Holden History before the FX and WW2

[MonaroSS]

Holden’s Pre WWII History

Just thought some people may like to see a little rare Holden History before the All Australian Holden FX was made after World War II.

Most people who know Holden realize that it’s first All Australian car was the FX released in 1948 after the Federal Government called for such a home grown product in 1945 at the close of war.

But most people don’t know what happened before that. Here is the official timeline issued by Holden up until the FX release in 1948, and some pics of Holden bodied cars before that.

1856 • Begins as J.A Holden & Co, saddlery business, Adelaide, South Australia

1913 • Produces complete motorcycle sidecar bodies

1914 • Produces its first complete custom-made car body

1917 • Commences large-scale production of car bodies

1918 • Holden & Frost sets up Holden's Motor Body Builders (HMBB)

1924 • Opens Woodville, South Australia - most modern production line in Australia
• Woodville sole local body supplier for GM vehicles

1925 • Produces first closed bodied type cars
• Becomes biggest bodybuilding operation outside North America, Continental Europe

1926 • General Motors Australia (GMA) is formed

1928 • 'Lion-and-stone' emblem first used

1931 • Merge of GMA and HMBB to General Motors-Holden's

1934 • Produces first coupe-utility

1936 • New headquarters, Fishermens Bend, Melbourne

1942 • First Australian company to mass-produce internal combustion engines including Gypsy Major aeroplane, Gray Marine, and a 4-cylinder radial torpedo

1945 • Responds to Australian Federal Government invitation to produce an Australian car

1948 • Launch of Australia's first locally manufactured car by Prime Minister Ben Chifley




1934 F.34 Roadster (Holden body)


1934 F.34 Coupe (Holden body)


1936 F.36 Sedan (Holden body)


Note the Brochure says this ‘Sloper’ coupe body was unique to Holden.


1938 Willys Coupe Utility Model 38 (Holden Body)


1940 Willys 440 Business Coupe (Holden Bodied)


1941 GMC Military (Holden Body)


1948 215 (FX) Holden’s first All Australian Car

[GMCSonoma]

Neat info! I really like the looks of the 1948 version, like a mini Buick!

[mmciau]

Originally Posted by GMCSonoma

Neat info! I really like the looks of the 1948 version, like a mini Buick!

I as an Australian more identified the 48-215 (FX) as a small Chevrolet Roadmaster (46-47 origins) - little "sister"

Mike

[V-Car]

Originally Posted by mmciau

I as an Australian more identified the 48-215 (FX) as a small Chevrolet Roadmaster (46-47 origins) - little "sister"

Mike

You are correct Mike, it was a small Chevrolet...the post war design for a new small Chevy called the Cadet, that had been abandoned.
When Holden went over there and saw this, it was decided to use this as our 'first' car.
Much like Holden 'Australianising' the Opel Commodore in 1978.
The first Australian designed Holden was the FE in 1957.

[nota]

Originally Posted by MonaroSS

Holden’s Pre WWII History

Just thought some people may like to see a little rare Holden History before the All Australian Holden FX was made after World War II.

Most people who know Holden realize that it’s first All Australian car was the FX released in 1948 after the Federal Government called for such a home grown product in 1945 at the close of war.

But most people don’t know what happened before that. Here is the official timeline issued by Holden up until the FX release in 1948

1934 • Produces first coupe-utility

1942 • First Australian company to mass-produce internal combustion engines including Gypsy Major aeroplane, Gray Marine, and a 4-cylinder radial torpedo

Another good writeup MonaroSS

May I add comments & opinion?

GM-H's 'all Australian Holden FX' the 48-215 was the first mass produced AU car but by no means our first car, as 1903 Tarrant was approx 90% local content, eg. Also, internal combustion engines were in volume production here well before 1942 - think agricultural use etc

Holden in its official timeline seems to be oblivious of its own history, as shown by this 1929 coupé utility I've previously posted on GMI HERE
(Please credit Restored Cars magazine Aust)

GMNA's actions in Australia were not one of unmitigated benevolence, or of encouragement towards an all-Oz car. Instead they wished to close down Holden's bodybuilding operations and import bodies from the US

A small sample of Detroit's attitude & perception of Holden:
"Australian body builders performed amazing engineering and design feats. Despite low production numbers, they were able to provide the tooling required for annual American model changes. They were also able to produce unique models, such as the Utility. One example of Australian engineering ability occurred in 1937 when General Motors considered introducing all steel bodies to their range of Australian cars. In GM’s opinion, Australian manufacturers did not have the technology or expertise necessary to produce all steel bodies, and suggested that Holden import fully assembled vehicles. In fact, Holden had been producing all steel Chrysler and Plymouth bodies in Australia since 1935. "

