Charles E. Moore
Encyclopedia
Charles E. Moore was an American
industrialist who is best known for his contribution to the maritime shipbuilding industry during World War II
.
, to a Canadian
immigrant who established the jewellery firm of Moore & Lewis. At the age of fourteen Moore entered the workforce with only an eighth grade education.
He went to work for the Santa Fe Railroad as a machinist
. At age 18, he became a “boomer”, the machinist’s name for a drifter
. He travelled all over the U.S. and Mexico
until the age of 21, at which time he set his sights on working at a machine tool
company. As legend has it, Moore’s ambitions were thwarted by the owner who told him that he didn’t have the education to succeed. “I was horribly insulted” he later said, “but then I calmed down and realized that he was right.” So Moore immediately enrolled in high school as a 6-foot-6-inch, 285-lb freshman and finished four years' work in one. He later served as a lieutenant in the Coastal Artillery
during World War I
.
After the war, Moore again applied to work at the machine tool
company. Years later, after working his way up the ranks, Moore bought the company outright in 1927, renaming it: “The Moore Machinery Company”.
in Sunnyvale, California
. He paid a visit to the owners in an attempt to quiet their complaint. He then saw the vast untapped potential of Hendy. He and his partners, The Six Companies
, purchased Hendy for $500,000 in November 1940. In seven short years (1940 to 1947) through World War II
, under Moore's leadership Hendy grew from 60 employees to over 11,000. During the war, the Hendy work force, "The Iron Men and Women of Hendy", produced a record breaking number of 754 Liberty Ship
Triple Expansion EC-2 Engines at the rate of one every 40.8 hours. Each of these engines weighed 137 tons and stood 24 feet high. Moore became known as "America's No. 1 'Can Do' Man".
In mid 1942, the Crocker-Wheeler Electrical Manufacturing Company in New Jersey was also acquired for $3,200,000 to become part of the Hendy team. After the war, Moore sold his interest in Hendy to his partners, The Six Companies
.
Moore traveled widely as a technical advisor
to The Federal Government of the United States
as an expert on heavy machinery. In 1941 he went to Europe
for the US office of Production Management, Harriman Commission, to advise tool manufacturing plants in The United Kingdom. Following the war he was an industry consultant in Greece
for the State department. He went to Italy
in 1947–49 as a Marshall Plan
consultant.
(Santa Clara Council), as VP and chairman of the Boy Scout Memorial Foundation Board. In 1954 a building in Santa Clara
was dedicated as "The Charles E Moore Memorial Boy Scout Building" at the corner of Park & Newhall.
Moore died suddenly in 1953 at the age of 59 of a massive heart attack while horseback riding. He is buried in San Jose's
Oak Hill Memorial Cemetery.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
industrialist who is best known for his contribution to the maritime shipbuilding industry during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early life and career
Charles E. Moore II, was born in San Bernardino, CaliforniaSan Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
, to a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
immigrant who established the jewellery firm of Moore & Lewis. At the age of fourteen Moore entered the workforce with only an eighth grade education.
He went to work for the Santa Fe Railroad as a machinist
Machinist
A machinist is a person who uses machine tools to make or modify parts, primarily metal parts, a process known as machining. This is accomplished by using machine tools to cut away excess material much as a woodcarver cuts away excess wood to produce his work. In addition to metal, the parts may...
. At age 18, he became a “boomer”, the machinist’s name for a drifter
Vagabond (person)
A vagabond is a drifter and an itinerant wanderer who roams wherever they please, following the whim of the moment. Vagabonds may lack residence, a job, and even citizenship....
. He travelled all over the U.S. and Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
until the age of 21, at which time he set his sights on working at a machine tool
Machine tool
A machine tool is a machine, typically powered other than by human muscle , used to make manufactured parts in various ways that include cutting or certain other kinds of deformation...
company. As legend has it, Moore’s ambitions were thwarted by the owner who told him that he didn’t have the education to succeed. “I was horribly insulted” he later said, “but then I calmed down and realized that he was right.” So Moore immediately enrolled in high school as a 6-foot-6-inch, 285-lb freshman and finished four years' work in one. He later served as a lieutenant in the Coastal Artillery
Coastal artillery
Coastal artillery is the branch of armed forces concerned with operating anti-ship artillery or fixed gun batteries in coastal fortifications....
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
After the war, Moore again applied to work at the machine tool
Machine tool
A machine tool is a machine, typically powered other than by human muscle , used to make manufactured parts in various ways that include cutting or certain other kinds of deformation...
company. Years later, after working his way up the ranks, Moore bought the company outright in 1927, renaming it: “The Moore Machinery Company”.
World War II
Moore ascribed to “a fundamental policy of never selling a machine that we wouldn’t take back if the customer didn’t like it”. It was this policy that eventually led to Moore's purchase of the Joshua Hendy Iron WorksJoshua Hendy Iron Works
The Joshua Hendy Iron Works was an American engineering company that existed from the 1850s to the late 1940s. It was at one time a world leader in mining technology and its equipment was used to build the Panama Canal, amongst other major projects...
in Sunnyvale, California
Sunnyvale, California
Sunnyvale is a city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. It is one of the major cities that make up the Silicon Valley located in the San Francisco Bay Area...
. He paid a visit to the owners in an attempt to quiet their complaint. He then saw the vast untapped potential of Hendy. He and his partners, The Six Companies
Six Companies
Six Companies, Inc. was a joint venture of construction companies that was formed to build the Hoover Dam across the Colorado River in Nevada and Arizona....
, purchased Hendy for $500,000 in November 1940. In seven short years (1940 to 1947) through World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, under Moore's leadership Hendy grew from 60 employees to over 11,000. During the war, the Hendy work force, "The Iron Men and Women of Hendy", produced a record breaking number of 754 Liberty Ship
Liberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
Triple Expansion EC-2 Engines at the rate of one every 40.8 hours. Each of these engines weighed 137 tons and stood 24 feet high. Moore became known as "America's No. 1 'Can Do' Man".
In mid 1942, the Crocker-Wheeler Electrical Manufacturing Company in New Jersey was also acquired for $3,200,000 to become part of the Hendy team. After the war, Moore sold his interest in Hendy to his partners, The Six Companies
Six Companies
Six Companies, Inc. was a joint venture of construction companies that was formed to build the Hoover Dam across the Colorado River in Nevada and Arizona....
.
Moore traveled widely as a technical advisor
Technical advisor
A technical advisor is an individual who is expert in a particular field of knowledge, hired to provide detailed information and advice to people working in that field...
to The Federal Government of the United States
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
as an expert on heavy machinery. In 1941 he went to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
for the US office of Production Management, Harriman Commission, to advise tool manufacturing plants in The United Kingdom. Following the war he was an industry consultant in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
for the State department. He went to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in 1947–49 as a Marshall Plan
Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan was the large-scale American program to aid Europe where the United States gave monetary support to help rebuild European economies after the end of World War II in order to combat the spread of Soviet communism. The plan was in operation for four years beginning in April 1948...
consultant.
Boy Scouts of America
Moore also became involved in the Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
(Santa Clara Council), as VP and chairman of the Boy Scout Memorial Foundation Board. In 1954 a building in Santa Clara
Santa Clara, California
Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the...
was dedicated as "The Charles E Moore Memorial Boy Scout Building" at the corner of Park & Newhall.
Moore died suddenly in 1953 at the age of 59 of a massive heart attack while horseback riding. He is buried in San Jose's
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
Oak Hill Memorial Cemetery.