First Shop Force

1916 – The first shop force of Rockville Garage (from left: Lewis Reed, (first name unknown) Long and Phillip Reed. A third brother, Phillip Reed, came to work for them in 1916 as a mechanic until 1944. A mechanical aptitude was necessary to be a dealer in the early 1900’s. When cars were shipped to the dealer from the manufacturer, they arrived partially assembled in railroad boxcars. It was the dealer’s responsibility to unpack and assemble the cars at the rail yard and drive them back to the dealership. Mechanics were often needed to repair the new cars if they broke down along the way. Lewis Reed received his automotive training at the Pierce-Arrow factory in Buffalo, New York, the Dodge Hamtramck and Hudson Motor Car factories in Detroit, Michigan and the Washington Auto College.

1916 Rockville Garage First Shop Force

Lewis Reed, (first name unknown) Long and Phillip Reed

Grafton Reed 1921

1921 – Grafton Reed, mechanic

1921 – Alfred Fraley, mechanic

1921 – Alfred Fraley, mechanic

1921 – Lester Wilson, mechanic (and first Service Manager)

1921 – Lester Wilson, mechanic (and first Service Manager)

Early work force – name unknown

Early work force – name unknown

work force 2

Early work force – name unknown

Early work force - name unknown

Early work force – name unknown

hand crank car

Lewis Reed hand cranking an old car. The license plate is MD 10307 dated 1913.

2 responses to “First Shop Force”

  1. Mary Ann Buhrman says :

    Earlier you told me that you had made correction to your book to add dad’s name to the picture of the men who worked there. Has that edition been published yet? I would like to get a copy of the book where you made the changes? Please let me knmow how to ordrr one. Thanks – Mary Ann Buhrman

    Reply

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