• Marjorie Koehler

6/16/92
Page 1

Koehler:

Shirley Bradley and Lisa Fine.
Marjorie Koehler at her home.
to talk about Reo Memories.

We're going to be interviewing

This is June 16, 1992. We're going

IA:

One of the first things that we do with one of these interviews is
just to get some background information to find out where the people
were from and the kind of educational background they're from and
their families and things.
in the Lansing area?

So just to start off with, were you born

Koehler: Yes, I was born in Lansing.

IA:

In the city or •••

Koehler:

In the city.

IA:

Okay, and did your parents •••

Koehler: They were from here, well, my mother was from Norway.

IS:

Oh, isn't that interesting.

•

Koehler:

She was from Norway.

IB:

Why'd she happen to come here?

Koehler: Her mother left her family because her father was a seaman and he

went to sea and he never came back when my mother was two years old
and so she just picked her up and came to the United States.

IA:

Your grandmother and your mom?

Koehler: Um, hum.

She was five years old when they •••

IB:

My, that was a big step.

Koehler: Yeah, it was.

IB:

She must of been frightened.

Koehler: And they ended up in Alpena and there's quite a few Swedish and

Norwegian people in Alpena and so they lived there until she was a
young girl and she came to Lansing and got a job working and that's
where she met my dad was in a laundry, the American Laundry.

IB:

Oh, really?

Koehler: Yes, and so that's how I came to be.

IA:

And your dad was a Michigan person?

•

Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 2

Koehler: Yes, yes, he was.

IA:

Oh, that's great.

What was your mother's Norwegian.name?

Koehler: Erickson.

IA:

Erickson.

Koehler: You might know.

IA:

Oh, that's a real common name.

Koehler: Yeah, it was Erickson.

IA:

And what did your dad do?

Koehler: Well, at the time she met him he worked in the laundry but from

there he went to Reo.

Oh, he worked at Reo?

Oh, your dad worked there?

IA:

IB:

Koehler: Yeah, and so did my grandfather.

IA:

Your father's father?

Koehler: Um, hum.

I.'vegot a picture of him in•••

IA:

IB:

IA:

Oh, my goodness.

Great.

Do you know what they did in Reo?

Koehler: Both of them were foremen in the motor plant.

IA:

Oh, my goodness.

Koehler: Yeah, they both worked in the motor plant.

IA:

Your grandfather must of been there from the beginning.

Koehler: Well, he had to be because that was probably about 1906 or something

like that.

IA:

That's right 'cause it was started in 1904.

Koehler: Yeah, I think, I don't know which one, I can show you his picture.

A lot of these pictures were big group pictures.

This isn't the

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Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 3

one, if you ladies want to start looking at those, you know, you're
welcome.

18:

I think I'll wait till you can tell me what I'm seeing.

Koehler:

I do have one of my father also but that, I don't have

Okay, yeah.
that right here.

Here's my grandfather.

18:

I'll come around over there.

Koehler:

Right.

IA:

Oh, my.

What was his name?

Koehler:

Tom Nelson.

IA:

Tom Nelson.
plant.

Isn't that wonderful.

He was a foreman

in the motor

Koehler:

Um, hum.

Most of these pictures

are of the men that worked there.

IA:

This looks like it must of been in the teens •

Koehler:

Well, it could of been, just judging

from the dress and •••

18:

.Although

it could of been in the early years, after the turn of the

century because •••

Koehler:

Well, my father passed away in '25.

18:

And this is the old Reo back here.

Koehler:

Ah, huh, right.

18:

Wasn't so old then.

Koehler:

of these fellows were from the old country,

a

The ones that my dad had under him couldn't

even speak

You know, the majority
lot of 'em.
English.

IA:

Where were they from, Germany?

Koehler:

Oh, yes, and, oh, I think there were some from Italy and, you know.

18:

Was, isn't that interesting,
speak English

for him to communicate

interesting

for him if people didn't

what he needed done.

Koehler:

Yes, ••••••••• sometimes
disgusted.

he used to come home and be a little bit

Koehler

Marjorie
6/16/92
Page 4

IB:

Oh, did he?

Koehler:

IA:

IB:

He couldn't get his message across, you know.
got one of my dad.
all the different

departments,

I imagine.

See, it just starts out and there's

I don't think I've

pictures

of

That's the gear department

in Reo in 1915.

Oh, they're

labeled.

Koehler:

Well, that one is.

IB:

This one is.

Koehler:

Yeah, that one is.

IB:

Oh, the gear department.

Koehler:

But that's, I think that's the only one so. But look at the people
they had.
You know, that was a big plant at that time.
really •••

They

IA:

Yeah, here we go, department

number two, 1915.

Koehler:

And, of course, we don't know what two is.

IB:

No, we don't.

Koehler:

And this has something

on it.

IA:

IB:

IA:

Number five, 1915.
'15.

Must be, must be.

There was of been a lot of publicity

photos

in

How'd your grandfather,
Reo?

do you know how your grandfather

got to the

Koehler:

No, I don't.

I really don't.

They were from Ohio originally.

IB:

Just like •••••••

Koehler:

He, I really don't, I don't, I tried to find some

on them.

I looked for their marriage

Right, yeah.
information
County because they were from Bath and my grandmother
so she, she was from Bath but my grandfather
went over to St. Johns and went through all the records
tried to find their marriage
stood up with another couple but not anything
maybe they might have been married

certificate.

in Ohio.

came from Ohio and I

over there,

I can find where they

for them so I thought

license

in Clinton
was from Bath

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Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 5

IB:

Doesn't sound like they were married in Clinton County, does it?

Koehler: Not really.

IB:

Or there'd be records •••

Koehler: My daughter and I went over there and went through the records and

it was a big job.
started to fade.

IB:

Oh, ladies here.

It was all handwritten, you know, and the ink had

Koehler: Yeah, yeah, got some ladies.

IB:

It looks like they're all dressed in white.

Koehler: They had a big, they had a big office force.

IS:

IA:

Oh, look at those wonderful dresses.

This is a wonderful photograph •

Koehler: Isn't that just super?

I know you would enjoy seeing it and that's

why I went and got it 'cause I just thought for this purpose, it's
just•••

IS:

IA:

Oh, that was so nice of you.

Oh, look at this.

Is that the cafeteria?

Koehler: I think it was •••

IA:

Says, get your change ready.

Koehler: Yeah.

IB:

I bet it was.
left.

I bet there aren't any more photographs like this

Koehler: Well, there was more.

You, have you ever done anything on

Loudenslager?

IB:

On Clare Loudenslager?

Koehler: Urn, hum.

IB:

Not yet •

Koehler: Okay.

•

Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 6

IS:

We're hoping to.

Koehler:. He's the one that's responsible for this. He found th~se pictures

some place and he had several copies made and gave to his friends
and that's how come Mr •••••••••• had one.

IS:

IA:

IS:

How wonderful of him to do that.

These look like they must of been the big management •••

The upper management.

Koehler: Oh, yes, the wheels.

IA:

IS:

IA:

Sig wheels •

••••••••• l..vory••••••••• So that would have been the ••••••

Just all different departments.

Koehler: Yes.

IS:

Oh, look.

Koehler: Now, here's some more office people.

IS:

Look at this, isn't this wonderful. Maybe these are execs and their
secretaries.

Koehler: Could very well be.

IA:

They're in front of that building again.

Koehler: Yes.