This page HERE provides another brief viewpoint of Holden history

Many consider it highly unfortunate that Ford's bid for a postwar AU car was not chosen, as their offer was more towards our national interest imo. GMNA showed itself to have little desire of producing a uniquely Australian car - or even financing the venture. If not for the nationalistic efforts from GM-H MD Laurie Hartnett and others (plus copious amounts of AU Govt cash) the Holden car might not have eventuated. GM's subsequent treatment of Hartnett (the 'father of the Holden') was no less than shameful. Eventually we got lumbered with a locally built version of an outdated GMNA prewar reject, the 195-Y-15 Chev Cadet

what might have been, Holden's locally designed Project 2000 proto from WWII, rejected by GMNA

[MonaroSS]

Originally Posted by nota

Another good writeup MonaroSS

May I add comments & opinion?

Holden in its official timeline seems to be oblivious of its own history, as shown by this 1929 coupé utility I've previously posted on GMI

GMNA's actions in Australia were not one of unmitigated benevolence, or of encouragement towards an all-Oz car. Instead they wished to close down Holden's bodybuilding operations and import bodies from the US

If not for the nationalistic efforts from GM-H MD Laurie Hartnett and others (plus copious amounts of AU Govt cash) the Holden car might not have eventuated. GM's subsequent treatment of Hartnett (the 'father of the Holden') was no less than shameful. Eventually we got lumbered with a locally built version of an outdated GMNA prewar reject, the 195-Y-15 Chev Cadet

what might have been, Holden's locally designed Project 2000 proto from WWII, rejected by GMNA

Hi nota,

Great links and info. Yes I just did a cut and paste from Holden's website History page, so I leave any discrepancies at their door.

I remember my dad complaining that GMNA used Aussie money to start Holden and then basically forced out all the original Aussie investors. So I guess they weren't that benevolent. And didn't Hartnett get his own back later by essentially being the first to introduce Japanese cars to OZ?

As to that Project 2000 prototype, I think I'm glad the FX won the day. The OZ design may have been a better car, but Holden obviously didn't have a styling team then!!!

[Stormin]

Originally Posted by MonaroSS

Hi nota,

And didn't Hartnett get his own back later by essentially being the first to introduce Japanese cars to OZ?

I believe Hartnett was instrumental in bringing Nissans to Australia in 1960.

[chinamonty]

Yeah well there is some food for thought in this thread. remember that America doesn't remember that Australia was the world home of motion pictures in the 30's. Even the English admitted that. History can be very sellective when it is written. Articles like this serve to keep the facts on record - your thoughts on Larry ( I think he was Sir Lawrence! but got called Larry) Hartnett re Nissan are spot on to my recollections

[MonaroSS]

Originally Posted by chinamonty

Yeah well there is some food for thought in this thread. America doesn't remember that Australia was the world home of motion pictures in the 30's. Even the English admitted that. History can be very sellective when it is written. Articles like this serve to keep the facts on record.

Hi chianmonty,

I believe that Australia also had the first banked oval car racing track in the world. It was near Sydney at the beginning of the 1900's I believe and was made of wood. Also, as you are so far from home I thought I'd list some Aussie Firsts for you.

From www.palindrome.com.au/firsts

Australian Firsts and Inventions

First place in the world to have a secret ballot in elections (1856)

First Place in the world to give women the vote. (1894)

Torrens Title. An Australian invented the worlds first method of land registration. Now in use by many countries around the world.

First country in the world to beat America in it America's cup.

Only country to have attended every modern Olympic games.

The first country to employ skiing as a sport. (1863)

The Australian crawl. Until the 1890's competetive freestyle was done with the head out of the water. (Remember how Tarzan used to swim in the movies?) Australian Richard Cavill popularised it and enabled it to be accepted in world class meetings.

The bionic ear, a device that enables some deaf children to hear.

Flexible wine casks... the bag in the box.

The boomerang. Ancient weapon of the aboriginies. Other cultures have throwing sticks but none came back to the thrower if it missed the target.

The Notepad. In the whole history of paper, it had been sold and used in single sheets until in 1902 JA Birchall thought it would be a good idea to stack a pile of half sheets together, back it with cardboard and glue one end. Making the world's first notepad.

The Electric Drill was the invention of Arthur James Arnot, who patented it in 1889.

Postage stamps. The world's first pre paid postage system was introduced at Sydney in 1838.

The world's first refrigeration plant was an Australian invention of 1858.

