Amos Northup
Encyclopedia
Amos Northup American
automotive designer
Northup was employed by cabinet maker C. J. Wadsworth in Painesville, Ohio
early in his career. Then he worked as a designer for automaker Wills Sainte Claire
under Childe Wills
. Northup joined Murray Corporation of America in 1924 where he was in charge of regular production bodies and Ray Dietrich designed their custom bodies. Murray did a lot body design work for their client companies that didn't have internal design departments. The 1928 Hupmobile
Century Eight was one of the first designs that Northup influenced at Murray. Northup designed the 1931 REO
Royale Eight. He was appointed Art Director and Chief Designer for Willys-Overland in March 1928, he was considered a leading automotive stylist of the day. He designed the 1929 Whippet lines and 1929 Willys-Knight
s and the 1932 Graham
Bluestreak which was viewed as a revolution in automotive design with more enclosed fenders and a backward sloping grill and radiator cap moved to under the hood. These features were widely copied. He was working on a successor design for the Graham Blue Streak when he died in 1937.
– 1914) and Louise Bannister (February 1861 in Ohio – 1923). Hiram B. Northup (November 1885 – ?) was his older brother. Amos married Leeta Helen Adams (November 11, 1892 in Lake Co., Ohio – December 30, 1958 in Los Angeles
, California) daughter of Abraham L. Adams and Mary Nichols. Amos and Leeta had one daughter Dorothy Helen Northup (October 24, 1927 in Pleasant Ridge, Michigan
– October 20, 1996 in Ventura, California
). Amos died in February, 1937 after fracturing his skull in a fall on an icy sidewalk.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
automotive designer
Northup was employed by cabinet maker C. J. Wadsworth in Painesville, Ohio
Painesville, Ohio
As of the 2010 Census, there were 19,563 people. As of the census of 2000, there were 17,503 people, 6,525 households, and 4,032 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,928.6 people per square mile . There were 6,933 housing units at an average density of 1,160.0 per square mile...
early in his career. Then he worked as a designer for automaker Wills Sainte Claire
Wills Sainte Claire
Wills Sainte Claire was an automobile brand manufactured by the C. H. Wills and Company, in Marysville, Michigan, from 1921-1927. Childe Harold Wills, the company founder, was a perfectionist and his automobile company focused on very high quality cars...
under Childe Wills
Childe Wills
Childe Harold Wills , also known as C. Harold Wills, was an early associate of Henry Ford, one of the first employees of the Ford Motor Company, and a contributor to the design of the Model T...
. Northup joined Murray Corporation of America in 1924 where he was in charge of regular production bodies and Ray Dietrich designed their custom bodies. Murray did a lot body design work for their client companies that didn't have internal design departments. The 1928 Hupmobile
Hupmobile
The Hupmobile was an automobile built from 1909 through 1940 by the Hupp Motor Company, which was located at 345 Bellevue Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. Its first car, the Model 20, was introduced to the public at the Detroit Auto Show in February 1909...
Century Eight was one of the first designs that Northup influenced at Murray. Northup designed the 1931 REO
REO Motor Car Company
The REO Motor Car Company was a Lansing, Michigan based company that produced automobiles and trucks from 1905 to 1975. At one point the company also manufactured buses on its truck platforms.REO was initiated by Ransom E. Olds during August 1904...
Royale Eight. He was appointed Art Director and Chief Designer for Willys-Overland in March 1928, he was considered a leading automotive stylist of the day. He designed the 1929 Whippet lines and 1929 Willys-Knight
Willys-Knight
Willys-Knight is an automobile that was produced between 1914 and 1933 by the Willys-Overland Company of Toledo, Ohio.John North Willys purchased the Edwards Motor Car Company of Long Island, New York, in 1913, moving the operation to Elyria, Ohio, where Willys owned the plant that had previously...
s and the 1932 Graham
Graham-Paige
Graham-Paige was an American automobile manufacturer founded by brothers Joseph B. Graham and Robert C. Graham , and Canadian Ray Austin in 1927. Automobile production ceased in 1940, and its automotive assets were acquired by Kaiser-Frazer in 1947...
Bluestreak which was viewed as a revolution in automotive design with more enclosed fenders and a backward sloping grill and radiator cap moved to under the hood. These features were widely copied. He was working on a successor design for the Graham Blue Streak when he died in 1937.
Family
Amos Earle Northup was the son of Hiram R. Northup (April 1845 in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
– 1914) and Louise Bannister (February 1861 in Ohio – 1923). Hiram B. Northup (November 1885 – ?) was his older brother. Amos married Leeta Helen Adams (November 11, 1892 in Lake Co., Ohio – December 30, 1958 in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California) daughter of Abraham L. Adams and Mary Nichols. Amos and Leeta had one daughter Dorothy Helen Northup (October 24, 1927 in Pleasant Ridge, Michigan
Pleasant Ridge, Michigan
Pleasant Ridge is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 2,526 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.-History:...
– October 20, 1996 in Ventura, California
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
). Amos died in February, 1937 after fracturing his skull in a fall on an icy sidewalk.