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Oldsmobile

Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobiles.Created by: PICRYLDated: 1910
Oldsmobile Sales Co., Lincoln Memorial, [Washington, D.C.]
Oldsmobiles were first manufactured by the Olds Motor Vehicle Co. in Lansing, Michigan, a company founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In 1901, the company produced 425 cars, making it the first high-volume gasoline-powered automobile manufacturer. (Electric car manufacturers such as Columbia Electric and steam powered car manufacturers such as Locomobile had higher volumes a few years earlier). Oldsmobile became the top selling car company in the United States for a few years around 1903-4. Ransom Olds left the company in 1904 because of a dispute and formed the REO Motor Car Company. The last Curved Dash Oldsmobile was made in 1907. General Motors purchased the company in 1908.
The 1901 to 1904 Oldsmobile Curved Dash was the first mass-produced car,[1] made from the first automotive assembly line, an invention that is often miscredited to Henry Ford and the Ford Motor Company. (Ford was the first to manufacture cars on a moving assembly line.) After Olds merged Olds Motor Vehicle Co. with the Olds Gas Engine Works in 1899, it was renamed Olds Motor Works and moved to a new plant in Detroit. By March 1901, the company had a whole line of models ready for mass production. However, a mistake by a worker caused the factory to catch fire, and it burned to the ground, with all of the prototypes destroyed. The only car that survived the fire was a Curved Dash prototype, which was wheeled out of the factory by two workers while escaping the fire. A new factory was built, and production of the Curved Dash commenced.
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Oldsmobile Sales Co., Rock Creek Park, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Rock Creek Park, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Scottish Rite

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Scottish Rite

[The First Oldsmobile]

[The First Oldsmobile]

Photograph shows three men sitting inside automobile in forest like area; automobile sits on top of cloth on leaf covered ground. No. 611. Title devised by Library staff.

Young Johnnie Steele has an Oldsmobile / Copyright 1907 by Tom M. Phillips.

Young Johnnie Steele has an Oldsmobile / Copyright 1907 by Tom M. Phil...

Photograph showing a man driving an early Oldsmobile automobile. H103632 U.S. Copyright Office. Title from item. Proof of lantern slide to accompany the song, "In my merry Oldsmobile."

Oldsmobile Sales Co., interior

Oldsmobile Sales Co., interior

Oldsmobile Co. truck

Oldsmobile Co. truck

Oldsmobile Sales Co., interior

Oldsmobile Sales Co., interior

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Library [of Congress, Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Library [of Congress, Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Rock Creek Park, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Rock Creek Park, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Lincoln Memorial, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Lincoln Memorial, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Co., Pan Am. Union, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Co., Pan Am. Union, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Rock Creek Park, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Rock Creek Park, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Capitol, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Capitol, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Rock Creek Park, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Rock Creek Park, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., interior

Oldsmobile Sales Co., interior

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Rock Creek Park, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Rock Creek Park, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., amphitheater, Arlington, [Virginia]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., amphitheater, Arlington, [Virginia]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Rock Creek Park, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Rock Creek Park, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Soldiers Home, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Soldiers Home, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Capitol, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., Capitol, [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., speedway, [Washington monument in background]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., speedway, [Washington monument in background]

Oldsmobile Sales Co., State War & Navy truck

Oldsmobile Sales Co., State War & Navy truck

Oldsmobile Co. truck

Oldsmobile Co. truck

Oldsmobile Co., interior

Oldsmobile Co., interior

Oldsmobile truck, Thos. J. Crack

Oldsmobile truck, Thos. J. Crack

Oldsmobile truck, Emmert Bros.

Oldsmobile truck, Emmert Bros.

[Two women in new Oldsmobile in front of log cabin, Rock Creek Park, Washington, D.C.; picture made for Oldsmobile Sales Co.]

[Two women in new Oldsmobile in front of log cabin, Rock Creek Park, W...

Title and other information transcribed from caption card and item. LOT subdivision subject: Automobiles. National Photo Company Collection (Library of Congress). Original negative: LC-F82-3750. Caption card tr... More

Oldsmobile Sales Co. window

Oldsmobile Sales Co. window

Oldsmobile

Oldsmobile

Oldsmobile truck, Dyer Bros., [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile truck, Dyer Bros., [Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile truck, E. Thomfordt

Oldsmobile truck, E. Thomfordt

Oldsmobile [in front of Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile [in front of Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile (Mr. Wilburn D. Thomas), [in front of Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.]

Oldsmobile (Mr. Wilburn D. Thomas), [in front of Lincoln Memorial, Was...

Oldsmobile window

Oldsmobile window

Oldsmobile window

Oldsmobile window

Christmas window display at an unidentified Oldsmobile dealer's, probably in Washington, D.C.

Christmas window display at an unidentified Oldsmobile dealer's, proba...

Car coming into living room through fireplace hung with stockings. Title and other information transcribed from caption card and item. LOT subdivision subject: Business Activities. National Photo Company Collec... More

Oldsmobile

Oldsmobile

Milan in Oldsmobile

Milan in Oldsmobile

Fannie Brice in Oldsmobile

Fannie Brice in Oldsmobile

Fannie Brice in Oldsmobile

Fannie Brice in Oldsmobile

Black in Oldsmobile

Black in Oldsmobile

[Fannie Brice in Oldsmobile]

[Fannie Brice in Oldsmobile]

Milan in Oldsmobile

Milan in Oldsmobile

War production drive poster. In addition to posters furnished by the War Production Board (WPB), the Oldsmobile plant created its own series of posters to stimulate production. Those with good earthy humor like this were the most effective

War production drive poster. In addition to posters furnished by the W...

