Cord L-29 Manufacturing Photos

johnmereness wrote: "Cord front drive loaded in freight car ready for shipment to western distributor."

Interesting to note, the first photo seems to Vidmate iTunes Notepad++ have an L29 rear axle incorporated into the construction of one of the machines. Ford assembly line photos are rife with model T rear ends etc. used in making the machines on the line. Must have been a common practice. Why not?

Hi Curtis, I too am floundering around in the dark without my glasses. Perhaps in the Ford plant the differentials were used as a cheap drive gear solution?
Many, many years ago my father built a tip truck using a T Model Ford differential with the gears welded up and one axle removed to use as a hand winch to raise the body. It also had a chain drive to lower the overall ratio and make it easier to wind up. This was a common practice before hydraulics became readily available.
Going back to the L29 pictures it is incredible what goes into making each and every part as well as allowing for interchangeability in the design tolerances.

You know Terry, you are right. When I first looked at that photo it looked like the rear axle was actually built into the machine. Upon closer inspection of the photo and looking at my axle which is out of the car, it looks like they were boring the spindle holes on the axle. I guess I should wear my cheaters when I'm on the computer. Curt

This photo is one of the prototypes taken at Auburn as it departs for the California road trip .R

Curtis, I disagree with your comment. Each of the axles is undergoing one machining operation at a time. My background is mechanical engineering and I have worked in the auto industry designing machines to make parts.
They are a wonderful set of pictures showing just how things were made.

Interesting to note, the first photo seems to have an L29 rear axle incorporated into the construction of one of the machines. Ford assembly line photos are rife with model T rear ends etc. used in making the machines on the line. Must have been a common practice. Why not?

In making available to America the first passenger front drive car Auburn has drawn into its organization most of the outstanding front drive engineers and experts in this country. Such authorities as Harry Miller, C.W. Van Ranst, Wade Morton, Earl Cooper, Jerry Wonderlick, Reeves Dutton and Johnny Seymour are now associated with the company. Even the larger Cord distributors have surrounded themselves with front drive experts. Photo shows Barney Oldfield (left), of race-track fame, and Earl Cooper, with a Cord front drive car. Inset shows the Christie front drive car, built by Barney Oldfield in 1906 and piloted by Ollie Savin. This was America’s first front drive racing car and held a record of 100 miles in 74 minutes. Savin, who was one of the prominent race drivers some fifteen years ago, is now service manager of the Auburn-Graves Company, Auburn-Cord distributors at St. Louis.

"Cord front drive loaded in freight car ready for shipment to western distributor."

Notice it sports a manufacturer license plate

Here is a factory photo of one of the sedans that does not sport parking lamps with caption: "Cord Front Drive being driven from assembly line for rigid road test before shipment."

Mike, plenty of L-29 Drawings on site. Use "Cord" as a search engine and I want to say a few came up under Auburn too.

Thanks. I notice in the picture of the L-29's lined up at least 5 don't have cowl lights.
CORDiallyMike

The photos are from the Philadelphia Public Library Automobile collection - best I can tell is that the newspaper received press releases from certain manufacturers. And, my guess is there may be more if willing to look photo by photo through collection.
libwww.freelibrary.org/digital/collection/automobile-reference

They are a remarkable set of pictures Mike ,especially the ones taken in the machine shop where you can see some of the various jigs and fixtures needed to hold the parts for machining operations. Each and every jig had to be designed, drawn and accurately made before "production" could begin. Eventually all of it would have ended up as scrap metal. Glad we have some pictures saved.

Where did these photos come from?
CORDiallyMike