Random picture thread

[junior340]

 

[Hey-O]

 

[Hey-O]

After 14 years I can still smell and see the inside of this place in my minds eye and still have dreams about it. The history and the number of cars, vans and trucks that came out of here will never be repeated. I helped maintain and oversee 5 million square feet of building on this site. These kind of jobs will only be remembered with the dinosaurs. I was the last man out..........

 

[Hey-O]

Vehicles produced​

Some of models produced at the North and South plants included:

• 1960–1966 Dodge Dart/Lancer/Plymouth Valiant
• 1964–1966 Plymouth Barracuda
• 1965–1976 Dodge Coronet/Plymouth Belvedere
• 1968–1974 Dodge Charger
• 1971-1980 Dodge Sportsman/Dodge Tradesman (North plant)
• 1973–1976 Dodge Dart/Plymouth Valiant
• 1974-1980 Plymouth Voyager (North plant)
• 1976–1977 Dodge Aspen/Plymouth Volare
• 1977–1981 Chrysler LeBaron/Dodge Diplomat
• 1978-1987 Plymouth Caravelle (Canadian M-body)
• 1981–1986 Dodge Aries/Plymouth Reliant (2-door sedans)
• 1982–1983 Dodge 400 (coupe/convertible)
• 1982–1986 Chrysler LeBaron
• 1984–mid 1987 Chrysler Fifth Avenue/Dodge Diplomat/Plymouth Gran Fury
• 1983–1986 Chrysler Executive
• 1983–1986 Dodge 600/Plymouth Caravelle (coupe/convertible)
• 1984–1986 Chrysler Laser/Dodge Daytona
• 1987–1991 Chrysler LeBaron (coupe and convertible)
• 1987–1991 Dodge Daytona
• 1987–2000 Plymouth Voyager
• 1987–2006 Dodge Caravan
• 1990–2008 Chrysler Town & Country
• 1995–2009 Dodge Ram
• 2000–2003 Chrysler Voyager

 

[Dave6T4]

So, is that the one that people call the St. Louis plant?

 

[Hey-O]

So, is that the one that people call the St. Louis plant?

Yes, north and south plant. The south plant was opened in 1959 and many of our cars were built there. The north plant built Van's and later built rams till it closed.

 

[Dave6T4]

It is hard to see those factories go down. I worked in the automotive industry here in St. Thomas, Ontario 1968-2012. This area had many automotive related factories, with the largest being Ford, Talbotville, where they built Falcons, Pintos, Mavericks, and ended up assembling Ford Crown Vic's, Mercury Marquis, and Lincoln Town Cars. A lot of Crown Vic police cars were produced there. I never worked there, but a lot of my friends did. That factory paid the best wages in the area, and set the standard of pay for the lower tier automotive plants in St. Thomas. This factory was pushed down and a huge Amazon warehouse sits there now. Employs a fraction of the people that used to be on the site.
I used to work at Canadian Timken in St. Thomas, a factory that produced tapered roller bearings. Timken bearings can be found in our old Mopars as front wheel bearings, rear axle bearings, differential pinion and side bearings. This factory even owned a 9 hole golf course next to it where employees played for reduced rates. The golf course went first, replaced with a shopping plaza containing a Wal-Mart and a large grocery store. Where the factory sat are more plazas and fast food stores. When I retired from my third automotive plant career at GKN (formerly Clevite), I advised my fellow employees to come up with an exit strategy, because my prior two employers did not last long after I left. They laughed, but that factory closed last year.

 

[Hey-O]

While I needed an education for my job, many people entered the middle class with these jobs that required no formal education. Those days are long gone.

 

[Kern Dog]

Yes, north and south plant. The south plant was opened in 1959 and many of our cars were built there. The north plant built Van's and later built rams till it closed.

All 1970 Chargers were St Louis cars.

 

[Hey-O]

I saw thousands of cars on the test track back in the day. You can't imagine so many cars getting romped on back to back. A constant smell of tire burning!! It was incredibly cool to watch. When they saw us watching, it got better.

 

[Hey-O]

View attachment 1410062

Love your pictures, always have!!

 

[polywideblock]

 

[polywideblock]

 

[polywideblock]

 

[polywideblock]

 

[polywideblock]

 

[fesser]

View attachment 1410160

I could answer but it would be deemed political.

 

[Hey-O]

Not mine. But had one just like it in the mid 70's

 

[Dave6T4]

While I needed an education for my job, many people entered the middle class with these jobs that required no formal education. Those days are long gone.

I agree; now you pretty well have to have college or university education to get your foot in the door anywhere. Also, not very many of today's young people are willing to work menial jobs in factories. Everybody wants to start at the top. When I was done high school, I was tired of education, and just wanted to get out there and have a job. I had an interview and filled out a job application form at Canadian Timken on a Wednesday, was offered a job that Friday, and started working there on the following Monday. On the strength of my high school mathematics, I was offered a job in their Tool Inspection department, measuring completed tools and gauges made by the in-plant and outside tool rooms. This department was also responsible for the set up, calibration and maintenance of all production gauging. I completed an apprenticeship to become a Tool and Die Inspector. This job eventually lead to an Inspection Supervisor post for me.
I was offered a Supervisory position at a small plant that supplied thermostatic switches to the appliance industry and thermostatic/vacuum smog controls to the automotive industry. Because of the nature of the product, the entire factory was air conditioned, and was kept very clean. This was quite a change of environment from working at Timken! Due to the type of light assembly, and the very good work environment, the workforce was predominantly female. After a few years as a supervisor, I decided that a change of work was needed, where I only had to worry about ME.
I applied and was accepted for a job very similar to the hourly Tool Inspection position I had had at Timken. This was at Clevite, which eventually became GKN Sintered Metals, a supplier of powdered metal parts to the automotive industry. Again, this department was responsible for production gauging for the production floor, as well as tool and die inspection. This was a skilled trades job, and I enjoyed the same pay as toolmakers, electricians, mechanics, etc. This was a straight day shift job in a climate controlled inspection lab; a job I appreciated as the best one in the factory. I spent over 25 years there before retiring. There are no longer very many of these well paying factory jobs left in the area.

 

[Dave6T4]

View attachment 1410160

I have always regarded the inability to recognize and obey a Disabled sign and parking spot as a special kind of disability in itself!