboratories, led by Charles F. Kettering.
Sloan is named president of United Motors.
Durant announces that Chevrolet owns 54.5 percent of GM's outstanding shares and takes over the GM presidency from Charles W. Nash, who had been GM president from 1912 to 1916.
General Motors Corporation is incorporated under Delaware law (Oct. 13, 1916) and acquires all stock of General Motors Company.
In 1916 Buick's first sedan appears, the Model D-47, which has an off- center mounted door. The doors on this Buick are placed where you expect to find the rear doors on a four-door sedan today. In 1916 this is a highly unusual entrance, even more so than the actual center mounted doors appearing on so may Ford T's.
The Buick roadsters seems to have a channeled look to them while many Buick interiors employs the use of jump seats. Frames are extremely long and narrow but this is compensated for by utilizing five crossmembers. Semi-elliptic leafs are mounted directly under the rails in front, but canti- lever type leafs are mounted outside the rails in the rear.
In 1916 Hudson introduces what it claimes is the first "balanced" crankshaft in its six-cylinder engine. The innovation offers unparalleled smoothness, and it is quickly copied, but not before Hudson establishes the reputation of its "Super Six".
By the close of WWI Chapin realizes that his Company needs a competitor to the Ford Model T, which is the dominant vehicle of the era, so he ask his engineers to develop the Essex line.
Buick becomes General Motors' first automotive Division when GM is incorporated in 1916. A year later, Walter Chrysler will be named the Buick Division's President and General Manager.
In 1917 Durant purchases an interest in the Samson Sieve-Grip Tractor Co. of Stockton, California. The following year he recommends that GM enter the farm equipment business and directors approve purchase of Durant's interest as well as acquisition of the rest of the company. In 1922, Samson Tractor, by now a division of General Motors, will be liquidated because it will become unprofitable.
General Motors buys the operating assets of Chevrolet Motor Company in May 1918.
In 1918 United Motors Corporation (UMC) becomes part of General Motors Corporation. UMC will be dissolved in 1919 and individual businesses will continue as part of General Motors.
United Motors Service, Inc., created by Sloan in 1916 to handle sales for the UMC manufacturing divisions, is included in this acquisition and will become a division of General Motors in 1944.
Also in 1918 General Motors of Canada, Ltd. is formed through merger of McLaughlin Motor Car Company, Ltd. and Chevrolet Motor Company of Canada, Ltd.
During this year Durant invests personally in Guardian Frigerator, a company trying to manufacture a new product, an electric ice box.
The Eckhart Carriage Co. discontinues business in 1918.
-----------
Quality:
# Low
# # Mid-low
# # # Standard
# # # # Mid-High
# # # # # Maximum
-----------
1914ford-workers-pay-rise.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:41 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # #
Producer: unknown
Workers and scenes filmed at the Ford plant in 1914.
1914SandOnTheSlipperyRoadOfSales.mp4
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:16:55 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Sand on the Slippery Sidewalks of Sales (1914) 16 mm
Produced by The Frigidaire Company
Infos about this movie are available on its IMDB page.
1914TheKidAutoRacesInVenice.mpeg
Available on DVD Only
Run Time: 00:07:00
Audio/Visual: silent/musical score, B&W
Quality: # # # # #
The Kid Auto Races in Venice (1914)
Director: Henry Lehrman
Producer: Mack Sennet
Production Company: Keystone Film Company
Infos about this movie are available on its IMDB page.
1914_02_02Chaplin-MakingALiving.mpg
Available on DVD Only
Making a Living (1914)
Run Time: 00:08:51
Audio/Visual: silent, B&W
Quality: # # # #
Infos about this movie are available on its IMDB page.
1914_06_13Chaplin-MabelsBusyDay.mpg
Available on DVD Only
Mabel's Busy Day (1914)
Run Time: 00:09:23
Audio/Visual: silent, B&W
Quality: # # # #
Infos about this movie are available on its IMDB page.
1915_04_11Chaplin-TheTramp.mpg
Available on DVD Only
The Tramp (1915)
Run Time: 00:19:35
Audio/Visual: silent, B&W
Quality: # # # #
Infos about this movie are available on its IMDB page.
1915ford-model-t-mute-ep.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:22 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # #
Producer: unknown
Various 1915 Ford Model T. Epoca footage.
