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Thread: Body By Fisher

  1. #1
    Analog Photographer, Digital World Axle's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
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    Milton, ON, Canada
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    2,141

    Body By Fisher

    Established in 1908 by Albert Fisher and two nephews the Fisher Body Company would start life off producing bodies for horse drawn carriages and automobiles. As the use of horses came to a close the company would drop the line in 1911 to focus to the automobile industry.

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    In the early days of car manufacture body work required lots of skilled tradesmen to fabricate the metal and wooden parts. Soon bodies by Fisher would appear on Ford, Cadillac, Studebaker and many other vehicles as the automotive makers found it cheaper to outsource. Fisher's biggest customer was General Motors (GM) who by 1917 had moved all its body work to Fisher. To meet the increased demand, Fisher began building new plants and expanding across Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario. Plant 21, located in Detroit, MI, was built in 1919, a six story concrete structure with lots of windows and designed by famed industrial designer Albert Khan. Plant 21 was a stamping plant, producing components for Buicks and Cadillacs by 1920.

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    Fisher and GM went on to merge in 1926, but GM maintained the Fisher Brand (and that would continue into the early 1980s, look at early model GM cars you'll see on the skid plant inside the door, "Body By Fisher"). As the 2nd World War engulfed the US Industrial Complex, Plant 21 produced parts that would go on to become planes, tanks, and weapons. Following the war, Plant 21 produced bodies for buses, ambulances and limos.

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    Work on these were eventually moved to Flint, MI, and the plant closed on the 1st of April, 1984. It saw brief use by the Carter Color Coat Co, from 1990 until the company went bankrupt in 1993. EPA work commenced in 2004 and continued until 2010, but despite the work and millions of dollars put into the project, the plant remains heavily contaminated.

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    Nikon D300 - AF-S Nikkor 14-24mm 1:2.8G
    Alex Luyckx | Photography
    Capturing Beauty in Everything

  2. #2
    banished Don Schaeffer's Avatar
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    Apr 2006
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    Huntington, NY
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    Re: Body By Fisher

    Nice piece of history. Interesting shots.

  3. #3
    Senior Member
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    Gunnison, Co, USA
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    Re: Body By Fisher

    Yes, very nice. I grew up in Ann Arbor, so I have quite a few Detroit connections still. I've thought about going back for a photo project, but haven't ever acted on that thought. Way to get out there (in there?) and give it a go. The historical perspective to go with the photos is great, and the photos themselves are pretty interesting. Thanks for sharing!

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