Noel Johnson discusses his career at REO Motor Car Company and Diamond REO Trucks, Inc.
Noel Johnson recalls his career at REO Motor Car Company/Diamond-Reo Trucks, Inc., in Lansing, MI, from 1958 to 1975. Johnson describes his youth and early jobs and the variety of positions he held at REO and says with pride that Diamond-REO trucks were virtually handmade. He also talks about REO's merger with White Motors, Francis Cappaert’s purchase of the company and the final, painful bankruptcy. He says that he was retained by the company to finish the last military truck orders and was there when the gates were closed for good. The interviewer is Shirley Bradley. Recorded as part of the commemoration of REO Motor Car Company’s 100th Anniversary.
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- In Collections
-
Lansing Auto Town
- Copyright Status
- In Copyright
- Date Published
-
2004-10-13
- Interviewees
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Johnson, Noel D.
- Interviewers
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Bradley, Shirley J.
- Contributors
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REO Centennial (Project)
- Subjects
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Johnson, Noel D.
Cappaert, Francis
Reo Motor Car Company
Diamond REO Trucks, Inc
White Motor Company
Automobile industry workers
Bankruptcy
Consolidation and merger of corporations
Finance
Plant shutdowns
Michigan--Lansing
- Material Type
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Sound recordings
- Language
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English
- Extent
- 01:00:36
- Venue Note
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Interviewed and recorded by Shirley J. Bradley, Oct. 13, 2004.
- Holding Institution
-
Vincent Voice Library
- Call Number
- Voice 16323
- Catalog Record
- http://catalog.lib.msu.edu/record=b8663815
- Permalink
- https://n2t.net/ark:/85335/m54f1s791