To our collective shame, the worlds first bathing beauty contest was held in Australia in 1920.

The famous "black box" flight recorder for recording aeroplane movements was invented in Australia in 1958.

Also in 1958 the worlds first regular 'round the world' airline service was begun.

The inflatable aircraft escape slide, which becomes a raft if the aeroplane ditches in water was an Australian invention of 1965.

The Automatic letter sorting machine - 1930

Two stroke lawn mower.

The rotary hoist washing line.

Lithium as a treatment for manic depression.

Latex gloves 1945

The underwater torpedo, Louis Brennan 1874

The tank (1912 - Lance de Mole)

Paper machine gun belt - dramatically reduced gun jamming while firing.

The flagpole at Parliament house in Canberra is the largest aluminium object in the world.

Kalgoorlie in WA is the worlds largest electorate 2,255,278 sq km

The Australian Labor Party is the oldest surviving labor party in the world. (1891)

The worlds largest cattle property is Strangeray Springs in S.A. over 30,000 sq km



And from www.avcal.com.au/html/resource/australian_firsts

Some Australian Firsts in Science and Innovation

1838 Pre-paid postage World first issued by NSW Post Office.

1843 Grain stripper John Ridley & John Bull, South Australia. Strips grain head from stalk and delivers it into a bin for winnowing.

1850 Refrigeration plant Geelong publisher, James Harrison, built world's first mechanical refrigeration plant.

1876 Stump-jump plough Robert Bowyer Smith from South Australia's Mallee country developed a plough that could jump over stumps and stones, instead of being caught and damaged by them.

1882 Stripper harvester Conceived by Hugh Victor McKay from Drummartin, Victoria when just 17 years old. Harvesting machine that can strip, thresh, winnow and bag grain in one continuous operation.

1884 Box kite Sydney aeronautical inventor, Lawrence Hargrave, conducted experimental flights with box kites, pioneering the way for heavier than air flight.

1885 Telephane Henry Sutton, Victoria. Forerunner of the television.

1886 Windmill James Alston built the first all-steel circular windmill as a source of power for lifting underground water to the surface

1889 Electric drill Arthur James Arnot from Melbourne patented the world's first electric drill.

1889 Radial rotary engine Howard Hargrave developed an engine with revolving cylinders attached to propellor blades and powered by compressed air. It played a major part in the development of aviation in Europe.

1897 Differential gears David Shearer, South Australia, built a steam car with a differential inside left rear wheel hub.

1898 Teleprinter Donald Murray, Sydney, invented the teleprinter for recording messages onto a tape.

1903 Froth flotation process Charles Potter and Guillaume Delprat, NSW, developed a process for separating minerals from rock by flotation.

1905 Thrust bearing A.G.M. Michell invented the tilt-pad thrust bearing which revolutionised thrust technology.

1906 Feature film The world's first feature length film, more than one hour long, The Story of the Kelly Gang was made in Australia and screened in Melbourne.

1906 Surf-lifesaving reel Invented by Lyster Ormsby, first Captain of the Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club. First person to be rescued was Charlie Smith in 1907. He later became the famous aviator, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith.

1907 Xerography Professor O.U. Vonwiller at The University of Sydney developed a dry-copy imaging process, the forerunner of Xerox copying.

1910 Hume pipe Walter Hume invented the spun concrete pipe, made using a centrifugal process which expels the water and makes a dense, strong pipe.

1913 Automatic totalisator George Julius invented a system to display odds and automatically calculate dividends for race meetings.

1924 Car radio The first car radio was fitted to an Australian car built by Kellys Motors in New South Wales.

1925 Electric record changing salonola Tasmanian Eric Waterworth invented the stepped centre spindle later used in record changers worldwide.

1925 Pedal wireless Alfred Traeger from Adelaide invented a simple radio transceiver powered by a pedal generator.

1925 Latex gloves Developed by Eric Ansell. His company introduced disposable medical gloves in 1964. Now world's largest producer of latex gloves.

1928 Flying doctor service Dr Kenyon Welsh and pilot, Arthur Affleck began operating the first flying doctor service out of Cloncurry, Queensland.

1930 Letter sorting machine Built by A B Corbett, an engineer with Post Master General's Department in Sydney.

1934 Utility vehicle The utility vehicle, with a front like a car and a rear like a truck was designed by Lewis Brandt at the Ford Motor Company in Geelong, Victoria.

1935 Penicillin Sir Howard Florey grew the mould detected by Fleming, extracted the penicillin drug, refined and tested it.

1946 Castors George Shepherd invented the dome shaped castor with an oil trap to keep the working parts permanently lubricated.

