Albert Fisher
Encyclopedia
Albert Fisher was
a pioneer in the burgeoning auto industry in Detroit. He was the uncle of the seven Fisher brothers, founders of Fisher Body
. Albert Fisher built some of the first bodies for many automobiles and trucks. He built the first touring car body for Henry Ford
. He was one of those whose efforts started the industry that transformed Detroit into one of the great metropolitan centers of the nation.
, where Andrew set up a blacksmith shop. They raised eight children, including Albert who was born in 1864. In his younger years, Fisher worked at his father's blacksmith shop after school.
. After a year, he served an apprenticeship for four years in carriage building. In 1885, Fisher came to Detroit, Michigan
to work for the C.R. & J.C. Wilson Carriage Co. Fisher moved on to study in Chicago and Boston. He returned to Detroit in 1888 and rejoined the Wilson company as superintendent.
and other new automobile manufacturers.
In 1902, at Albert's suggestion, Albert's nephew Fred Fisher, son of Lawrence Fisher, came to Detroit seeking employment. Fred found work as a draftsman at C. R. Wilson Company, joined by his brother Charles Fisher
in 1904. The brothers worked there until 1908, when they quit over a salary dispute. Albert offered Fred and Charles jobs in his carriage shop and the brothers gratefully accepted.
, capitalized at $50,000, with $30,000 cash paid in by Albert. Walter Flanders
, a partner in E-M-F Company
, suggested that the new company build an inexpensive closed car body. Closed cars at that time were not only expensive but were considered undesirable by Ford. As Fred and Charles began to experiment with closed sedan bodies, Albert not only protested but soon wanted out of the new venture altogether. Albert's share of the company was bought out by Louis Mendelssohn in 1909.
in Detroit.
a pioneer in the burgeoning auto industry in Detroit. He was the uncle of the seven Fisher brothers, founders of Fisher Body
Fisher Body
Fisher Body is an automobile coachbuilder founded by the Fisher brothers in 1908 in Detroit, Michigan; it is now an operating division of General Motors Company...
. Albert Fisher built some of the first bodies for many automobiles and trucks. He built the first touring car body for Henry Ford
Henry Ford
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, the founder of the Ford Motor Company, and sponsor of the development of the assembly line technique of mass production. His introduction of the Model T automobile revolutionized transportation and American industry...
. He was one of those whose efforts started the industry that transformed Detroit into one of the great metropolitan centers of the nation.
Early life
Albert's parents, Andrew and Stephinia Fisher, arrived in the United States from Baden, Germany around 1835 and settled in Peru, OhioPeru Township, Huron County, Ohio
Peru Township is one of the nineteen townships of Huron County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 1,043 people in the township.-Geography:Located in the western part of the county, it borders the following townships:*Ridgefield Township - north...
, where Andrew set up a blacksmith shop. They raised eight children, including Albert who was born in 1864. In his younger years, Fisher worked at his father's blacksmith shop after school.
Career
At the age of 16, Fisher took a job as a hotel clerk in Norwalk, OhioNorwalk, Ohio
At the 2000 census, there were 16,238 people, 6,377 households and 4,234 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,950.3 per square mile . There were 6,687 housing units at an average density of 803.1 per square mile...
. After a year, he served an apprenticeship for four years in carriage building. In 1885, Fisher came to Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
to work for the C.R. & J.C. Wilson Carriage Co. Fisher moved on to study in Chicago and Boston. He returned to Detroit in 1888 and rejoined the Wilson company as superintendent.
Standard Wagon Works
In 1891, Fisher bought a partnership in Standard Wagon Works, a carriage factory. He eventually bought out his partner and continued the business alone. The company was notable for building the first fleet of wagons for the Detroit News in 1894. Henry Ford was a customer of Standard Wagon Works and had commissioned Fisher to build the body for “Ford's Contraption”. Ford asked Fisher to build 50 bodies, offering payment in the form of stock in his company, the same payment he was offering the Dodge Brothers to build motors. The conservative Fisher considered the offer too speculative and insisted on cash. Fisher's business continued to grow as he built bodies for OldsmobileOldsmobile
Oldsmobile was a brand of American automobile produced for most of its existence by General Motors. It was founded by Ransom E. Olds in 1897. In its 107-year history, it produced 35.2 million cars, including at least 14 million built at its Lansing, Michigan factory...
and other new automobile manufacturers.
In 1902, at Albert's suggestion, Albert's nephew Fred Fisher, son of Lawrence Fisher, came to Detroit seeking employment. Fred found work as a draftsman at C. R. Wilson Company, joined by his brother Charles Fisher
Charles T. Fisher
Charles Thomas Fisher was a Catholic American businessman and an automotive pioneer.Born in Norwalk, Ohio, Charles was the second son of Lawrence and Margaret Fisher. The family would grow to include seven boys and four girls...
in 1904. The brothers worked there until 1908, when they quit over a salary dispute. Albert offered Fred and Charles jobs in his carriage shop and the brothers gratefully accepted.
Fisher Body Co
On July 22, 1908, Albert, Fred and Charles Fisher formed the Fisher Body Co.Fisher Body
Fisher Body is an automobile coachbuilder founded by the Fisher brothers in 1908 in Detroit, Michigan; it is now an operating division of General Motors Company...
, capitalized at $50,000, with $30,000 cash paid in by Albert. Walter Flanders
Walter Flanders
Walter Emmett Flanders was a U.S. American industrialist in the machine tool and automotive industries and was an early mass production expert....
, a partner in E-M-F Company
E-M-F Company
The E-M-F Company was an early American automobile manufacturer that produced automobiles from 1909 to 1912. The name E-M-F was gleaned from the initials of the three company founders: Barney Everitt , William Metzger , and Walter Flanders .- Everitt...
, suggested that the new company build an inexpensive closed car body. Closed cars at that time were not only expensive but were considered undesirable by Ford. As Fred and Charles began to experiment with closed sedan bodies, Albert not only protested but soon wanted out of the new venture altogether. Albert's share of the company was bought out by Louis Mendelssohn in 1909.
Universal Motor Truck Co
In 1910, Fisher incorporated the Universal Motor Truck Co. He became the sole owner of the company in 1915. He continued to manufacture trucks at the factory on Bellevue in Detroit until a few years before his death.Later Years and Death
Albert Fisher was married in 1889 to Mary Gangwish, of Norwalk, Ohio. They had nine children. Mary died March 22, 1923. In 1928 Fisher married Christine A. Bauer Chester, a Detroit business woman. Albert Fisher died March 15, 1942. He is buried in Mt. Olivet CemeteryMount Olivet Cemetery (Detroit)
Mt. Olivet Cemetery is a cemetery at 17100 Van Dyke Avenue in the city of Detroit in Wayne County, Michigan. It opened in 1888 and is owned and operated by the Mount Elliott Cemetery Association, a not-for-profit Catholic organization. At , it is the largest cemetery in Detroit.Notable people...
in Detroit.
External links
- http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/f/fisher/fisher.htm