IS:

Don't you wonder what's become of 'em all and how their lives went?

Koehler: Oh, yes, yes.

IS:

Oh, look at the touring car.

Koehler: Yeah, my dad had one like that.

IS:

Did he?

Koehler: Urn, hum.

IA:

IS:

And the railroad's right there. That must be the loading dock.

This looks like it might have been in '18 or in '19 or something.

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Koehler

Marjorie
6/16/92
Page 7

Koehler:

His car was a 1914 Dodge.

IA:

18:

These are wonderful.

I've never seen these before.

The faces and the costumes.

Oh, look at this.

Koehler:

And there's some of the cars.

IA:

18:

That must of been •••••••• 's office

(all talking

at once111)

And the clubhouse was over here.

Koehler:

Right.

IA:

18:

If it was 1915 though, the clubhouse wasn't even built yet.
clubhouse

was built in 1917.

The

Oh, was it.

Maybe it was built on this plot of land.

Koehler:

Probably

it was not there.

18:

And there's the water tower up in the back there that I noticed
the other pictures that Mabel had.

in

IA:

Now, what did your dad do at the plant?

Koehler:

He was a foreman.

IA:

He was a foreman, too?

Koehler:

In the motor plant.

18:

In the motor plant.

Koehler:

Same as my grandfather.
maybe this one isn't but there are some of them that are peeking
of the windows.

We got a kick out of that and here's, well,
out

IA:

Peeking out of the windows.

Oh, that's funny.

Koehler:

And we thought that was kind of funny, you know.

18:

IA:

Not thinking maybe that they'd be •••

Isn't that a riot and that's your grandfather?

Koehler:

Yes •

18:

He was a nice looking man.

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Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 8

Koehler: Yes, he was.

IA:

Very, very distinguished.

Koehler: He was very handsome. My father was a good looking man, too.

IS:

Was he?

Koehler: Oh, a handsome man.

IS:

IA:

Oh, look at this.

I bet this is the welfare department 'cause look they're keeping
track of the accidents.

Koehler: Um, hum, probably.

IS:

IA:

IS:

IA:

What does it say?

It says, transfer bulletin notice.
here's some of the, well, these guys are hard at work.

I can't read •••••••

though and

Smoke filled room.

Yeah, right.

Koehler: And here's some of the machinery.

IS:

Oh, it looks so clean.

Koehler: Well, that's

IA:

•••••••••••••• a laboratory.

Koehler:

It probably was quite new and that's probably some executive.

IA:

Working at a beautiful desk.

Koehler: Oh,yes.

IA:

IS:

IA:

IS:

A beautiful rolltop desk.

Gosh, it looks•••

An old telephone.

Oh, I love those, the candlestick phones.
been there then in the early days when R.E. Olds was there.

Your grandfather must of

Koehler: He must of been because, yeah •••

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• Marjorie Koehler

6/16/92
Page 9

IA:

IB:

••••• wooden overpass.

Oh, my gosh.

Koehler:

Evidently after they built them they put them over at the building
across the street.

IB:

Yes, they went over there for final something or other.
are the way they were shipped around.

And these

Koehler:

Imagine that was all wood.

IA:

Oh, yeah.

Koehler:

Isn't that something?

IB:

Isn't that something?

Koehler:

Yes.

IB:• IA:

IB:

And someone probably had the job of driving them older.
they're making chaises obviously here •

Oh, and

Chassis, chassis.

And these are lathes. They're doing the beginnings of the chassis
it looks like, the frame.

IA:

IB:

These, these are beautiful.

Oh, those are wonder.

Koehler:

Yeah, I thought you'd enjoy 'em.

IA:

That's wonderful.

Koehler: Well, we can get to that other one later.

IA:

IB:

IA:

Okay.

I don't even know where to begin now.

It's almost like stepping back in time.

I know, I know.

Koehler:

I know, it's interesting, isn't it?

• IB:

IA:

Oh, yes •

So your dad became the foreman in the motor plant?

Koehler

Marjorie
6/16/92
Page 10

Koehler:

Motor plant.

IA:

And I'm sorry, what was his name again?

Koehler:

Earl Nelson and my grandfather's

name was Tom Nelson.

IA:

Did your dad go into, I guess he went into Reo because

your

Okay.
grandfather

was there •••

Koehler:

Probably.

IA:

and brought him in.

Koehler:

Yes, I'm sure that probably

happened.

IA:

Koehler:

Okay, and how did your, how did your father go from the laundry,
mean, why was he at the laundry to begin with?
'cause he was too young to go into the automobile

plant or •••

Was he just, was it

I

I think, I think that was it.
on management
'em to one of my grandsons.

and I had those books for quite a long time but I gave

He took some kind of, a night course

18:

Did he take it at the Reo?

Koehler:

I don't really know that.

18:

Okay,

'cause I •••

Koehler:

IA:

I knew he had these great, big heavy books. It was on engineering
and management
probably

and I'm sure that that's why he had them.

studied that and •••

He

He was studying,
management

at Reo.

,
yeah,

'cause they had apprenticeship

programs

for

Koehler:

It could of been through Reo.

IA:

Did he work there all his life, your dad?

Koehler:

IA:

Yes.
about him.
quite young.

He died when I was 11 so you see, I don't remember

a whole lot

Some I do remember

but, you know, lost him when I was

So •••

I take it though,
little and you weren't
they, they, did they think the Reo was a good place to work?

I mean, it would be hard to, since you were so

really attuned to those things back then, but

Koehler:

Oh, yes, oh, yes.
a job at the Reo.

Everybody

in Lansing, that was their goal to get

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• Marjorie Koehler

6/16/92
Page 11

IA:

At the Reo?

Koehler: Oh, yes.. Yes, that was the best place in town, you know, for most

Lansing people.

IS:

'Cause obviously they were treated right there and they were earning
a decent wage.

Koehler: Right, right and the plant was really nice in the beginning, you

know.

It was •••

IS:

It looks, in that one picture it's so clean.

Koehler: Yes, it was.
care of, so.

It was clean and nice, you know.

It was well taken

IA:

Okay.

You went to school in Lansing then, you grew up in Lansing?

Koehler: Yes, urn,hum.

And high school, did you go to high school there?

IA:

• Koehler: Ah, huh.

IA:

Did you take the secretarial kind of courses?

Koehler: No, no.

I just took kind of a business course, you know •••

IA:

Okay, general business.

Koehler: Yes, but I picked up my skills, I guess, as I went along. We used

to be able to do that, you know, and you can't do that anymore.

IS:

That's true.
That's what she did.

We were talking to Mabel about that very thing.

Koehler: Yes, yes.

Yeah, it, you couldn't do that today, you know, but I

always figure if you can show your boss you can do the job, why •••

IA:

That should be enough •••

Koehler: Yes, but see, it isn't like that. A lot of our graduates can't.

IS:

Opportunities were there then, too.

Koehler: Oh, yes'. It was a lot different.

And when did you begin to work at the Rec)?

In 1947.

Koehler:

• IA:

Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 12

IA:

Okay.
the Reo?

Obviously,

you didn't go to work right after high school in

Koehler:

IA:

IB:

I worked part-time

No, no.
auditor general's
and I ran comptometer

department

if you know what that is.

for the State and I worked

in the

on tax records.

That was my first job

I sure do.

