Joseph W. Frazer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Joseph Washington Frazer, (1892-1971), was a middle 20th Century American automobile company executive employed in succession by Chrysler, Willys-Overland, Graham-Paige and Kaiser-Frazer Corporation.


Education

Frazer graduated from the The Hotchkiss School in Lakeville, Connecticut and attended New Haven, Connecticut's Yale University's Sheffield Scientific School, being trained as an engineer.

Chrysler

While originally employed at Chrysler Corporation, Frazer offered his opinion to founder Walter P.Chrysler, (1875-1940), about Chrysler's new low-entry automobile. "Well, boss," replied Frazer, "why not call it Plymouth? That's a good old American name. Ever hear of Plymouth Binder Twine?" According to Frazer, Chrysler (himself once a farmer) replied, "Every farmer in America knows about Plymouth Binder Twine." Sources: "Kaiser- Frazer:The Last Onslaught On Detroit", by Richard M. Langworth; Collectible Automobile, April, 1988

Willys-Overland

Frazer was elected president of Willys-Overland in 1939. He is notable as having been the chief executive of Willys when that company won the U.S. Government contract for design of the Jeep ("General Purpose" - ("G.P.") military utility vehicle, which began coming out in 1940-1941 after testing at Fort Hollibird, in East Baltimore, Maryland.

Graham-Paige Motors

Frazer assumed control of Graham-Paige Motors Corporation in August 1944. He and some associates had earlier in the year purchased 265,000 shares of stock for Graham-Paige Motors Corporation from one of its three brother founders, Joseph B. Graham, (1882-1970); for $2.00 per share. G-P's other founding brothers were: Robert C. Graham, (1885-1967); and Ray A. Graham, (1887-1932); the Grahams had purchased the Paige-Detroit Motor Car Company in 1927, to form Graham-Paige Motors. Frazer then announced Graham-Paige would return to car manufacturing after the end of World War II with an entirely new model named the "Frazer". In his search for financial funding he met Henry J. Kaiser, (1882-1967), a famous eccentric California industrialist, who had already been involved in the manufacture of steel, then aluminum during the War along with his revolutionary welded, not riveted "Liberty" and "Victory" cargo ships. Kaiser was also considering marketing a new car and they decided to join forces. The car, the "1947 Frazer", was named in honor of Joseph Washington Frazer, while he was the new President of the Graham-Paige Motors Company.

Kaiser-Frazer

The Frazer car was made in partnership with Henry J. Kaiser, (1882-1967). The Company also began production of farm equipment under the Rototiller name. Frazer resigned from Kaiser-Frazer on January 14, 1954.

Real Estate

In the early 1960s, Graham-Paige dropped the "Motors" from its name and turned to the real estate business, buying up such properties as the "Madison Square Gardens" sports arena in mid-town Manhattan in New York City. In 1962, the firm officially changed its name to the Madison Square Garden Corporation.

Family

Joseph Washington Frazer was born March 4, 1892 in Nashville, Tennessee – died August 7, 1971 in Newport, Rhode Island, was the son of James Stokes Frazer (born October 7, 1852 in Lebanon, Tennessee – died April 17, 1892 in Nashville, Tennessee.) and to his wife, Mary Washington (born October 25, 1855 in Robertson County, Tennessee – died January 16, 1928 in Nashville, Tennessee). His parents had been married on May 8, 1878. Joseph W. married Lucille Frost (born January 3, 1896 in Chicago, Illinois – ?) died on November 18, 1914). Joseph and Lucille had one daughter Arielle (born August 23, 1917 – died February 7, 2006 in Newport, Rhode Island). Joseph W. Frazer later died of cancer at his home in Newport in August 1971.

References

  • He was featured in a "Time" Magazine article in April, 1945 in an article entitled "From Riches to Riches."
  • Don Sherman. "A Few who Failed - unsuccessful automakers." Automotive Industries, September 2000.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.