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Lansing, Michigan, circa 1908. "Olds Motor Works." Home of your great-grandfather's Oldsmobile. Note the OLD MOTOR sign, missing its S. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Co. View full size.
I really wish there was more photos of my hometown Lansing, MI on here!
Wow, this is the first photo on Shorpy from my hometown. And what an appropriate one to post at that.
This building was at Olds Avenue and Townsend, right about where the ivory towers (engineering and administration buildings) are today.
Four generations of my family worked at the main plant. The first thing I remember when I go past the old site is when I was a kid and we would drive down at quitting time and pick my dad up at the gate.
It was a great place which provided my family and many of our friends with good jobs and good lives. God bless the Olds and long live the UAW.
I hope Shorpy digs up some more old pictures of Michigan - especially the out-state areas. Detroit pictures are pretty easy to come by, but Saginaw/Flint/Lansing/Grand Rapids/Muskegon/etc. are tough to find.
By George, I think I've just figured out the cause of all the automobile accident photos I often see on here!
And here I always thought the bags on the brass lamps of antique cars were a modern affectation!
This is the most people I've seen in windows since I have been looking at Shorpy pics.
Could anyone tell me what the speed limit is around that there plant? I just wish they had a sign or something!
By 1909, Ransom Eli Olds had left Oldsmobile and moved down the street to form the REO Motor Company of "Speedwagon" fame. This was the year the company was sold to General Motors.
Looks like there is bracing for the S in OLDS there. Maybe that's why the ladders are there, they are working on it.
Those signs speak with quasi-Biblical authority.
Interesting view of Lansing. We've torn down most of our GM plants now. Wonder where this was? I'm thinking Washington Avenue.
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