4 Comments Posted by cruiser

Thank you Janice.......I have an affinity for cars in general.....and out of business auto companies. Studebaker, Hudson, Packard, Kaiser, Tucker, DeSoto.....etc etc. All promised the American car buying public the greatest automobile ........and all were shut down......by the Big Three. In some way or another.....all eventually became folklore. At least to me. That's American automotive history at it's finest. Most of these companies built fine cars. Most lacked the capital to properly manage the company. Many were absorbed by one another. Some simply didnt come to work the next day. But, it's true Automobile history. This hulking empty building once known as a thriving auto plant.....which employed thousands of workers.....is now empty and more or less forgotten. If those walls could talk ??? What would they say ?? What has that building seen ?? The times of this country. All of the events of this country this building has endured. The other car companies......the scrap engines sitting on it's floor.......the irreverent kids who feel spraypainting graffity is a good thing to do........the future wrecking ball. It's literally a part of Americana. It's what formed this country. Without those pieces of history.......things arent complete. To see the things that this building has seen while standing.......would be worth the trip !!!

You're speaking of a "Three On The Tree".....type of manual transmission !!!! They looked like an automatic......but it was a "stick shift" on the steering column. Some were 4 speeds......most were 3 speeds......hence the "3 on the tree". The "tree" was the steering column......a nickname back in the day. A 3 speed was easier to put on the steering colum.....as it only needed 4 gates for the shifter. 3 speeds forward.....and Reverse. A 4 speed is much harder to do because of the extra gear......but some did deliver that way. And......most base model automobiles were only equipped with a manual transmission. A base model Studebaker Champion or Commander.....was equipped with a manual 3 speed. By base model......you got a car.......that's it !!! No bells and whistles. Nowadays.......automatic transmission is standard equipment. That didnt start till the mid 70's actually. "Back in the day"......all base model cars were manual transmissions. Automatics were about $75 extra charge !!! At least in about 1954 !!!

Some info on your 1947 Studebaker from my research fiiles............

Costing $11 million to develop, these new Studebakers were presented in the
spring of 1946. This was the work of Robert E Bourke and Virgil M Exner
at Loewy Associates. Exner, who by the time it was released had set up its
own design studio, was actually the person responsible for the details of the
car. Commanders returned along with the Champions. The latter dropped the
Skyway name. The Champion and Commander had different fronts and
rode different chassis. The Commander wheelbase had an extra 7 inches but
since those inches were placed ahead of the cowl no extra interior room was
gained. The '47 had a body colored molding on the front edge of the hood.
Parking lights were rectangular and placed in grille opening. Front emblems
were different on Commanders and Champions. Commanders had Commander
inscript on left side of hood and Studebaker on right. Both Champion and
Commander convertibles had a one-piece curved windshield, while all others
had the traditional two-piece. Introduced this year was the Hill-Holder, which
was a pioneering Studebaker option designed to hold manual cars in place
on hills. Another advance was the employment of automatic, self-adjusting
brakes. There was also an overdrive transmission provided as optional
equipment, and this consisted of an automatic higher gear that cuts in at 30
mph and reduces the engine speed 30 percent. Other options were radio
with telescopic antenna which could be wound out or retracted from the
driving seat, a controlled spotlight mounted on the windscreen pillar, a two-
way switch which linked the horn ring to flash the headlights as a silent
warning. A special 123 inch chassis was reserved for the new Commander
Land Cruiser. Both Commanders and Champions were offered as two-
and four-door sedans, (4-doors had suicide rear doors) 3 passenger
coupe, convertible coupe and the new 5 passenger coupe which had a radical
wraparound rear window. All except convertibles and Land Cruiser were
available in both base DeLuxe trim and an optional Regal DeLuxe trim.
Some of the Regal trim differences included stainless steel rocker panel
moldings and windshield borders. Champions carried a 169.6 cui inline
six producing 80 hp and Commanders had a 226 cui inline six with 94 hp.

A total of 105,097 Champions and 56,399 Commanders were
produced during the year.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the photos of this forgotten Studebaker plant. It's probably doomed to be another Wal-Mart......or strip mall.......or Mega Convenience mart. Will the future generations ever even wonder what a Studebaker was ??? Or will it become just a part of history that's forgotten ?? Will my grandkids grandkids ever even hear the name "Studebaker" ?? Maybe. Doubtful.....but maybe. It makes me wonder what from that time period WILL be remembered. That which played a part in the formation of the fabric of this country.

Enuff waxing poetic.......carry on now........

Unbelievable. Studebaker closed this plant in 1963......and people STILL think that Studebaker automobile components are STILL stored there. Obvious most do not read thoroughly. NO Studebaker parts or components are stored here......much less "stashed away here". When this plant closed in 1963, all remaining components and tooling dies were shipped to the Canada plant where production continued until 1966. When Studebaker closed this facility......it CLOSED this facility and emptied it of it's contents. The only items left were the Clearing hydraulic presses for stamping. Too large to properly move, they were sacrificed after the closing of this plant. The next occupants CHRYSLER CORP took possesion of the plant....and continued body stamping, because the presses were already there. When they left......they TOOK THEIR STUFF ALSO and left the stamping presses. Im surprised somebody hasnt accused these USED Hercules LDS 465 Diesel TRUCK engines of being some sort of "lost" Dodge Hemi !!!!!!!