As a matter of fact, I was asking Mabel about that and that's how, I
thought they were the forerunners
of IBM punch cards and she said no
it to me.
and then she explained

Koehler:

Yeah, that's what I used to do.

IB:

Did you learn that skill in high school in a class?

Koehler:

No, no, I just picked it up on the job.
friend of my mothers
right there and I just picked it right up and, of course,
say, you couldn't do that anymore but •••

got me into the State and they just taught me

I was very fortunate,

a

like I

IA:

No.

And so you were at the State?

Koehler:

Oh, probably
and then I got married.in

about two years.

1932 so •••

I'll say two years,

in that vicinity

IA:

Right in the depths of the Depression.

Koehler:

Yes, and my husband was working
we had a baby boy.

at Oldsmobile

two days a week.

Then

IB:

And he couldn't
days.

of been earning much even, per day for those two

Koehler:

Oh, we were really hurting, you know.
hard times.

It was, those were really

IA:

Okay.

Koehler:

And then we bought our house in Lansing and so I had to continue
work because,

you know, his •••

to

IA:

Had to pay the mortgage.

Koehler:

Well, his employment
just never new if he was gonna get two days a week or three days a
week and they didn't get unemployment,
you know, and so I went back
to work.

all the time, you know, you

was so undecided

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• Marjorie Koehler

6/16/92
Page 13

IA:

First at the Reo or •••

Koehler: No, well, yes, it was Reo.

IA:

In '47?

Koehler: Now, wait just a minute.

Before that, I went to work for the

National Youth Program.

IA:

Administration?

Koehler: Um, hum.

IA:

Oh, oh, very interesting.

Koehler: Yes, yes, I did.

IA:

What'd you do for them?

Koehler: Ah, same, comptometer work.

Oh, I see, so administrative work •••

• IA:

IA:

Koehler: Right.

They had an office in Lansing?

Koehler: Yes, over on Walnut street.

It was in a big, old house and we did

payroll for the boys that were in that ccc .•.

IA:

ccc.

Koehler: Yeah.

IB:

IA:

IB:

IA:

Oh, is that what the National Youth Program was?

Yeah, it oversaw all the youth programs.

Oh, okay, I see.

The CCC is just one of 'em.

Koehler: And I don't know if you heard, ever heard Jerry Burn's name, well,

he was my boss there and then when I went to the Reo, he was
personnel manager there so that worked out real handy for me, too.
He was a good friend •

Oh, boy, I'd love to write another book just about that, •••• the
NYA.

• IA:

Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 14

Koehler: You-know, yeah, right. That was an interesting thing, it was.

IA:

Did they have, do any other programs besides the ccc through
Lansing?

Koehler: No, just that.

IA:

Just that, they didn't do any for girls?

Koehler: No, huh, ah.

IB:

IA:

IB:

Was there a program for girls?

There were some schools for girls, too, that they oversaw, too.

Oh, I didn't know that. I've never known that.
was just the boys.

I always thought it

Koehler:

I just, you know, I just think that's such a wonderful thing.
just a shame they don't have something like that ••••

It's

IA:

Like that now?

Koehler:

Yes.

I think we would have a lot less trouble than we do •••

IB:

I do, too.
and be off the streets.

They'd be doing something. They'd be learning something

Koehler: Yes, well, and it would be helping the ecology, you know, I mean •••

IA:

Do good projects.

Koehler: Yes, it would.

I just, that was really something.

Then I worked

part-time for the WPA in the old Reo Clubhouse, too.

IA:

IB:

IA:

Oh, really?

Oh, you did?

In the clubhouse?

Koehler: Yes, in the clubhouse.

IA:

Before you actually worked for the Reo?

Koehler; Yes, that's right.

IA:

What'd you do for them?

Koehler:

I was still in comptometer work and that was in the main ballroom.

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• Marjorie Koehler

6/16/92
Page 15

IS:

Isn't

t,,",lllat

!Il

interesting, that they •••

Koehler:

And they had offices all set up in there •

IS:

They d~d?

•

i

Koehler: Yes.

IA:

So the company let the national government come in and •••

Koehler: Right, right.

IA:

work their programs through the clubhouse.

Koehler: Yeah, they did.

IA:

IS:

I never heard that before.

I didn't either.

Isn't that interesting?

• Koehler: Yeah, yeah, we had and it was a, you know, a big, 'course you

probably don't remember seeing the clubhouse •••

I remember it.

IS:

No, .1 don't.

IA:

Koehler: The ballroom was big and they just had that full of people working.

IA:

On the WPA?

Koehler: Um, hum.

IA:

They built roads and post offices and •••

Koehler: Oh, yes, yes, and they just did a lot of good things, you know.

IS:

Oh, all kinds of things.
enjoy and you can still see the stairways and the retaining,
breakwater walls and all kinds of things that they did.
pits for latrines and, someone's got to do it.

They went to some of the parks that we now

They dug

Koehler: Well, sure.

IS:

Oh, that's very interesting.

Koehler: So then after that, I went to •••

Okay, during the War?

• IA:

Koehler

Marjorie
6/16/92
Page 16

Koehler:

No, I wasn't, my husband was working on, at Olds on military •••

IA:

He worked at military?

Koehler:

Um, hum, so and my daughter was born shortly in that period so .•.

IA:

You stayed home?

Koehler:

Yeah.

IB:

You were busy, huh, with two children?

Koehler:

Yeah.

IA:

Is that, you had two children?

Koehler:

Two, yeah, a boy and a girl.

IA:

A boy and a girl.

Where was your house in Lansing that you bought?

Koehler:

Over on the south end on Lyons Avenue.
School is?

You know where Lyons Avenue

IB:

IA:

Oh, sure.

Lyons?

Koehler:

Um, hum.

IB:

IA:

Koehler:

L Y NOS.

Yeah, okay, great.
what did you do there?

Okay, and so we're finally at Reo in 1947, and

manager there at one time and then he was paymaster

after

for a man called Carl
I don't know if you've heard that name before but he was

And I worked on payroll again and I worked
Ogden.
personnel
that when I went to work for him.
Then I transferred
while.
there for, oh, probably
salary payroll office so I had a lot of experience
From there, I went up on the third floor.

into the accounting

a year.

Then I was transferred

into the

I worked for him for quite a

department.

Worked

in the payroll.

IA:

Right.

We were told to ask you about the third floor.

Koehler:

Yes, ah, huh.

IA:

From, from Mabel.

•

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• Marjorie

6/16/92
Page 17

Koehler:

Koehler

Mabel, yeah, right, yeah.
where I first worked with Mr. Cataline(?)
catalog department.

We made our own catalogs

I was transferred

up there and that's
and we were, we had a

there.

IB:

Oh, really.

Koehler:

Yes.

IB:

Of parts and things?

Koehler:

Of all the parts that go in the truck and believe
lot of work when you stop to think that that was all hand done.
know, it isn't like it is today.

you me, that was a
You

on computer.

Everything's

IA:

And a truck has thousands

of parts.

Koehler:

That's right plus the fact that you no more than finish the catalog
and it was obsolete.

IA:

• IB:

Koehler:

Had to have a new one.

Oh, my.

That just went on constantly.
for us and they were, well, they'd draw patterns
the schematics
lot of the catalog pages and I'm really upset to think all these
beautiful
the hard work like I did.

and all this for the parts and then I had to type a

We had about 15 young boys working

they have today where you don't have to do all

and, you know, all

typewriters

IA:

That's right, like all the word processors.

