It is a rare weekend post! I know you are asking yourself to what do we owe this great good fortune. First of all I am a stuck in the parent’s waiting room at ballet class and secondly in the comments the other day Louise mentioned Buicks Scottish connection.
Like all good things on this earth, Buicks have Scottish ancestry (well that is what my Scottish friends are always telling me). The founder of the Buick Motor Company was Scottish.
David Dunbar Buick, founder and namesake of the Buick Motor Company, was born on September 17, 1854 in Arboath, Scotland. He and his family immigrated to the New World when he was 2 years old.
David dropped out of high school at 15, helped run a plumbing business, the Buick & Sherwood Manufacturing Company. Buick was credited with at least 13 patents including those for a lawn sprinkler, bathtubs, and a flushing device. His most important invention in this field was a method for fixing enamel to cast iron that allowed for development of modern porcelain bathtubs and plumbing fixtures.
This business prospered and over the course of the 1880s but he sold out to his partner as he was too fond of messing about with cars. Buick pioneered the valve in head (OHV) engine and the first prototype made a successful run from Flint to Detroit in July 1904, production would start that year. Just like Henry Ford, the Buick Motor Company had to overcome the financial hurdles that beset any start up.
In November 1904, William "Billy" Durant, who went on to create General Motors became General Manager and director of the Buick Motor Car and forced Buick out by 1908. Buick later sold his stock for a mere $100,000. Had he held on to his shares, it would’ve been worth well over $100 million by the time of his death in the late twenties and today would be despite GM’s problems be nearly incalculable.
The famous Buick crest is also of Scottish origin. Created during the GM era, it is based on the Scottish "Buik" family crest. In 1960, the logo incorporated three shields, to represent the three Buick models then built: LeSabre, Invicta, and Electra.
Buick tried a number of other businesses but lightening wouldn’t strike for a third time. Forgotten and broke he died in 1929, his last job being as an instructor at the Detroit School of Trades.
Buick and Cadillac for that matter have survived the autopocalypse of the past few years and Buick I am sure to David's amazement is one of the best selling cars in China.
Well on my next trip to Motown I should stop at Woodmere Cemetery and pay my respects.
From a final interview given in 1928 he stated that he was not bitter and that “Success consists in looking ahead and forgetting the past.
Good advice for those of us born Trans, don’t live in regret and instead focus on building a successful future.
A Scottish themed musical choice, how about Bill Haley’s “Rockin’ Through the Rye”, sounds silly but actually it is extremely catchy.
Hugs,
April
Like all good things on this earth, Buicks have Scottish ancestry (well that is what my Scottish friends are always telling me). The founder of the Buick Motor Company was Scottish.
David Dunbar Buick, founder and namesake of the Buick Motor Company, was born on September 17, 1854 in Arboath, Scotland. He and his family immigrated to the New World when he was 2 years old.
David dropped out of high school at 15, helped run a plumbing business, the Buick & Sherwood Manufacturing Company. Buick was credited with at least 13 patents including those for a lawn sprinkler, bathtubs, and a flushing device. His most important invention in this field was a method for fixing enamel to cast iron that allowed for development of modern porcelain bathtubs and plumbing fixtures.
This business prospered and over the course of the 1880s but he sold out to his partner as he was too fond of messing about with cars. Buick pioneered the valve in head (OHV) engine and the first prototype made a successful run from Flint to Detroit in July 1904, production would start that year. Just like Henry Ford, the Buick Motor Company had to overcome the financial hurdles that beset any start up.
In November 1904, William "Billy" Durant, who went on to create General Motors became General Manager and director of the Buick Motor Car and forced Buick out by 1908. Buick later sold his stock for a mere $100,000. Had he held on to his shares, it would’ve been worth well over $100 million by the time of his death in the late twenties and today would be despite GM’s problems be nearly incalculable.
The famous Buick crest is also of Scottish origin. Created during the GM era, it is based on the Scottish "Buik" family crest. In 1960, the logo incorporated three shields, to represent the three Buick models then built: LeSabre, Invicta, and Electra.
Buick tried a number of other businesses but lightening wouldn’t strike for a third time. Forgotten and broke he died in 1929, his last job being as an instructor at the Detroit School of Trades.
Buick and Cadillac for that matter have survived the autopocalypse of the past few years and Buick I am sure to David's amazement is one of the best selling cars in China.
Well on my next trip to Motown I should stop at Woodmere Cemetery and pay my respects.
From a final interview given in 1928 he stated that he was not bitter and that “Success consists in looking ahead and forgetting the past.
Good advice for those of us born Trans, don’t live in regret and instead focus on building a successful future.
A Scottish themed musical choice, how about Bill Haley’s “Rockin’ Through the Rye”, sounds silly but actually it is extremely catchy.
Hugs,
April
