Richard Arbib
Encyclopedia
Richard Arbib visionary American
industrial designer.
) and Edna Josephine Henry (November 3, 1889 in Richmond, Virginia
– July 17, 1975 in New York City
.
Siblings were Robert Simeon Arbib, Jr. (March 17, 1915 in New York – July 1987 in New York) and John A, Arbib (born September 1924 in New York). Robert Sr. arrived in the United States
from Liverpool, England in May 1908. Richard was married to Audrey Schulz and they were divorced in 1952 in Volusia County, Florida
. Audrey later married Associated Press
photographer Baron Hans Ferdinand von Nolde (born Berlin, Germany, died November 9, 2002 at 77 years of age). Richard later married Helen W. He dated model Bettie Page
in the 1950s.
in New York City in 1939 . He worked as a designer for the Henney Motor Co. of Freeport, Illinois
, a manufacturer of professional car bodies such as ambulances, hearses and limosines. Henney was Packard
's sole professional body supplier. He started his automotive design career consulting with Harley Earl
at GM Styling in the late 1930s. He came to the attention of Henney after serving in World War II
. He was responsible for the design of the commercial line of Packard built by Henney from 1951 to 1954. One of the distinctive features of these models was wrap-around rear side windows. Arbib designed the Packard show car Pan American for the International Motor Sports Show held in New York City
at the Grand Central Palace on March 29th 1952. It was based upon a 1951 Packard 250 convertible and built by Henney. The Pan American won the first-place trophy for most outstanding design at the show.
Arbib's clients included Argus
, Benrus, General Motors
, International Nickel, Republic Aviation, Simca
, Swank Jewelry, Tidewater Oil, Union Pacific and U.S. Rubber.
In 1955, Arbib was hired by American Motors
to create a unique look for the Hudson
line that was to share the senior 1955 Nash
body. His main design theme was to use a "V" form throughout the car, which he dubbed V-Line styling. Hudson was going to use a V-8 engine in the 1956 model. He also designed, and his Richard Arbib Company built, the Astra-Gnome "Time and Space Car" show car featured on the cover of Newsweek
magazine's September 3, 1956 issue. It was based on the Nash Metropolitan
. Supposedly, Arbib and model Bettie Page are sitting in the car in the 1954 Ford publicity picture of the Ford FX Atmos, which he may have designed.
He designed asymmetrical cases for the new Hamilton
electric watches in the 1950s, including such notable models as the Ventura, Everest, and Pacer. He also designed watches for Tourneau, Benrus, Sheffield and Gucci. He designed
boats for the Century Boat Company in the 1950s, notably one of their most successful and expensive models, the Coronado, as well as the Arabian model.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
industrial designer.
Family
Richard Henry Arbib was the son of Robert Simeon Arbib, Sr. (March 3, 1889 in Cairo, Egypt – January, 1969 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...
) and Edna Josephine Henry (November 3, 1889 in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
– July 17, 1975 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Siblings were Robert Simeon Arbib, Jr. (March 17, 1915 in New York – July 1987 in New York) and John A, Arbib (born September 1924 in New York). Robert Sr. arrived in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from Liverpool, England in May 1908. Richard was married to Audrey Schulz and they were divorced in 1952 in Volusia County, Florida
Volusia County, Florida
Volusia County is a county located in the state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2010 official county's population was 494,593 . Its county seat is DeLand, and its most populous city is currently Deltona....
. Audrey later married Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
photographer Baron Hans Ferdinand von Nolde (born Berlin, Germany, died November 9, 2002 at 77 years of age). Richard later married Helen W. He dated model Bettie Page
Bettie Page
Bettie Mae Page was an American model who became famous in the 1950s for her fetish modeling and pin-up photos. She has often been called the "Queen of Pinups"...
in the 1950s.
Career
Arbib graduated from the Pratt InstitutePratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
in New York City in 1939 . He worked as a designer for the Henney Motor Co. of Freeport, Illinois
Freeport, Illinois
Freeport is a city in and the county seat of Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 26,443 at the 2000 census. The mayor of Freeport is George W...