Koehler:

Oh, yes.

I would have given my eye teeth for that.

IB:

Mabel was mentioning
sore.

at the end of the day, her fingers would be so

Koehler:

Oh, it it's just terrible.

IB:

From the manuals so yours must of been twice as sore?

Koehler:

IB:

• Koehler:

And I had a stiff neck half the time, it seemed like.
really earned our money.
kids do nowadays,

It was, we
We didn't sit around like a lot of these

I'll tell ya.

How did you happen to go to Reo?
you saw or •••

Was there an add in the paper that

No, it was through a friend.
Well, I had worked with her at the State and that's how come she

in the payroll

She worked

office.

Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 18

told me about, you know, that she was working there at Reo and so
she said, well, you need a job, come on and interview
.they'll hire you.

Sure enough they did.

So it worked out real well

and maybe

for me.

IA:

And you already knew a lot about the company

'cause your family •••

Koehler:

Oh, yes, yes.

IB:

You knew it was a good place to work.

Koehler:

That's right so, and it was close to my home, too.

IB:

Lyons Avenue isn't that far away.

Koehler:

Yeah, it's in the south end, you know, so, and I had two children
and I had to think about that.
Body and that was at, during the time when I was looking for work
and I didn't stay there because
to go catch the bus, go downtown,
Fisher Body and if anything happened

I did work a few weeks at Fisher

change busses and then go to

I didn't have transportation.

at home, you know •••

I had

IB:

You were so far away.

Koehler:

It was, I was so far away so I decided that Reo was located better
for me.
And, of course, the children were going through the measles
chicken pox and all those things.

So that was really one of the reasons why I went there.
and

IB:

All things that calls a mother back home.

Koehler:

Yes, right.

IB:

It kind of tears you in two places, doesn't it?
near •••

You want to be

Koehler:

Yeah, it certainly

does.

IB:

How, did you, you had someone that took care of the children
you worked?

while

Koehler:

I generally

had a lady that came in because

Yes.
with shipping
children get used to it but I didn't want 'em to have to leave their
home so I most always had somebody come in and stay for the day, you
know.

I, you know, I guess the

'em out every morning.

I didn't go along

IB:

Yeah, there weren't

as many daycare

facilities,

nice ones •••

Koehler:

No, we didn't have anything

like that.

No, we didn't.

•

•

•

•

•

•

Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 19

IA:

Maybe a few nursery schools but that's about it.

Koehler: Um, hum, I think they had that but mostly I had to hire someone.

IB:

To come over and be there.

Koehler: And, of course, we didn't pay the kind of wages they do today.

IB:

No, and you weren't earning the kind of wages •••

Koehler: No, and I wasn't earning that kind of money, either.

IB:

But you could buy more with it, it seemed like, didn't it?

Koehler: Oh, yes.

I've always said that, that the •••

IB:

The buying power.

Koehler: When my husband was making $35 a week and I wasn't working, it

seemed like we got along fine, you know, because the dollar was
worth a lot more.

But that all changed.

IB:

Cars didn't cost, you know •••

Koehler: Oh, no.

IB:

proportionately to your salary and houses or even rental.

Koehler: Right, oh, heavens yes.

IA:

Well, and I always think you just didn't, from what I was, could
gather from what my own family has said, you didn't need as many
things, you know.

Koehler: No, it was a different lifestyle.

It was different.

It was

simpler•••

IA:

In terms of just consumer things.

Koehler: Yes.

IB:

Yes, well, Madison Avenue makes us want these things, 'course that
keeps people working though.

Koehler:

I guess so.

IA:

A vicious circle. Did you husband always stay at Oldsmobile?

Koehler: Yes, he was there 43 years.

Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 20

IA:

18:

Forty-three years.

Oh, my.

Koehler: He went right after he got out of high school.

18:

Oh, he did?

Koehler: Yeah, and he just worked in the shop. He had changed jobs a couple

of times but he was there all that time.

IA:

Do you think there was a difference between working in the shop at
Olds and Reo?

I know you never worked in the shop at Reo •••

Koehler: Well, I can tell you what he said.

IA:

Okay.

Koehler: Before the union, before the union came in•••

IA:

In '37?

Koehler: Yeah.

He couldn4t even get time to go to the bathroom hardly.

He
worked on the line and, you know, if he had to go to the bathroom,
well, he had to get a man to replace him while he was gone and
sometimes they'd have to wait, you know, a long time and then they
worked 12 and 14 hours a day.

IA:

So when you first married him in '32, that's what it was like?

Koehler: That's right.

IA:

When he got work.

Koehler: Um, hum, that's what it was like and he used to put some sort of,

He'd come home and his fingers would be bleeding.

oh, bolt or nut or something on, you know, with this chassis be
going by.
You
know, they were just, it was really rough and, you know, a lot of
people talk against the union but he certainly appreciated what the
union did for him.
but he did have it a lot better after the union was in.

He didn't go along with some of their policies

18:

There was some job security, too.

Koehler: Yes.

18:

That he might not have had before.

Koehler: Right, and they got a break and they •••

•

•

•

•

•

•

Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 21

IA:

They moderated some of the conditions.

Koehler: Yes, oh, yes.

So, but it was kind of rough at first.

IA:

And at the Reo, was it like that, too, do you think?

Koehler:

I don't believe they had the production line that Olds had, you
know.
That production line at Olds was fast, you know.
there was just no let up.
because you can see it right here on that cover•••

I think, they had a production line

It was,

IA:

Yeah, right, they had an assembly line •••••••••••••

Koehler: Ah, huh, that's in

'48.

IS:

But not zipping along with the amount per hour, you're saying?

Koehler: That's right.

Right.

IA:

So it might have been a little more humane?

Koehler: Oh, I hope so.

IS:

Well, my father worked at Reo in those days and I don't think it
was.
paid, while they were gone to the bathroom and back, that was
deducted.

From what you said it sounds very similar and they didn't get

Koehler:

I was just gonna say, they worked on piecework.

IA:

That's right, until the late '40s.

Koehler: Yes, they did.

IS:

IA:

IS:

IA:

We talked to someone recently that felt that Mr. Bowles •••

And then also Mr. Fuller, both of them complained about the switch
from piece to •••

Day rate.

They didn't like it.

Koehler: No, because they made more money when they worked piece work.

IA:

That's right.

Koehler:

'Course that was incentive to work harder, you know.

IA:

That's right.

.

..

•

•

•

•

Koehler

Marjorie
6/16/92
Page 22

Koehler:

So that's why but in the long run, of course,

it was a lot better.

IS:

And didn't they, Mr. Sowles mentioned
were as well produced.
A lot of things went to salvage
went to the hourly rate because they were just throwing
and before they were trying to do them correctly.

that he didn't think things

after they
'em out then

Koehler:

They were doing the quality that they needed.

IA:

How long did you stay at Reo after you, you •••

Koehler:

I left in '75.

IA:

Oh, so you stayed till '75, too?

Koehler:

Um, hum.
off in a slack period •••

They only gave me credit for 25 years because

I was laid

IS:

After the War?

Koehler:

For about three months and so when I went back to work, they
wouldn't

give me the time that I, you know, it was not a fair thing.

IS:

You had to start kind of over again building

your seniority?

Koehler:

Well, as far as seniority was concerned,

yes.

IS:

That's what I mean.

