Charles W. Nash
Encyclopedia
Charles Warren Nash was a United States
automobile
entrepreneur and served as an executive in the automotive industry
.
ing family in Cortland, Illinois
on what is now Route 38 — Lincoln Highway
. His mother was Anna E. "Annie" Cadwell (b. 1829 NY - d. 1909 MI) who married David L. Nash. Other Nash siblings included Mazovia (b. 1862), George C. (b. 1866) and Laura W. (b. 1868). After Charles' parent's separation, at age 6, Charles worked as a farm-hand in Michigan
as an indentured servant
. He later became a shepherd
to the owner of hay
-bailing machinery. He then moved to Flint, Michigan
where he was noticed by William C. Durant
of The Flint Road Cart Company. Durant hired him in 1890, and Nash became a supervisor.
In 1897, Nash had a chance to drive an early automobile
, and became very interested in the commercial potential of this newly developed contraption.
with David D. Buick
and William C. Durant
, and in 1908 became Buick's president and general manager.
In 1910, he was hired as general manager of General Motors
(GM). He took over a debt-ridden company suffering losses and increased profits to US$
800,000 as early as 1911 to over $12 million by 1914, as well as secured the firms financial footing. However, his reluctance to pay dividends to shareholders resulted in Nash being voted out of his position in 1915.
Nash, who took control of General Motors in 1910 from William Durant, was now fired by him when Durant regained control in 1916.
Nash then resolved never again to work for someone else. He bought out the Jeffery Motor Company
in August 1916. In 1917, re-named it as Nash Motors
. The 1917 Nash Model 671 was the first vehicle produced to bear the name of the new company's founder. The new company was successful, with sales totaling 31,008 trucks and cars by 1919.
In addition to running Nash Motors, Charles Nash was also president of the luxury car company LaFayette Motors
until that company was bought out by Nash Motors in 1924.
, who was recommended by Walter Chrysler
.
He lived in retirement for twelve years later and died at the age of 84 in Beverly Hills, California
. His health failed at the death of his wife in 1947. He died in 1948, and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale
.
's middle class
. He is also recognized for lean operations
in business that included scheduling production and material orders closely, carrying a small inventory, and having flexibility in meeting the changing market needs during the economic turmoil of the 1920s and 1930s. Nash, is also credited with developing the straight-line conveyor belt assembly system that he first introduced at the Durant-Dort Carriage Company factory.
Charles W. Nash's achievements have been summarized in the word "success":
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
entrepreneur and served as an executive in the automotive industry
Automotive industry
The automotive industry designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells motor vehicles, and is one of the world's most important economic sectors by revenue....
.
Early life
Nash was born to a farmFarm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
ing family in Cortland, Illinois
Cortland, Illinois
Cortland is an incorporated town in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,270 at the 2010 census, up from 2,066 at the 2000 census...
on what is now Route 38 — Lincoln Highway
Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...
. His mother was Anna E. "Annie" Cadwell (b. 1829 NY - d. 1909 MI) who married David L. Nash. Other Nash siblings included Mazovia (b. 1862), George C. (b. 1866) and Laura W. (b. 1868). After Charles' parent's separation, at age 6, Charles worked as a farm-hand in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
as an indentured servant
Indentured servant
Indentured servitude refers to the historical practice of contracting to work for a fixed period of time, typically three to seven years, in exchange for transportation, food, clothing, lodging and other necessities during the term of indenture. Usually the father made the arrangements and signed...
. He later became a shepherd
Shepherd
A shepherd is a person who tends, feeds or guards flocks of sheep.- Origins :Shepherding is one of the oldest occupations, beginning some 6,000 years ago in Asia Minor. Sheep were kept for their milk, meat and especially their wool...
to the owner of hay
Hay
Hay is grass, legumes or other herbaceous plants that have been cut, dried, and stored for use as animal fodder, particularly for grazing livestock such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep. Hay is also fed to pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs...
-bailing machinery. He then moved to Flint, Michigan
Flint, Michigan
Flint is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is located along the Flint River, northwest of Detroit. The U.S. Census Bureau reports the 2010 population to be placed at 102,434, making Flint the seventh largest city in Michigan. It is the county seat of Genesee County which lies in the...
where he was noticed by William C. Durant
William C. Durant
William Crapo "Billy" Durant was a leading pioneer of the United States automobile industry, the founder of General Motors and Chevrolet who created the system of multi-brand holding companies with different lines of cars....
of The Flint Road Cart Company. Durant hired him in 1890, and Nash became a supervisor.