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. American power in the air grows rapidly as machine guns of the finest quality pour from our production lines. These guns, entirely completed and ready to fire, await shipment from the large converted auto plant in which they were made. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. American power in the air g...

Important machine operations in the manufacture of shells for the Army are performed in a converted automobile plant where workers are accustomed to the fast and accurate production on highly developed machines. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

Important machine operations in the manufacture of shells for the Army...

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. American power in the air grows rapidly as machine guns of the finest quality pour from our production lines to arm the planes that are coming steadily from other lines. These guns, entirely completed and ready to fire, await shipment from the large converted auto plant in which they were made. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. American power in the air g...

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. An assembly line in a converted auto plant, now turning out machine guns for the Air Corps, comes through with plenty of these important tools of war. And the tide of American productive power is still far from being reached. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. An assembly line in a conve...

The big forge plant in which they work used to hammer out auto parts. Now that same plant is working its fine equipment and its trained men to full capacity on the production of shells for the Army. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

The big forge plant in which they work used to hammer out auto parts. ...

A huge forge manner is taken off its regular peacetime duties in an automobile plant and put on war Production. When workmen have finished their conversion job, the big fellow began shaping crankshafts for defense. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

A huge forge manner is taken off its regular peacetime duties in an au...

It's hard to recognize the production layout of a well-known auto plant in machine lines that win with wartime production. It's shells instead of auto parts now--but American industry can turn out the orders for war as well as for peace. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

It's hard to recognize the production layout of a well-known auto plan...

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. The conversion of a big auto manufacturing plant to production of machine guns for the Air Corps continues without letup until the job is done. Electricians extending power lines are often among the first at the new machine locations. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. The conversion of a big aut...

In a big automobile plant changing over to production of shells, this "Cat Skinner" (tractor operator) was kept busy for some time pulling, turning and bulldozing machines into new location. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

In a big automobile plant changing over to production of shells, this ...

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. A grinding operation on the breech of a machine gun for the Air Corps. The adaptability of grinding machines to this work helped speed the conversion of the auto factory which is now making these guns. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. A grinding operation on the...

America's huge production machine is really rolling now. A plant that was producing a popular car a short time ago is now operating even more efficiently on the manufacture of shells for the Army. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

America's huge production machine is really rolling now. A plant that ...

Their brawn and their skill serve democracy in the forge plant of an automobile factory now working full capacity on production of shells for the Army. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

Their brawn and their skill serve democracy in the forge plant of an a...

The good machines of America's arsenal of democracy must have good men to work them. The power hammer that forges shells for the Army is operated by experienced hammer-smiths who, a short time ago, were turning out parts for a well-known American automobile. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

The good machines of America's arsenal of democracy must have good men...

America's automobile industry changes over to war production. A huge forge hammer which formerly made parts for a well-known car is being converted for producing ammunition. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

America's automobile industry changes over to war production. A huge f...

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. A former automotive worker in a converted auto plant sights through the precision-made breech of a machine gun for the Air Corps. One of thousands of examples of the way American enterprise threw its technical skill and its tremendous mass production facilities behind the war production drive. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. A former automotive worker ...

A bearing of a big forge hammer is removed for overhauling as the maker of a popular American car switches over to production of machine guns for the Air Force. Every machine in the plant must be in perfect condition for big orders in the months to come. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

A bearing of a big forge hammer is removed for overhauling as the make...

Zebulon, North Carolina. Feggen Jones lives with fourteen children on an eighty-six acre farm purchased through the FSA (Farm Security Administration). He has two cows, three mules, four hogs, two hundred chickens, two dogs and a cat. He owns a Ford truck and an Oldsmobile sedan. His cash crop is seven acres of tobacco. He also grows five acres of cotton, seven acres of wheat, twelve acres of corn and two acres of vegetable garden. Electricity is supplied by the REA (Rural Electrification Administration). Jones was formerly a sharecropper in this area

Zebulon, North Carolina. Feggen Jones lives with fourteen children on ...

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. He used to make automobile parts. Now the big auto plant in which he works is using his skill to make machine guns for the Air Corps. After each operation, the gun barrels are racked on trucks for removal to succeeding operations. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. He used to make automobile ...

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. Day and night, the conversion of a big auto manufacturing plant to the production of machine guns for the Air Corps continues without letup until the job is done. Electricians extending power lines are often among the first at the new machine locations. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. Day and night, the conversi...

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. The muzzle break of a machine gun for the Air Corps must be right. An inspector in a big auto plant now converted to war work examines each piece as it travels down the production line. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

Twenty-millimeter machine guns for planes. The muzzle break of a machi...

A line of forges that seem endless is turning out a stream of shells that is endless. The auto manufacturing plant that used these same forges for car parts is now on a full wartime production basis. Oldsmobile, Lansing, Michigan

A line of forges that seem endless is turning out a stream of shells t...

1 cyl. curved dash oldsmobile, 1905

1 cyl. curved dash oldsmobile, 1905

J36862 U.S. Copyright Office. Photograph by the Grogan Photo Company. Copyright by the Grogan Photo Company, Danville, Ill.