Koehler:

Yes, and we even, well, I even contacted
was going to see if he could do something
reinstated
too, you know.

but it just never came to pass.

the company's

lawyer and he

about having that

So those things happen,

IA:

Did you stay up on the third floor in that catalog department
the rest of the time?

for

Koehler:

I was on the third floor for, oh dear, let's see, how long was that?
Quite a while and then about the last three years that I worked, we
moved over on the corner of Saker and Washington,
mower division plant and we had new offices built over there.

in the old lawn

IS:

Oh, you did?

Koehler:

It was the same old building

Yeah.
and then that's where I ended up working
end.

but they put all new offices
for Mr. Cataline(?)

in
at the

IA:

Doing the same kind of thing?

•

•

Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 23

Koehler:

Well, I was doing secretarial

work for him.

IA:

IS:

Oh, okay.

Oh, you were.

You weren't doing payroll then, anymore?

Koehler:

No, no.

I was out of payroll.

IS:

Sefore you went to the •••••••

Koehler:

When I went to the catalog department,

then I was out of payroll.

IS:

Koehler:

How did you move from place to place?
like what you're doing.
find an opening

and apply for it or what?

We'd like you to work here next or did you

Did they come and say, we

Well, when I left the factory payroll office, there was an opening
in the salary payroll and then she was, a friend of mine was looking
for somebody to replace somebody that was leaving and so she asked
me if I'd be interested

and so I worked there.

IS:

Did you get pay increases

from department

to department?

Koehler:

In that one, I did.

IS:

You did?

Koehler:

Yes, ah, huh.

Not a whole lot but I •••

IS:

So that would be incentive,

too.

Koehler:

Yes, right and so I worked there, not too long, and then I went
upstairs
wintertime,

it was about 85 degrees in there all the time.

on the third floor and I was there quite a while and in the

IS:

Oh, really.

Koehler:

'Cause they had old steam heat.

IA:

And it will all rise up to the top.

Koehler:

Oh, it was so hot in there.

IS:

Oh, really?

Koehler:

It was just terrible.

IS:

Everybody
that's interesting.

on the first floor was freezing and you were up there, oh,

•

•

•

•

Marjorie
6/16/92
Page 24

Koehler:

Koehler

And then when I first worked at Reo in the factory payroll
we were on Saker street and they didn't have air conditioning.
had great big fans and my desk sat right next to the window
outside of that window was a tar paper roof and the sun just beat
right down on that.

Oh, it was, just •••

and

office,

They

IS:

Just bounced right into your •••

Koehler:

Oh, it was just like an oven and we used to dress with, just a dress
look like we
and a pair of panties on and paint our legs so it would
had hose on.

IS:

Sure, with the liquid nylons that we could get.

Koehler:

That's right.
'we could hardly stand it.

I think about that, you know, 'cause it was so hot,

IA:

That probably made you hotter
pores, you know.

'cause it probably

closed up your

Koehler:

Yeah, it was just some funny times.

IS:

IA:

IS:

Ah, huh, but the nylons were heavier,
and then nylons and they probably were hotter to wear.
garter belt and all that other stuff.

too, a few years back, rayons

And the

Thank God I didn't have to •••

Oh, you're lucky you didn't through those.

•

Koehler:

Yeah, I guess so.

IS:

That must of been difficult
efficient

when you were so uncomfortable.

to work and turn out, you know, be

Koehler:

Oh, it was, yes, it was so warm and •••

IA:

Well, think about those ladies in that picture.

Koehler:

Oh, I know.

Look at all the •••

IA:

You know, dresses all the way down to the floor.

Koehler:

IA:

IS:

•

Oh, I know, can you, it would be just big fans that they would have,
you know.

There was no air conditioning

then.

Couldn't

expose your arms like this at work or •••

And I would imagine they worked
barely had time to get those, all the ironing and starching

long hours then, too, and they

that

Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 25

must of gone into those outfits. They'd be, go home and hurry and
iron and all that stuff to come back to work the next day.

Koehler:Oh, yes, that was kind of a •••

IA:

Did your mom work or did she stay home and take care of you?

Koehler: Yeah, she did.

She was a seamstress and •••

IA:

After she left the laundry?

Koehler: Yes, ah, huh.

She took in sewing in her home and then in later

years, after I got married and left home, she got a job at Fisher
Body working in the upholstery department.

IB:

Oh, she did?

Sewing the seat covers or something.

Koehler: Aw, huh, right.

IB:

Or the panels on the doors?

Koehler: Yes, right.

IB:

For goodness sakes.

Koehler: She was there quite a while.

IB:

Was she?

Koehler: Urn, hum.

IB:

You sound like a family of workers and doers.

Koehler: We were busy people I guess you might say.

IA:

Did you have brothers and sisters?

Koehler: No, I was an only child.

IA:

You were an only child.

Koehler:

I had a half-sister but I've lost all track of her.
what ever happened to her.

I don't know

IB:

Well, that happens.

Koehler: My father was married before and he had a daughter.

IA:

I have a lot of questions, I just don't know where to begin.
why I'm pausing.

That's

•

•

•

• Marjorie Koehler

6/16/92
Page 26

IB:

IA:

Koehler:

IA:

Koehler:

IB:

• Koehler:

Koehler:

IA:

There's just so much going through my mind, too.

It's hard to keep all.the generations
we're not just dealing with you as a Reo worker but your grandfather
and your father.

you know,

straight,

'cause

Yes, well, I always very proud of that to think that I ended up
working there, you know.

That made three generations

of it.

Yes, we've heard that so much about the family feeling,
just because their families worked there but the family feel between
just the workers.

not only

We've always said that.
Olds and worked
experienced

Mr. Cataline,

so he could get a pension

after Reo closed, he went to
and he said that he never

the same feeling in his job there that he did at Reo.

I think that's more than just the fact that it was a s~aller
with fewer people, too.

I think there was more that fed into that.

factory

Yeah, we just had a real nice group of people, you know.
like family really.

We had some wonderful

times.

It was

Did you go to the clubhouse

as a child?

Yes, they had shows there, you know, and then my dad was working,
why we would go to the shows.
I went and we were talking about, I asked some of the girls the
other day if they remembered,
the ••••

we used to have a bowling

I barely remember that but I do know

alley in

IA:

In the basement.

Koehler:

Yeah.
pictures here of some of the ladies that were on the bowling

When I first went there, they still had it and I've got some

team.

IB:

Oh, have you?

Koehler:

I don't know if I can find it right off but I thought,
Yes.
have another thing here about the style shows that we used to have.

I do

IA:

The girl's club?

Koehler:

Yes, and I've got another one that has the fall fair.
have what they called a fall fair.

We used to

IB:

• Koehler:

What's that?

Well, it was a fair where they had, I'll find it and show you.
is something

I bet you didn't know about.

It

Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 27

IA:

18:

Well, we've already heard about the balls.

We just heard about the charity ball.

Koehler:

Oh, yeah, the charity ball.

IA:

18:

We already know about that •

•••••••••••

told us about that.

Koehler:

Okay, here'S the bowling team right there.

IA:

Did you bowl?

Koehler:

No, no, I never •••

IA:

Okay.

Koehler:

I'll see if I can find •••

18:

I didn't think about the women having a bowling
always just tend to think of the men doing things there in the early
days.

I guess I

team.

IA:

No, they had some women's clubs, too.

Koehler:

Yes, they did.

They were quite active in that sort of thing.

IA:

And here's the, looks like the style show.