1952 Atomic absorption spectrophotometer Sir Alan Walsh of the CSIRO invented a precision instrument for the high-speed analysis of trace quantities of metallic elements in solids or liquids.

1953 Solar hot water Developed by R N Morse at CSIRO in Victoria.

1956 T-VASIS visual landing system Developed by Aeronautical Research Laboratory, a set of light patterns on either side of the runway shows if the plane is on the correct landing approach.

1958 Black box flight recorder Dr David Warren from Melbourne invented the black box voice and instrument data recorder.

1965 Inflatable aircraft escape slide Jack Grant from Qantas invented the inflatable aircraft escape slide, which doubles as a raft.

1965 Wine cask Angoves in South Australia developed an airless-flow method of packaging wine in a plastic bag. Later fitted with dispensing tap by Wynns in 1969.

1970 Variable ratio rack and pinion steering Australian engineer Arthur Bishop developed variable ratio rack and pinion steering now used extensively in world automobiles.

1971 Interscan Invented by Brian O'Keefe and Dr Paul Wild, the microwave landing guidance system is now the international standard for instrument approach landing.

1979 Bionic Ear Professor Graeme Clark from the University of Melbourne developed the Cochlear implant, a device which restores a measure of hearing to the profoundly deaf.

1980 Wave-piercing catamarans Developed by Phillip Hercus and Robert Clifford of Incat in Tasmania. High speed passenger ferries more efficient and comfortable.

1981 Earth leakage circuit breaker Developed by Adelaide based Gerard Industries.

1984 Frozen embryo baby The first frozen embryo baby was born at the Queen Victoria Medical Centre in Melbourne.

1984 Continuous self-cleaning micro filtration A group of engineers and scientists led by Dr Doug Ford invented continuous self-cleaning micro filtration.

1985 Gene shears CSIRO scientists, Wayne Gerlach and Jim Haseloff discovered a way of preventing harmful genes in plants and animals from doing their work.

1985 Solar Cells Professor Martin Green breaks the elusive 20% efficiency barrier for silicon solar cells

1988 Polymer bank notes The CSIRO developed the world's first plastic-laminated bank notes, which provide enhanced security and longer life.

[nota]

Originally Posted by chinamonty

Yeah well there is some food for thought in this thread. remember that America doesn't remember that Australia was the world home of motion pictures in the 30's. Even the English admitted that. History can be very sellective when it is written. Articles like this serve to keep the facts on record - your thoughts on Larry ( I think he was Sir Lawrence! but got called Larry) Hartnett re Nissan are spot on to my recollections

One Hartnett-Nissan recollection you & I may share is that notorious 'doctored' close-up photo of him (no doubt at the behest of GM) which was widely publicised to turn public sentiment against Hartnett and thwart his then-attempt to intro Nissan into AU manufacturing - not merely assembly. Despicably, his eye area was airbrushed so as to give him an asian appearance, with all the racist postwar overtones that entailed at the time. Nissan realised it wasn't welcome and took its investment money and goodwill elsewhere

Before my time but Hartnett's continued quest for a genuinely all-Oz car (the advanced Lloyd Hartnett & related Hartnett car) was illegally sabotaged by the then conservative Govt of Prime Minister RM Menzies - undoubtably at the behest of GM-H

Despite his contribution, GM-H's blackballing and erasure of Hartnett's legacy continued almost to his death, and official recognition or even public mention of him by Holden was literally forbidden until recent memory

The Australian Labor Party is the oldest surviving labor party in the world. (1891)

And the world's 1st elected Labor Government (Queensland 1899)
probably prudent here not to use the term Socialist

[JoeT]

I didn't see the Splade in there (Combined Knife/Fork/Spoon) A great Aussie idea.
The Yanks only combined the Fork & Spoon (Spork). It took an Aussie to place a knife edge on one.

I don't think Lawrence Hargrave gets enough recognition for modern flight.
His Box Kite experiments are where the Wright Brothers got their Box Plane idea from.

[FISH]

So many great aussie Inventions.

Aussie Aussie Aussie...

[Bhodie]

MonaroSS.......

all of that stuff means absolutely NOTHING next to the humble stubbie holder!

[JoeT]

[MonaroSS]

Originally Posted by Bhodie

MonaroSS.......

all of that stuff means absolutely NOTHING next to the humble stubbie holder!

Oh Jeeeez...

You just reminded me. Better than the stubbie holder, we all forgot 'The Esky' was a great Aussie invention!!!! Otherwise what's the use of the stubbie holder if the beer's already cold?