Rochester Products Division
Encyclopedia
Rochester Products Division (RPD) was a division of General Motors
that manufactured carburetors, and related components including emissions control devices and cruise control
systems in Rochester, New York
. In 1995 Rochester became part of Delphi
, which in turn became a separate company four years later , and continues to manufacture fuel injection
systems in Rochester.
In 1929 Alfred P. Sloan
announced the acquisition of the company on behalf of General Motors. "For some years this Company has been an outstanding manufacturer of starters, ignition systems and other electrical equipment." "It was consolidated with GM's former Delco-Light Company in 1930 and later renamed Delco Appliance Division." In 1937 Rochester Products was founded, planned as a second plant for Delco Appliance, but achieving Division status by 1939. In 1953 an advertisement in Life
stated: "Rochester builds original equipment carburetors for Chevrolet
starting with 1950, Oldsmobile from 1949 and Cadillac from 1951. Also, Rochester supplies replacement carburetors for Chevrolets from 1932." Rochester also supplied Pontiac, while using the Power Jet name in the replacement market.
In 1952 the Oregonian reported: "Automobile cigarette lighters produced by the Rochester Automotive products division of General Motors are tested to reach a temperature of 1400 degrees in no less less than 10 and no more than 12 seconds."
The 2G (later 2GC and 2GV) carburetor, commonly called DualJet, was introduced in 1955, and continued to be used on GM V8s until at least 1969. In all, it was used in at least 125 applications, including the Brockway
's inline six. In 1957 Chevrolet introduced their first fuel-injected engine , the Rochester Ramjet high-performance option on Corvette and passenger cars at $484. In 1956 Oldsmobile were also experimenting with Rochester fuel injection, at the GM desert proving grounds near Phoenix, but offered the Rochester triple-carburetor J2 option for 1957.
The company is best known for their highly regarded Quadrajet
carburetor, which was originally designed in the 1960s and continued to meet emissions standards into the 1980s. The Quadrajet became computer controlled in 1980 in California and in 1981 in the rest of the states; its last application was on the 1990 Cadillac Brougham
and 1990 full size GM station wagons with the Olds 307 engine. Its longevity is a testament to the expert engineering achieved at Rochester Products Division and GM, even to this day, as RPD was a pioneer in fuel injection
systems in road cars in the 1980s when they became the standard fuel induction system. In addition to carburetors, Rochester also made various emissions control equipment such as charcoal canisters, which found use in GM vehicles as well as those from other makes. The last major carburetor design by Rochester was the Varajet II, essentially a Quadrajet halved lengthwise, and was one of the few successful 2-barrel carb with a "secondary". It was installed on 4- and 6- cylinder engines from 1979 to 1986 when all GM V6s went to Electronic Fuel Injection.
In 1981, Rochester Products and Diesel Equipment Division merged "in a cost-cutting move." At this time RPD had about 7,000 employes, DED had about 3,300 employes. DED had plants in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The headquarters remained in Rochester.
In 1988, the diesel fuel injection business was sold to Penske Transportation , and Rochester Products and AC Spark Plug merged.
In 1994, the Grand Rapids operations of AC Rochester were spun off.
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...
that manufactured carburetors, and related components including emissions control devices and cruise control
Cruise control
Cruise control is a system that automatically controls the speed of a motor vehicle. The system takes over the throttle of the car to maintain a steady speed as set by the driver.-History:...
systems in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. In 1995 Rochester became part of Delphi
Delphi (auto parts)
Delphi Automotive PLC is an automotive parts company headquartered in Troy, Michigan, USA. Delphi is one of the world's largest automotive parts manufacturers and has approximately 146,600 employees ....
, which in turn became a separate company four years later , and continues to manufacture fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
systems in Rochester.
History
The company began as the Rochester Coil Company founded by Edward A. Halbleib in 1908 , becoming the North East Electric Company the following year. In 1916 the company was located at 348 Whitney Street, Rochester.In 1929 Alfred P. Sloan
Alfred P. Sloan
Alfred Pritchard Sloan, Jr. was an American business executive in the automotive industry. He was a long-time president, chairman, and CEO of General Motors Corporation...
announced the acquisition of the company on behalf of General Motors. "For some years this Company has been an outstanding manufacturer of starters, ignition systems and other electrical equipment." "It was consolidated with GM's former Delco-Light Company in 1930 and later renamed Delco Appliance Division." In 1937 Rochester Products was founded, planned as a second plant for Delco Appliance, but achieving Division status by 1939. In 1953 an advertisement in Life
Life (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
stated: "Rochester builds original equipment carburetors for Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
starting with 1950, Oldsmobile from 1949 and Cadillac from 1951. Also, Rochester supplies replacement carburetors for Chevrolets from 1932." Rochester also supplied Pontiac, while using the Power Jet name in the replacement market.