1915LincolnHighwayDedication.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:01:03 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Producer: unknown
Dedication of the western terminus of the Lincoln Highway (old U.S. 30), the legendary transcontinental route, in Lincoln Park, San Francisco.
1915LoveSpeedAndThrills.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:11:06 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Love Speed and Thrills (1915)
Producer: Keystone
Complete Film. Keystone Cops comedy short.
1915Panama-Pacific-IExpo.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:08:26 Audio/Visual: silent, Colored Quality: # # # # #
02-11-1915 The opening of the PANAMA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION
Producer: unknown
Views of the PANAMA PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION.
1915RooseveltSanDiegoExpo1.mpg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:44 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # #
July-1915 TR at San Diego Exposition (1915)
Producer: Stineman
President Roosevelt's automobile arrives at the main gate of the San Diego Expo.
1916ChevroletBrochure.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:01:27 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # #
Producer: Romano-Archives
Slideshow of the pages of a 1916 Chevrolet brochure.
1916firestone-edison-ford.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:01:04 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # #
Producer: Firestone Company (
In 1916 3 famous men met for what would be the first of many annual campaign automobile trips. 3 friends that changed America: Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, and Harvey Firestone. Every Summer they shared each other's company. Sometimes they even shared the company of Presidents, but, must of all, they shared ideas...
1916JitneyCartoonCinead-snd.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:01:23 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # #
He Buys a Jitney (1916)
Producer: International Film Service
Characters: Mr. Nobody Holme.
Directed By Gregory La Cava.
Animated By Leon Searl.
Written By Tom E. Powers (Original Strip).
Originally Released Theatrically on February 01, 1916.
Infos about this movie are available on its IMDB page.
1916Krazy-Kat01.mpg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:02:18 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # #B
Krazy Kat Goes A-Wooing (02-29-1916)
Producer: International Film Service
Animated by: Leon Searl
Infos about this movie are available on its IMDB page.
1916NeverAgain-SpeederCop.mpg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:02:04 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # #
Never Again! The Story of a Speeder Cop (1916)
Producer: International Film Service
Characters: Officer Heeler.
Directed By Gregory La Cava.
Animated By Raoul Barre.
Written By Tom E. Powers (Original Strip).
Originally Released Theatrically on February 04, 1916.
Infos about this movie are available on its IMDB page.
1916PhableOfABustedRomance.mpg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:02:02 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # #
Phable of a Busted Romance (1916)
Producer: International Film Service
Characters: Hawkshaw Gloom, The Joys.
Directed By Gregory La Cava.
Animated By Raoul Barre.
Written By Tom E. Powers (Original Strip).
Originally Released Theatrically on January 07, 1916.
Infos about this movie are available on its IMDB page.
1916TampaFl-VR-01.mov
Available on CD
Audio/Visual: B&W Quality: # # # #
Filetype: Quicktime VR movie Filesize: 784 KB
Virtual Reality image of Tampa, Fl in 1916.
1916wilsonelectedcarparade.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:17 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # #
Producer: unknown
President Wilson parades in a flag-covered automobile.
1917-SF-StreetcarStrike.AVI
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:31 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # # #
Producer: unknown
Footage of picketers marching through the streets and attacking a scab-driven streetcar at Haight and Buchanan during violent 1917 streetcar strike.
1917TwinPeaksTunnelOpening.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:06:41 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Twin Peaks Tunnel Construction and Opening (1917)
Producer: Unknown
Twin Peaks trolley tunnel under construction and opening ceremony.
1917DetroitNewsNewsreel.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:07:53 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Producer: Detroit News
Eventss in the Detroit area. Some interesting epoca cars and motorbikes sequences.
1917ford-t-cinead-segm-mute.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:20 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # #
Producer: Ford Motor Company
Fragment of a teatrical ad for Ford automobiles.
1917QTVR-WhiteTrucksFortRiley.mov
Available on CD
Audio/Visual: B&W Quality: # # # #
Filetype: Quicktime VR movie Filesize: 376 KB
Virtual Reality image of a line of military White trucks in Fort Riley, Fl in 1917.
1917UnitedRailroadsStrike.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:01:11 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Producer: Unknown
San Francisco: United Railroads employees strike against open shops. Some interesting SF streets sequences.
WWl-African-Americans.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:06:19 Audio/Visual: sound,B&W Quality: # # #
Historical footage about the partecipation of African-Americans in WW l. Shots of city streets and traffic.