, a manufacturer of professional car bodies such as ambulances, hearses and limosines. Henney was Packard
Packard
Packard was an American luxury-type automobile marque built by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, and later by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana...
's sole professional body supplier. He started his automotive design career consulting with Harley Earl
Harley Earl
Harley J. Earl was first Vice President of Design at General Motors. He was an industrial designer and a pioneer of modern transportation design. A coachbuilder by trade, Earl pioneered the use of freeform sketching and hand sculpted clay models as design techniques...
at GM Styling in the late 1930s. He came to the attention of Henney after serving in 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...
. He was responsible for the design of the commercial line of Packard built by Henney from 1951 to 1954. One of the distinctive features of these models was wrap-around rear side windows. Arbib designed the Packard show car Pan American for the International Motor Sports Show held in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
at the Grand Central Palace on March 29th 1952. It was based upon a 1951 Packard 250 convertible and built by Henney. The Pan American won the first-place trophy for most outstanding design at the show.
Arbib's clients included Argus
Argus (camera company)
Argus is an American maker of cameras and photographic products, founded in 1936 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Argus originated as a subsidiary of the International Radio Corporation , founded by Charles Verschoor. Its best-known product was the C3 rangefinder camera, which enjoyed a 27-year production...
, Benrus, 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...
, International Nickel, Republic Aviation, Simca
Simca
Simca was a French automaker, founded in November 1934 by Fiat. It was directed from July 1935 to May 1963 by the Italian Henri Théodore Pigozzi...
, Swank Jewelry, Tidewater Oil, Union Pacific and U.S. Rubber.
In 1955, Arbib was hired by American Motors
American Motors
American Motors Corporation was an American automobile company formed by the 1954 merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company. At the time, it was the largest corporate merger in U.S. history.George W...
to create a unique look for the Hudson
Hudson Motor Car Company
The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson and other brand automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, from 1909 to 1954. In 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator Corporation to form American Motors. The Hudson name was continued through the 1957 model year, after which it was dropped.- Company strategy...
line that was to share the senior 1955 Nash
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...
body. His main design theme was to use a "V" form throughout the car, which he dubbed V-Line styling. Hudson was going to use a V-8 engine in the 1956 model. He also designed, and his Richard Arbib Company built, the Astra-Gnome "Time and Space Car" show car featured on the cover of Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
magazine's September 3, 1956 issue. It was based on the Nash Metropolitan
Nash Metropolitan
The Nash Metropolitan is a car that was sold, initially only in the United States and Canada, from 1954–1962.It conforms to two classes of vehicle: economy car and subcompact car. In today’s terminology the Metropolitan is a “subcompact”, but this category had not yet come into use when the car was...
. Supposedly, Arbib and model Bettie Page are sitting in the car in the 1954 Ford publicity picture of the Ford FX Atmos, which he may have designed.
He designed asymmetrical cases for the new Hamilton
Hamilton Watch Company
The Hamilton Watch Company was originally formed to produce high quality pocket watches and wristwatches mid-range and luxury. Hamilton would become a corporate conglomerate diversified in other operations...
electric watches in the 1950s, including such notable models as the Ventura, Everest, and Pacer. He also designed watches for Tourneau, Benrus, Sheffield and Gucci. He designed
boats for the Century Boat Company in the 1950s, notably one of their most successful and expensive models, the Coronado, as well as the Arabian model.
External links
- Packard Pan American
- Richard Arbib art book
- Hamilton Electric watches
- Hamilton Ventura electric watches
- Monoscoot
- Henney Motor Company
- Meet the Ford Atmos
- Ford FX-Atmos photo
- Pratt Institute website
- Century Boat Company
- Restoration and history of 1955 Century Coronado 20'
- SIvault "Trial by Water - The sleek Century Coronado is handsome—and does, too"