Koehler:

Yeah, that's the style show and here'S some more.

IA:

Very fashionable

ladies.

Koehler:

Oh, my yes, hats and gloves and •••

18:

Oh, the way we used to dress.

Koehler:

Oh, heavens yes.

18:

You didn't go without your hat and gloves.

Koehler:

Here's a good example of it right there.

18:

I used to wear little dresses like that when I was a little girl.

Koehler:

Yes.

18:

Oh, the new look. That came in when I was, just in high school.

•

•

•

• Marjorie Koehler

6/16/92
Page 28

Koehler:

Is that right?

18:

And the hems went down, half way down, 'cause everything we had
before that was above our knee and so naturally we had to have all
new clothes.

Koehler:

Here's the one about the fair.

IA:

18:

IA:

Oh, okay.

Oh, sure, I've heard about these.

Oh, this is in the clubhouse.

I think this is what the picnic turned into after the War because
before World War II, they used to have the picnic when they would
have, the ladies would bake the pies and they would have the men
competing in games and events and things and I think •••

Koehler: Um, hum, this is very similar.

IA:

Right, I think it turned into this.

• Koehler: But this was really a big affair, you know, the whole city of

Lansing would come.
the Reo Fair.

Here's steve Snelco who wouldn't talk to us.

IA:

It was, look here what it says, 15,000 came to

18:

Oh, oh, for goodness sake.

Koehler: He comes to the, he comes to the meetings.

IA:

I know.

We called him. He wouldn't talk to us.

Koehler: Well, he's kind of strange. Well, I don't mean he's strange but

he's just •••

18:

He's just a little, maybe prefers his own privacy.

Koehler: Yeah, right.

IA:

18:

Well, we want to talk to everybody.

Oh, look here.

This looks like a big ride.

Koehler: Oh, out in back of the clubhouse, they had all these rides.

They

had everything.

Don Bashore, my mother spoke of him a lot.

Koehler: Yeah, he's, he's passed away.

• 18:

Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 29

IB:

Has he?

Koehler:

Ah, huh.

IA:

So this was, every September they had this big fair?

Koehler: Ah, huh.

IB:

Oh, that's Governor Williams.

Koehler:

Yeah, he was there.

IB:

IA:

Soapy Williams.

It looks like a big country fair.

Koehler: Oh, it was, it was big.

IB:

Look at all, look at the crowd.

Koehler:

They even had a jail.

IA:

A jail?

Koehler: Yes, and they would go along and if some of the bosses were there,
there were two fellows dressed up like cops and would take 'em put
'em in jail and they had to pay money to get out.

IB:

Oh, that's the kind of thing they do now, isn't it, for fund raisers
and that's where the idea started, probably.

IA:

Oh, here's my favorite thing, the babies.

Koehler:

Yes, they had the babies and then they also had a booth with dolls.
You were given a doll and you were to dress the doll.
employees were suppose to dress the dolls and my mother, being the
good seamstress, dressed my doll and it won first prize.

All the

IA:

Oh, my.

Koehler: And she was so proud of herself, you know.

IA:

So this was a mock jail?

Koehler: Ah, huh, that's it right there.

IA:

So who ended up in this jail?

Koehler:

Oh, a lot of the bosses.

•

•

•

• Marjorie

6/16/92
Page 30

Koehler

IA:

So the workers would put their bosses in jail, right?

Koehler:

And loved every minute of it.

IA:

IB:

IA:

And loved every minute of it.

Oh, that#s funny.

Oh, these are wonderful

pictures.

Oh, I see, it was a fund raiser so you paid to put your boss in
jail.

Koehler:

Yeah, right.

IA:

It sounds like a good idea.

Koehler:

And one of the ladies •••

IB:

And keep in there, huh?

Koehler:

• IA:

Koehler:

Now, they had animals, too.

Right, see, 'cause that's why I said it's like the old time picnic
they used to have where they'd have judging on the different
and the different

like here.

produce

animals

Right, right, it's.just

like a country fair.

IA:

Yeah.

That's wonderful.

Koehler:

You know, it's just hard to believe when you think about it now that
that ever existed.

IA:

IB:

Yeah, it's a different

world.

Bill McQueen,

that's not, related to •••

Koehler:

No, no.

IB:

I see so many names here that are familiar

or fathers of students

to me
that I

•••••••• McQueen.
that I remember my mother mentioning
went to school with.

IA:

This was a whole feature devoted to the fall fair issue.

Koehler:

Right, right.

IA:

• Koehler:

I see.
the fair?

Wow, this is wonderful.

What did you do in particular

for

Just dress the doll.

Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 31

IA:

You just dressed the doll?

Koehler: Well, I did work at some of the booths.

I did work, you know, we

all took turns working in the booths.

IA:

And the girl's club was very, was active in organizing it and
participating in it?

Koehler: Yes. One of the ladies was the chairman •••

IB:

Oh, my goodness, here's Edgar Guest.

Koehler: Yes, he came.

IB:

Came to the Reo.

Koehler: Ah, huh •

IA:

••••••• ~s this Ed Rankins?

Koehler: Yeah, you, have you talked to Ed?

IB:

Sure, yes, we interviewed him.

Koehler: Have you talked to ••••~•••••••• yet?

IA:

No.

Koehler: Well, she was one of the secretaries in personnel and Barbara Brown

and there's a picture of her and that's •••••••

IB:

IA:

Oh, I know him.

We met her, Fern at that Golden Gate.

Koehler: Yes, ah, huh. She's a very gracious lady and she always had a good

job there and handled it very nicely.

IA:

And they were the registrars for the fair, they organized the fair?

Koehler: Um, hum. You haven't interviewed Fern yet?

IA:

No, we haven't.

She didn't write her name on our list.

Koehler: Well, you ought to make a, you have to make an effort •••

IA:

We're gonna have to call her anyway.

Koehler: to get Fern 'cause she can tell you a lot, you know, being in

personnel the way she was.

•

•

•

• Marjorie Koehler

6/16/92
Page 32

IA:

That's right, right.

Koehler:

This one, this one is about some of the Army trucks, .1 think.
is some of the •••

Here

18:

Did you notice they're bowling in skirts?

Koehler:

Mother and daughter banquet that the girl's club put on.

IA:

Oh, that's nice. There were so many ways that the company extended
just beyond your work day.

Koehler:

Oh, absolutely. It was, you know, everybody was interested and took
a good, well, you know, work ethic, I think, you know, because of
it. It made a lot of difference.

IA:

And here, I was just looking at this.
Reo recipe book.

They, Shirley, they sold a

Koehler:

• IA:

18:

IA:

I've got one of those.

Oh, you do?

Have you?

Oh, I'd love to look at that.

Koehler: Want to look at it?

IA:

Sure. Not right now, it's okay but at some point, which you could
buy from Hilda Smith in the personnel department.

18:

Oh, from Hilda.

Koehler:

Then you know Hilda?

IA:

Sure, we went to visit Hilda.

Koehler:

Isn't she a dear?

18:

IA:

Koehler:

• IA:

Oh, she's a sweetie.

And then here it says, this is what's interesting to me, that all
Reo families, well, no, it said, the proceeds go to the Marian
Eilick •••

Eilick •••

Eilick cancer so she•••

Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 33

Koehler:

She, she was a girl that worked in the factory payroll office and I
replaced her.
before she passed away. and so when I transferred
her job.