In 1897, Nash had a chance to drive an early automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
, and became very interested in the commercial potential of this newly developed contraption.
Automobile industry
Nash co-founded Buick Motor CompanyBuick
Buick is a premium brand of General Motors . Buick models are sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, and Israel, with China being its largest market. Buick holds the distinction as the oldest active American make...
with David D. Buick
David Dunbar Buick
David Dunbar Buick was a Scottish-born Detroit inventor, best known for founding the Buick Motor Company...
and William C. Durant
William C. Durant
William Crapo "Billy" Durant was a leading pioneer of the United States automobile industry, the founder of General Motors and Chevrolet who created the system of multi-brand holding companies with different lines of cars....
, and in 1908 became Buick's president and general manager.
In 1910, he was hired as general manager of General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
(GM). He took over a debt-ridden company suffering losses and increased profits to US$
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
800,000 as early as 1911 to over $12 million by 1914, as well as secured the firms financial footing. However, his reluctance to pay dividends to shareholders resulted in Nash being voted out of his position in 1915.
Nash, who took control of General Motors in 1910 from William Durant, was now fired by him when Durant regained control in 1916.
Nash then resolved never again to work for someone else. He bought out the Jeffery Motor Company
Thomas B. Jeffery Company
The Thomas B. Jeffery Company was an American automobile manufacturer in Kenosha, Wisconsin from 1902 until 1916. The company manufactured the Rambler and Jeffery brand motorcars. It was preceded by the Gormully & Jeffery Manufacturing Company and it was the parent company to Nash Motors, thus one...
in August 1916. In 1917, re-named it as Nash Motors
Nash Motors
Also see: Kelvinator and American Motors CorporationNash Motors was an automobile manufacturer based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the United States from 1916 to 1938. From 1938 to 1954, Nash was the automotive division of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation...
. The 1917 Nash Model 671 was the first vehicle produced to bear the name of the new company's founder. The new company was successful, with sales totaling 31,008 trucks and cars by 1919.
In addition to running Nash Motors, Charles Nash was also president of the luxury car company LaFayette Motors
LaFayette Motors
The LaFayette Motors Corporation was a United States-based automobile manufacturer. Founded in 1919, LaFayette Motors was named in honor of the Marquis de la Fayette, and LaFayette autos had a cameo of the Marquis as their logo.-History:...
until that company was bought out by Nash Motors in 1924.
Retirement
Charles W. Nash retired in 1936. His successor at the company was George W. MasonGeorge W. Mason
George Walter Mason was an American industrialist. During his career Mason served as the Chairman and CEO of the Kelvinator Corporation , Chairman and CEO of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation , and Chairman and CEO of American Motors Corporation .- Early life :George W. Mason was born in Valley...
, who was recommended by Walter Chrysler
Walter Chrysler
Walter Percy Chrysler was an American machinist, railroad mechanic and manager, automotive industry executive, Freemason, and founder of the Chrysler Corporation.- Railroad career :...
.
He lived in retirement for twelve years later and died at the age of 84 in Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
. His health failed at the death of his wife in 1947. He died in 1948, and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale
Glendale, California
Glendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 Census, the city population is 191,719, down from 194,973 at the 2000 census. making it the third largest city in Los Angeles County and the 22nd largest city in the state of California...
.
Legacy
Nash is best known for responding to public demand by building a smaller, more economical and affordable cars. Nash Motors was very successful marketing cars to North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
's middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
. He is also recognized for lean operations
Lean manufacturing
Lean manufacturing, lean enterprise, or lean production, often simply, "Lean," is a production practice that considers the expenditure of resources for any goal other than the creation of value for the end customer to be wasteful, and thus a target for elimination...
in business that included scheduling production and material orders closely, carrying a small inventory, and having flexibility in meeting the changing market needs during the economic turmoil of the 1920s and 1930s. Nash, is also credited with developing the straight-line conveyor belt assembly system that he first introduced at the Durant-Dort Carriage Company factory.
Charles W. Nash's achievements have been summarized in the word "success":
External links
- Nash biography at kenoshacounty.com
- Nash biography at the Pacific Northwest Region of the Nash Car Club of America
- Reproduction of Nash's obituary from Nash Motors in house newspaper
Timeline
- 1910 — Charles Nash takes control of General Motors from William Durant.
- 1916 — William Durant re-gains control of General Motors and fires Charles Nash.
- 1916 — Charles Nash buys the Thomas B. Jeffery Company.
- 1917 — Thomas B. Jeffery Company is re-named Nash Motors.