Title: Cletrac Engineering and Design Questions
Post by: Orangeman on December 29, 2009, 04:57:52 PM
Post by: Orangeman on December 29, 2009, 04:57:52 PM
I was looking at the wonderful factory photos that Blake has posted and was wondering about the Engineering and Design shop of Cletrac.
What size was the engineering Department? When was the last day in 1944, that the Cletrac Plant operated under the direction of purely Cletrac Engineers/Designers?
Besides Blakes Gramps, does anyone know the names of anyone who worked in Cletrac/Oliver Crawler Engineering Department.
It would be good to interview them and record their stories before too much time goes by. But sadly, that may have already happened.
Blake/Landis or others can you shine a light on some of the questions noted above please. Thanks! Orangeman
What size was the engineering Department? When was the last day in 1944, that the Cletrac Plant operated under the direction of purely Cletrac Engineers/Designers?
Besides Blakes Gramps, does anyone know the names of anyone who worked in Cletrac/Oliver Crawler Engineering Department.
It would be good to interview them and record their stories before too much time goes by. But sadly, that may have already happened.
Blake/Landis or others can you shine a light on some of the questions noted above please. Thanks! Orangeman
Title: Re: Cletrac Engineering and Design Questions
Post by: Blake Malkamaki on December 30, 2009, 12:25:22 AM
Post by: Blake Malkamaki on December 30, 2009, 12:25:22 AM
My friend John W. Davis worked in the Experimental Department from 1918 until sometime before or during WW 2. He later worked for J.F. Britain in Bradford, PA, and then for Oliver sales out of Harrisburg, PA. Sadly, John died in 1990, the year after my Gramps did.
My friend John Tomko was Chief Engineer at Oliver Corporation, though he started out under Cletrac. He was my Gramps boss. I think John just passed away in 08. His obituary is on the forum.
Jim Herendene and Norm Wintel are a couple others who I met years ago. There are others who I can't think of offhand.
My great grandfather Harry Rein was toolmaker for Cletrac from early on. My aunt Helen worked there for a short period, as well as several other relatives.
I doubt there are any management employees left who worked for Cletrac before it became Oliver. I'm sure there are some assembly line workers and others who were young men in the 40s or 50s still around.
As far as changes in 1944, I don't think Oliver did much at the plant until after the war. 1946 is the year my Gramps always said Oliver took over. There were a lot of negative changes when Oliver came, including bringing in their union. This was followed by a huge strike that lasted a long time and was probably the major demise to the company. Cletrac went from a big family of workers to Oliver, which became your typical us versus them union mentality.
These are a few things off the top of my mind. Maybe I'll think of more later.
Blake
My friend John Tomko was Chief Engineer at Oliver Corporation, though he started out under Cletrac. He was my Gramps boss. I think John just passed away in 08. His obituary is on the forum.
Jim Herendene and Norm Wintel are a couple others who I met years ago. There are others who I can't think of offhand.
My great grandfather Harry Rein was toolmaker for Cletrac from early on. My aunt Helen worked there for a short period, as well as several other relatives.
I doubt there are any management employees left who worked for Cletrac before it became Oliver. I'm sure there are some assembly line workers and others who were young men in the 40s or 50s still around.
As far as changes in 1944, I don't think Oliver did much at the plant until after the war. 1946 is the year my Gramps always said Oliver took over. There were a lot of negative changes when Oliver came, including bringing in their union. This was followed by a huge strike that lasted a long time and was probably the major demise to the company. Cletrac went from a big family of workers to Oliver, which became your typical us versus them union mentality.
These are a few things off the top of my mind. Maybe I'll think of more later.
Blake
Title: Re: Cletrac Engineering and Design Questions
Post by: John Schwiebert on December 30, 2009, 01:04:13 AM
Post by: John Schwiebert on December 30, 2009, 01:04:13 AM
Another thing was durring World War 2 Cletrac sent a couple of engineers to Commercial Shearing to learn more on hydraulics as they were thinking of adding hydraulics. The trouble was they stayed with Commercial. This is all in a Commercial book I have. Ican look it up later. My kids are here this week.