She died, well, she was ill for quite a long time

in there,

I took

IA:

Okay, and then they set up this fund?

Koehler:

Urn, hum.

IA:

In her honor?

Koehler:

Right.
expenses and that sort of thing.

It was to help people that needed help, you know, with

IA:

For cancer?

Koehler:

It'd pick out families that were needy, you know, and like Christmas
time, they'd buy clothing

and food, you know.

18:

What a nice way to honor her.

Koehler:

Yes, right, it was great.

IA:

So it wasn't just putting
There's was always a purpose.

a recipe book together

for the fun of it.

Koehler:

Oh, no, there was always a purpose,

yes.

IA:

18:

Yes, to do some good for the people that were connected

to the Reo.

I notice a rifle club and a flying club.
So much, gee, I almost
wish we could roll the years back and I could go over there and
work.

Koehler:

Wouldn't

that be great, though.

18:

It just seems like •••

Koehler:

There's a picture of •••

IB:

So much going on.

Koehler:

Governor Williams,

too.

IB:

IA:

IB:

Soapy Williams.

Look at, these little girls are cute with the saddle shoes.
wore saddle shoes.

I even

Oh, I love saddle shoes.

•

•

•

• Marjorie Koehler

6/16/92
Page 34

Koehler: My daughter did, too.

Boy, she just thought they were supe~.

I

IA:

Now, you were there for more than 25 years, really?

Koehler: Yes, really.

I was there actually 28 years.

IA:

28 years. One of the questions that I always ask as a historian is
interesting to me is what you thought were the big changes that took
place while you were there.

Koehler: Well, some of 'em I didn't like.

IA:

IB:

IA:

Well, I didn't ask you which ones you liked, just what you saw.

We want to know those, too.

Those are actually more interesting.

•

Koehler: The last two or three years I worked were not really the happy times

because they were changing owners all the time and, you know, it
just kept getting worse all the time, it seemed and it was hard for
the employees that had been there for a long time to see this
happening. You know, I mean, it was not the same and so I•••

IB:

A lot of tension?

Koehler: Yes. My first years were happier, you know, than the later years

and so, and it was, you were uneasy because you didn't know from one
day to the next what was going to happen.
towards the end, it wasn't as comfortable as it had been.

So, we had, you know,

IB:

Towards the end, did a lot of the clubs and things kind of fall by
the wayside?

Koehler: Yes, yes.

IA:

The different activities that made the Reo a fun place to work.

Koehler: Right.

IB:

We're speaking probably the last two or three years?

Koehler: Yes, that's when, I don't know if you heard his name or not but •••

IA:

Yeah, we heard Cappart's name.

• Koehler: Cappart's name •

IB:

Yeah, but we've heard Mildred's name.

Koehler

Marjorie
6/16/92
Page 35

Koehler:

Oh, yes, and Mildred.

They were a pair.

IA:

Koehler:

Before that period though, you know, the last few years before the
beginning
happening,
or the atmosphere

of the end, were there other kinds of things that were

changes in the people or the way the work was being done

of the place or •••

Yes.
started.

Mainly after White Motor took over, that's when it really

I don't know if you were familiar with that.

IA:

Sure.

Koehler:

Yes, and that's when it really started and it was kind of difficult
because we had to contact Cleveland
to do this or do that.

all the time to get permission

IB:

That was the home office, then?

Koehler:

Yes, ah huh.

IA:

That was in the '60s, wasn't it, some time in the early

'60s?

Koehler:

Yes, ah huh.

That's really when it started.

IB:

So maybe the last 10 or 15, 10 years?

Koehler:

Ten years I would say, maybe.

Yeah, it wasn't the same.

IB:

A lot of new people came in?

Koehler:

Well, especially
they kept bringing
they didn't know anything
because they were •••

the last two or three years, it just seemed like
heads all the time and

in different

department

about what they were doing,

I mean,

IB:

Oh, dear, from some place else?

Koehler:

Yes, and they weren't
was really hard on the department
fellows that had been there for a long time.
orders, you know, and even though they knew it was wrong, they still
had to do it.

familiar, you know, our work and it was, it
you know, the

heads themselves,

They had to take

IB:

Oh, gosh, that had to •••

Koehler:

So, yeah, it was, it was very difficult
men that had been there a long time.
the best years.

for some of the

It was really,

not

•

•

•

• Marjorie

6/16/92
Page 36

IA:

Koehler

Anything
did the fairs and the •••

else about the change of this kind of atmosphere?

I mean,

Koehler:

We didn't have that anymore.

IA:

Those kinds of things didn't •••

Koehler:

No.

We did have the girl's club for quite a long time.

IA:

Well, you could probably
right?

argue that the girl's club still meets,

Koehler:

Ah, well, yes.

You could say that because we do still meet.

IA:

IB:

Koehler:

•

That's right.

I think that's wonderful.

you just lose contact with everyone

Yes and I'm just proud of us because I think it's so nice, you know,
that we can still get together
Otherwise,
really nice and most of the people that are in it are very caring
people, you know.
goes to visit some of the ladies that are in nursing
know, and she's very good about it.

and keep track of each other.

is that kind of a person.

and, you know, that's

Fern, especially

homes, now, you

So •••

She

IB:

Keeps that family feeling going and going, doesn't

it?

Koehler:

Yes, I always think it's just great, you know, that people take time
to do that, in this busy age anyway.

IB:

I suppose that the new people coming in with each succeeding
kind of frowned upon all these activities,

maybe?

change

Koehler:

Well, and they were so conscious,

budget conscious.

IA:

Oh, so they didn't see the worth in providing
employees?

these things to the

Koehler:

No, no.
entirely

They were very budget conscious
different.

and just, you know, it was

IB:

Did you stay on Lyons Avenue the whole time that you worked
Reo?

at the

Koehler:

• IB:

Koehler:

Lived on Lyons Avenue 50 years •

You did?

How far down from Mt. Hope, going south?

Well, it's about the fourth block down.

Koehler

Marjorie
6/16/92
Page 37

IB:

Fourth block down.

Koehler:

It's between Pacific and Edison, if you're familiar

with that.

IB:

Oh, yes, okay.

Koehler:

And my daughter's

living there now.

IB:

Is that right, in the same house?

Well, how wonderful.

Koehler:

Yup, she's living there now and her daughter
her baby so I guess you know it's still in the family.

comes and visits with

IB:

Golly, I think that's remarkable.

Koehler:

Well, it's kind a sad too because

Yeah.
year and that part of it was unhappy but I was so thankful
had the house and she had a place to go, you know, and she was
happy, too.

she just got a divorce

last

I still

IB:

Oh, of course, she was and that was home, too, kind of.

Koehler:

That's right.

IB:

Koehler:

I'm trying to think what I need to ask.
Mabel said that that was the floor with the military
things were, were handled.

Up on the third floor,

contracts

and

Yes, yes, it was.
I don't know if you're familiar with his name.

Harry Elsenheimer

used to be in charge of that.

IB:

No, I'm not until just today.

Koehler:

Well, Grace is his wife and she used to work with Mabel.

IB:

Who is his wife?

Koehler:

Grace.

IB:

Oh, Grace, I'm sorry.

Koehler:

Grace Elsenheimer

and she used to work with Mabel

in the accounting.

IB:

Oh, okay.

Koehler:

And she' lives over in Stonegate
would have any luck talking to her or not.
lady.

Park.