In 1952 the Oregonian reported: "Automobile cigarette lighters produced by the Rochester Automotive products division of General Motors are tested to reach a temperature of 1400 degrees in no less less than 10 and no more than 12 seconds."
The 2G (later 2GC and 2GV) carburetor, commonly called DualJet, was introduced in 1955, and continued to be used on GM V8s until at least 1969. In all, it was used in at least 125 applications, including the Brockway
Brockway Motor Company
Brockway Motor Company was a builder of custom heavy-duty trucks in Cortland, New York from 1912 to 1977. It was founded as Brockway Carriage Works in 1875 by William Brockway...
's inline six. In 1957 Chevrolet introduced their first fuel-injected engine , the Rochester Ramjet high-performance option on Corvette and passenger cars at $484. In 1956 Oldsmobile were also experimenting with Rochester fuel injection, at the GM desert proving grounds near Phoenix, but offered the Rochester triple-carburetor J2 option for 1957.
The company is best known for their highly regarded Quadrajet
Quadrajet
In automobile mechanics, the Quadrajet is a four-barrel carburetor made by the Rochester Products Division of GM that was widely used in General Motors motor vehicles until 1990...
carburetor, which was originally designed in the 1960s and continued to meet emissions standards into the 1980s. The Quadrajet became computer controlled in 1980 in California and in 1981 in the rest of the states; its last application was on the 1990 Cadillac Brougham
Cadillac Brougham
Originally an enclosed carriage, drawn by a single horse, for 2-4 persons, “Brougham” owes its name to a British statesman, Henry Brougham, 1st Baron Brougham and Vaux, whose second claim to fame is having given to the sea-front drive, in Nice in the South of France, the nick-name of Promenade des...
and 1990 full size GM station wagons with the Olds 307 engine. Its longevity is a testament to the expert engineering achieved at Rochester Products Division and GM, even to this day, as RPD was a pioneer in fuel injection
Fuel injection
Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s....
systems in road cars in the 1980s when they became the standard fuel induction system. In addition to carburetors, Rochester also made various emissions control equipment such as charcoal canisters, which found use in GM vehicles as well as those from other makes. The last major carburetor design by Rochester was the Varajet II, essentially a Quadrajet halved lengthwise, and was one of the few successful 2-barrel carb with a "secondary". It was installed on 4- and 6- cylinder engines from 1979 to 1986 when all GM V6s went to Electronic Fuel Injection.
In 1981, Rochester Products and Diesel Equipment Division merged "in a cost-cutting move." At this time RPD had about 7,000 employes, DED had about 3,300 employes. DED had plants in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The headquarters remained in Rochester.
In 1988, the diesel fuel injection business was sold to Penske Transportation , and Rochester Products and AC Spark Plug merged.
In 1994, the Grand Rapids operations of AC Rochester were spun off.
See also
- Chevrolet Straight-6 engineChevrolet Straight-6 engineThe Chevrolet inline 6 was Chevy's main engine from 1929 , through 1954, and was the base engine starting in 1955 when they added the small block V8 to the lineup. It had finally been completely phased out by 1990 in North America, but Brazil held on to their fuel-injected straight-6 through the...
- Delco ElectronicsDelco ElectronicsDelco Electronics Corporation was the automotive electronics design and manufacturing subsidiary of General Motors based in Kokomo, Indiana.The name Delco came from the Dayton Engineering Laboratories Co., founded in Dayton, Ohio by Charles Kettering and Edward A...
- Detroit DieselDetroit DieselAs a corporation, Daimler Trucks North America has decided to rename the company "DETROIT".Detroit Diesel Corporation is an American-based diesel engine producer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, USA...
- Harrison Radiator CorporationHarrison Radiator CorporationHarrison Radiator Corporation was an early manufacturer of automotive radiators that became a division of General Motors in 1918. Today its business is a part of General Motors's Automotive Components Group. Based in Lockport, NY, the company was founded by Herbert C. Harrison, an inventor and...
- Remy International, Inc. (formerly Delco Remy)