Joseph W. Frazer
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Joseph Washington Frazer was an early-to-mid 20th Century American automobile company executive (Chrysler, Willys-Overland, Graham-Paige, Kaiser-Frazer Corporation) and a cousin of George Washington.
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[edit] Chrysler
While at Chrysler, Frazer offered his opinion to Walter Chrysler about Chrysler's new low-entry automobile. "Well, boss," replied Frazer, "why not call it Plymouth? That's a good old American name."[1]Actually, his words were, "Every farmer knows about Plymouth binder twine" (remember, at this period of time, America was still an agrarian society). Sources: "Kaiser- Frazer:The Last Onslaught On Detroit", by Richard M. Langworth., Collectible Automobile, April, 1988
[edit] Graham-Paige Motors
The car, the "Frazer", was named in honor of Joseph Washington Frazer, while he was the president of the Graham-Paige Motors Company.[2] The Frazer was made in partnership with Henry J. Kaiser.[3] The company also began production of farm equipment under the Rototiller name.[4]
[edit] Real Estate
In the early 1960's Graham-Paige dropped the "Motors" from its name and turned to real estate business, buying up such properties as the Madison Square Gardens. In 1962 the firm officially changed its name to the Madison Square Garden Corporation.[5]
[edit] References
- He was featured in a Time Magazine article in April, 1945 in an article entitled "From Riches to Riches." [6]
- Don Sherman. "A Few who Failed - unsuccessful automakers." Automotive Industries, September 2000. [7]
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