I don't know whether

you

She's kind of a busy

IB:

Well, it's just interesting

even •••••••••••••••

background.

•

•

•

•

•

Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 38

Koehler: Well, Harry was, handled that for a long time and different people

worked on that.
worked on export, too.,

I think Ed Rankin worked on that part-time.

He

IA:

Right, that's mostly what we talked to him about.

Koehler:

But Ed was one of the good old standby people, too, you know, he was
there for a long time. Very serious about his work.
dedicated.

Very

18:

It looks to me like everybody was at one time.

Koehler: Oh, yeah.

18:

Work, do the best you can and get ahead and they all seemed to be
proud of the product and pride with being associated with Reo.

Koehler: Well, I, you know, I still feel bad every time I see on old Reo

truck.
operation.

I used to like to work through the plant and see them in

18:

Oh, you had a chance to do that?

Koehler: Oh, I used to go, I used to go from the Washington Avenue office to

the Baker street office and I'd go through the plant and •••

18:

Go through the plant.

Did you have to have, any kind of a •••

Koehler: You had to have, you had to have safety glasses.

IA:

IB:

A pass?

Safety glass but you didn't have to have a pass.
through?

You could just go

Koehler: Yeah, right.

18:

Just safety glasses.
about, would you, would you, and the first thing listed is would you
wear your safety glasses if you knew it would save your sig-ht.

I noticed a thing in here, a little s:tory

Koehler: Yes, they were very strict about that.

They were very stri.ctabout

it.

IB:

So they were conscious of •••

Koehler: on, safety, oh yes •

the employees' health and welfare.

• 18:

Marjorie
6/16/92
Page 39

Koehler:

Koehler

Oh, yes, and I don't know if you've interviewed
used to be our nurse at •••••••

Ardith Pappen. She

IB:

Not yet, we're hoping to.

Koehler:

Well, she's a good one to talk to also.

IB:

About the first aid end of it.

Koehler:

IB:

Yeah, she knows a lot of things about everybody
know.
factory.

She was acquainted

with a good share of the men in the

in the plant, you

I noticed a thing in here, U.S.-Soviet
That came in with a problem.
prices in hours of work and it lists the Soviet Union and the United
States, how the workers
and what they
could buy with an hour of their work with what the people in the
Soviet could.

at Reo, what they compared

That's interesting.

IA:

Did everybody

read these when they came out?

Koehler:

Yes.

They used to, all the employees

used to get 'em.

IA:

Get one?

Koehler:

Um, hum, but these •••

IA:

See, I've read the ones from the early period that were called the
Reo Spirit.

Koehler:

I thought probably

you have seen those.

IA:

IB:

Those I've seen.

These, the Items I haven't read yet.

I've never seen these either.
I mean, was that stopped and these •••

Did these come out of the Reo Spirit,

Koehler:

Oh, yes.

This was after the Reo Spirit.

IB:

After that.
these •••

These are so interesting.

I wonder

if we've got any of

Koehler:

Yes, well, you know, you could take them and if you wanted to make
copies of something,

you know •••

IA:

No, I'm gonna check down at the MSU Archives
them there first.

and see if they have

Koehler:

They might.

•

•

•

•

Koehler

Marjorie
6/16/92
Page 40

IA:

IB:

IA:

IB:

IA:

And if they don't, I'll give you a call and come back and look at
'em again.

We may have these at the Museum, too.
jot that down.

I want to, I guess I'd better

Yeah, I should write it down on my ••••••• too.

I want to see what they've got.
too, which we're constantly

adding to.

We have an archives

at the Museum,

But they may have a full run there so if we like want to read them
all, they have 'em.

Koehler:

That would be great if you had the whole thing
you a lot.

'cause it does tell

IA:

Yes, they're very interesting.

Koehler:

• IA:

IB:

Oh, I've got to pay my, can you turn that off, I have to pay my •••

Sure.

I'm not sure there's

anything

else that I need to •••

Maybe we should look through
we'll come across some other things that we might want to ask about
or talk about.

Maybe we'll come across, maybe

here.

Koehler:

Yeah, I was just gonnamention
and I think those are more interior pictures.

that •••••••••••••••

want to see that

IA:

IB:

IA:

IB:

IA:

Oh, this is the women sewing.

Let come over, oh, really?

Let me come around that way.

These are the kind of pictures
had ••••

I just love.

Now, who did you say

•.•••••••.•••••••••••

?

Yeah, sure.

Who did you say had these, the original •••

Koehler:

Clare Olmslater.

IA:

Clare?

• Koehler:

IA:

Um, hum.
Reo.

He's gone.

He passed away but he had a good job there at

I don't, I think he, I was trying to think what his title was •

He's the one that gave you these photographs?

Marjorie Koehler
6/16/92
Page 41

Koehler:

He gave them to Mr. Cataline.

18:

Was he maybe the general manager or something

like that?

Koehler:

I was just gonna say, I think general manager.
job there and ah •••

Yeah, he had a good

18:

IA:

18:

Koehler:

Oh, look at this.

Look how clean and neat that was.

Well, this would have been way back.
yes.
..................................

These are very old pictures,

The thing that's interesting
take material
touring cars.

from this department

and made side curtains

for

to me about this is that my dad used to

18:

Oh, really ••••••••••••••••••

heavy.

It looks like that leather

IA:

Do you know where the negatives

of these pictures

are?

Koehler:

No.

IA:

You don't?

Koehler:

No, because Mr. Cataline
that he didn't know where Mr. Olmsager
had quite a few copies made and gave them to different
know.

found these pictures

and I were talking about it and he said

but he
people, you

IA:

If sometime in the future, I want to come back and take pictures
these.

Would that be okay with you?

of

Koehler:

Oh, yes, yes.

18:

••••••••.••••••••••••••••••

just a very few.

Koehler:

18:

IA:

I was just really thrilled when I first saw it.
•••••••••••••
...........................

it was just fantastic,

I thought

I thought,

••••••

you know.

Yeah, these ~r' real special pictures.

Koehler:

Because I had never seen anything

like it.

IB:

Oh, my goodness.

There's the little •••••••••••

•

•

•

• Marjorie

6/16/92
Page 42

IA:

Koehler

I think these were all done in 1915.
Somebody
Now look at this.
sewing but look who is putting the seat assemblies

These are very interesting.

just went through the whole plant and took 'em all at once.

The woman who is
men.

together,

I think they were all a set.

18:

Yeah, it looks like the springs and things.

Koehler:

IA:

18:

Right, the men are putting the seat assemblies
women did the sewing.

together

and the

Maybe that was more physical

to stretch

•••••••••••••••••••

stuff.

Koehler:

Yes, it was.

Oh, these are so ••••••••••

IA:

18:

IA:

You· know, they may want a copy of these also at the Museum.

Oh, I'm sure they would.

We don't have anything

like this.

We've got a few, you know, •••••••••••••

~

Koehler:

I just thought this was a wonderful

collection.

IA:

18:

IA:

Oh, it really is.

I've never seen anything

like this for the Reo.

Oh~ look, ••••••••••••••

everything.

That's the other thing about these is that they're beautiful
photographs.

Koehler:

Yes, they are.

18:

IA:

18:

You can even see the grain in the floor.

You can see the sawdust.

They're beautiful
photographs.
...............................

Koehler:

I've got a picture of my dad, ••••••• while you're

looking at that.

IA:

You know, we could do this

•