WWl-caruso-wwl.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:01:23 Audio/Visual: sound,B&W Quality: # #
Producer: unknown
Caruso sings a famous WW l song over sequences of America going to war.
WWl-ford-model-t-Italian.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:44 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # #
Sequences of the Ford plants and Ford cars..
1918AmericaGoesOver.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:50:48 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # # # #
America Goes Over (1918)
Government-produced historical record of major World War I battles.
Producer: U.S. Army, Signal Corps
Infos about this movie are available on its IMDB page.
1918-SFCelebratesVictoryDay.MOV
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:58 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # # #
Producer: Unknown
San Francisco. Victory Day celebrations.
1918BuickReferenceBook.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:04:57 Audio/Visual: sound, B&W Quality: # # #
Producer: Romano-Archives
Slideshow of the pages of a 1918 Buick manual.
1918ChevroletBrochure.mov
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:01:08 Audio/Visual: sound, C Quality: # # #
Producer: Romano-Archives
Slideshow of the pages of a 1918 Chevrolet brochure.
1918roosvelt-at-billings-mo.mpg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:00:23 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # #
TR at Billings, Montana (October 1918)
Producer: unknown
Teddy Roosevelt salutes crowds before leaving on his big convertible automobile.
1918StuntCompilation.mpeg
Available on DVD
Run Time: 00:10:54 Audio/Visual: silent, B&W Quality: # # # # #
Producer: Fox News
The best Stunts and stuntmen of 1918!!!.
-------
The American Automobile Timeline 1899-1970 - Multimedial Historical Collection (Over 1200 files)
We do provide duplicates of the multimedial files of the Collection on a customized DVD-ROM. (1)
Almost all the digital copies of the films are good quality Hi-Res editable videos.
Hundreds of hours of footage from this Collection are available in different format, size and definition. We can suggest you the right one for the use you have in mind.
PRIVATE USE: home TV vision (DVD-Divx player), PC, iPod.
WE LICENSE FOOTAGE from our Collections for: multimedial creations on CD or DVD, TV commercials, film or TV programs, documentary Productions, web sites, marketing/ad campaigns, video email, electronic kiosks, trade shows, business seminars, cultural events, museums, expositions... and more.
Hi-Res videos from our Collections are available on DVD, CD or directly in your inbox. Clips and movies can also be downloaded from our servers using a PW or uploaded by us to your FTP.
WE ARE JUST WAITING FOR YOUR INQUIRES!!!
(1) It is possible to obtain digital duplicates of the multimedial files (movies, videos, audio documents, and Virtual Reality files) from Romano-Archives for research, teaching, general interest user information, and private study purposes.
The files are available on a customized DVD-ROM.
Billing is done when the order is fulfilled. Payment instructions will follow. Normal turn around time for requests is 3 weeks. Rush (2-3 business days) is available for an additional fee of 40 Euros.
Romano-Archives will provide up to 2,000 (or about 10% of this Collection) multimedial files to a single requesting party.
If you have any questions about the fees or need clarification of the service of providing digital multimedial files, please contact Vincent Romano.
The multimedial files of the Collections are compatible with the free version of the most common players: Quicktime Player, Real Player, Windows Media Player.
Mac users can easily view MPEG 1, MPEG 2, MPEG 4, and Divx movies in MacOSX with the free version of this program: VLC Media Player.
All the material in the Romano-Archives Collections is in the public domain and has no copyright attached to it. Only exception are original articles or texts published on this Website and the Romano-Archives' original compilations on CDs or DVDs that are subject to copyright.
Material of the Romano-Archives Collections is made available solely for historical research and educational purposes only. Any trademarks appearing on the material are the sole property of the registered owners. No endorsement by the trademark owners is to be construed, nor was any sought. The products, brand names, characters, related slogans and indicia are or may be claimed as trademarks of their respective owners.
-----
webdesign by ACE51I Websites romanoarchives.altervista.org/ - digilander.libero.it/romanoarchives/ - www.webalice.it/romanoarchives/ - ww2incolor.altervista.org, non rappresentano alcuna testata giornalistica e vengono aggiornati senza alcuna periodicità, esclusivamente sulla base dei contributi di aggiornamento occasionalmente reperiti e/o segnalati. Pertanto, non possono essere considerati in alcun modo un prodotto editoriale ai sensi della legge n. 62 del 7 marzo 2001.
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this Website without express permission is strictly prohibited.