Obviously, these engines are being stored here.....till they can be properly A) disposed of.....B)sold.....C) reissued for civilian use. And it's obvious they are of military decent and are part of government surplus. Most likely.....they are well worn....and have frozen bearings and scored cylinders. Military trucks take a pounding. They are NOT Studebaker "NOS" engines......as Studebaker did not produce a diesel engine for civilian use. They did produce radial engines for the B-17 Flying Fortress. And these arent leftover B-17 engines.....so dont go down that route !!!

And ......NO they're not Dodge Hemi's !!!

Studebaker was a very sturdy automobile. It was intended to be of a "middle class" automobile. An affordable option for transportation. However, Studebaker was in dire straits several times throughout it's automobile building history. Near bankruptcy......receivorship......poor manangement.......really poor marketing.....very poor sales......all resulting in eventual closing of the company. Very well built cars, very poor company management. After the war years and the cease of Bomber engine production and return to civilian production.......Studebaker provided nearly all of the "pick up type" trucks to the military in WWII.........the company enjoyed it's most successful time........till sales went thru the floor in the mid 1950's. Studebaker was the only American manufacturer to bring out a brand new model after the war ended. In 1947.....the first "new" car came off the Studebaker assembly line. In 1946.....the "Big Three" had only produced warmed over 1941 models for the 1946 model year. They did not have the resources and materials to design completely new models. By the time they caught up to Studebaker....they were actually surpassing Studebaker. As the other auto makers were introducing large, powerful cars with lavish use of chrome and bold paint coloring and marketing schemes.......Studebaker languished in it's "affordable car market". They were considered "dull" by 1955. The "Big Three" were prospering...as the mid 50's was a VERY prosperous time in this country. By 1959......Packard, whom had been aquired by Studebaker, had dropped from the Studebaker front office.......and Studebaker developed it's Lark. Very popular for what it was. By 1963 sales again were in the grave, as they could only warm over the Lark just so much.......and the huge FLOP known as the "Avanti".......sealed the fate of Studebaker. The South Bend plant was closed.....and all production continued in Canada until a certain blue and white Studebaker Cruiser was the last to roll off the assembly line in 1966.

So......in summary..........NO.......these are NOT Studebaker engines.......there is no hidden secret stash of Studebaker parts that the collectors will kill for. They are surplus military transport truck engines......an obsolete version. Everyone should read the comments a bit closer......you'll not ask the same question or ASS-U-ME the same thing every time !!!

In all likelihood......these engines will be sent to the smelting plant......or sold to another country where they will be put into civilian duty.......that is ......if there are spare parts included in the sale.......and these engines arent worn to the point of useless.

It just amazes me......the assumptions some stil make.......considering the questions and assumptions were answered and debunked numerous times !!!!!!!!!!!

However.......this facility still facinates me. As this is American automotive history. A story of rags to riches to rags. The only proof.....other than the few automobiles still on the streets......that Studebaker was actually a real car company, and there werent always JUST GM, Ford and Chrysler/Dodge !!!

Unlikely that it's a Freemason emblem.......it's missing the "compass"........although......the original owner of the property lived at a time when the Masons were very prominent members of society. If the Mansion was built in the time period that Motts spec'd........then Masons were literally everywhere.........National Government, Local Government, everyday "Joe's", etc.

I dont believe that is a Masonic symbol.........

If you want to see some interesting info on Masons.....watch the movie "National Treasure"......delves into the history of the Masons and it's link to our Founding Fathers.

the "EXIT" light must remain on.......it's a safety feature in all buildings...also Federal law.........they're hardwired to the buildings main incoming power lines prior to running thru building circuit breaker boxes. That confirms the power is still active at this entire facility.

The sad thing......the people who "think" they feel spirits or "ghosts".........enter the building INTENDING on experiencing a "paranormal" event....simply by the fact that the building would lappear ominous enuff and the history of the facility would preface an "encounter".....thus......pre-programming their minds for such an occurrence. Kinda like........"well look at the place, the history.....there HAS to be ghosts here....so I know I'll see one". Simply walking thru a doorway and creating air disturbance....then rustling dust or debris.........instantly that COMPLETELY NORMAL circumstance becomes a "ghostly contact" in the pre-programmed mind !! Anything that would or could create a sound....air rushing thru a hole in a roof or wall.....degradation in action(debris falling from ceiling or walls)....instantly becomes misinterpreted as a "paranormal experience". Leyman terms........"it's all in your head" !!!

IF......major IF......there were "spirits" or "ghosts" of the children society cast away here.........do you, for a moment, believe that spirit would want to languish in the same spot that was such a dispicable and horrific episode during its physical life ?? Again......IF....if there are spirits trapped here......will anyone really know ?? Unless Dr Venkman brings in his "ectoplasmic residue collection" team.......the paranormal science is still a bit of a "crystal ball" approach to discovering truth in "spirits trapped on Earth". Until a ghost walks up to you, in a place such as this, taps you on the shoulder and says "Hey, Im a ghost...just to prove that we exist"......it is and will continue to be.... conjecture.