United Motors Company
Encyclopedia
ACDelco is an American
automotive parts company. Over its long history it has been known by various names such as United Motors Corporation, United Motors Service, United Delco, merged with AC Spark Plug and known as AC-Delco.
in 1916 as an automotive component and accessory holding company. Durant was the owner of Buick
and founder of General Motors
in 1908. After he lost control of General Motors in 1910, he subsequently founded Chevrolet
in 1911 with Louis Chevrolet
and the profits from this permitted him to regain control of GM in 1916. At approximately the same time, he assembled United Motors.
Durant's founding of United Motors has parallels in his earlier experience in the horse-drawn carriage industry in Michigan. In the late 19th century he was co-owner of the Durant-Dort Carriage Company, one of the nation's leading carriage manufacturers. Concerned that they could not source components and raw materials at affordable prices or in sufficient quantities, Durant-Dort created a vertically-integrated operation owning hardwood forests and manufacturing its own bodies, wheels, axles, upholstery, springs, varnish and whips.
United Motors initially included Alfred P. Sloan
's Hyatt Roller Bearing Company (antifriction roller bearings), New Departure Manufacturing Company (ball bearings), Remy Electric Company (electrical starting, lighting, and ignition equipment), Charles Kettering
and Edward A. Deeds
' Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company (electrical equipment), and the Perlman Rim Corporation.
Durant appointed Alfred P. Sloan
, who had been president of Hyatt, as president of United Motors. In the next two years, Sloan bought the Harrison Radiator Corporation
(radiators), Lovell-McConnell Manufacturing Company (renamed Klaxon company to make Klaxon horns) in September 1916,
and organized United Motors Service to sell and service the entire line of products nationwide.
, selling to all manufacturers until 1918, when the company was acquired by General Motors for $45 million (three quarters debentures and one quarter common shares) and integrated into GM on December 31, 1918.
United Motors became United Motors Service and continued to operate essentially as it had before. However, all of its production was now devoted to GM's brands. Alfred P. Sloan
continued as the division manager, which carried with it a GM vice-president title and a position on the GM board. In 1923 he became President of General Motors and was Chairman when he retired in 1956. Charles Kettering
, co-founder of Delco, was head of research at General Motors for 27 years. Herbert C. Harrison
was President of Harrison Radiator until his death in 1927. William C. Durant
lost control of GM for the final time in 1920.
United Motors Service would become a fully integrated division of General Motors in 1944.
, a champion bicyclist, formed the Champion Ignition Co.
By 1905, Albert Champion had lost control of his company and in 1908 he partnered with William C. Durant
of the Buick Motor Co.
to form the AC Spark Plug Division of General Motors
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
automotive parts company. Over its long history it has been known by various names such as United Motors Corporation, United Motors Service, United Delco, merged with AC Spark Plug and known as AC-Delco.
History
United Motors Corporation was formed by William C. DurantWilliam 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....
in 1916 as an automotive component and accessory holding company. Durant was the owner of Buick
Buick
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...
and founder 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...
in 1908. After he lost control of General Motors in 1910, he subsequently founded 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...
in 1911 with Louis Chevrolet
Louis Chevrolet
Louis-Joseph Chevrolet was a Swiss-born American race car driver of French descent, co-founder of the Chevrolet Motor Car Company in 1911 and later, the Frontenac Motor Corporation in 1916 which made racing parts for Ford's Model T.-Early life:Born in 1878 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, a center of...
and the profits from this permitted him to regain control of GM in 1916. At approximately the same time, he assembled United Motors.
Durant's founding of United Motors has parallels in his earlier experience in the horse-drawn carriage industry in Michigan. In the late 19th century he was co-owner of the Durant-Dort Carriage Company, one of the nation's leading carriage manufacturers. Concerned that they could not source components and raw materials at affordable prices or in sufficient quantities, Durant-Dort created a vertically-integrated operation owning hardwood forests and manufacturing its own bodies, wheels, axles, upholstery, springs, varnish and whips.
United Motors initially included 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...
's Hyatt Roller Bearing Company (antifriction roller bearings), New Departure Manufacturing Company (ball bearings), Remy Electric Company (electrical starting, lighting, and ignition equipment), Charles Kettering
Charles Kettering
Charles Franklin Kettering was an American inventor, engineer, businessman, and the holder of 186 patents. He was a founder of Delco, and was head of research for General Motors for 27 years from 1920 to 1947. Among his most widely used automotive inventions were the electrical starting motor and...
and Edward A. Deeds
Edward A. Deeds
Edward Andrew Deeds was an American engineer, inventor and industrialist prominent in the Dayton, Ohio area.-Biography:...
' Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company (electrical equipment), and the Perlman Rim Corporation.
Durant appointed 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...
, who had been president of Hyatt, as president of United Motors. In the next two years, Sloan bought the Harrison Radiator Corporation
Harrison Radiator Corporation
Harrison 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...
(radiators), Lovell-McConnell Manufacturing Company (renamed Klaxon company to make Klaxon horns) in September 1916,
and organized United Motors Service to sell and service the entire line of products nationwide.
General Motors - United Motors Service
United Motors was originally independent of General MotorsGeneral 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...
, selling to all manufacturers until 1918, when the company was acquired by General Motors for $45 million (three quarters debentures and one quarter common shares) and integrated into GM on December 31, 1918.
United Motors became United Motors Service and continued to operate essentially as it had before. However, all of its production was now devoted to GM's brands. 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...
continued as the division manager, which carried with it a GM vice-president title and a position on the GM board. In 1923 he became President of General Motors and was Chairman when he retired in 1956. Charles Kettering
Charles Kettering
Charles Franklin Kettering was an American inventor, engineer, businessman, and the holder of 186 patents. He was a founder of Delco, and was head of research for General Motors for 27 years from 1920 to 1947. Among his most widely used automotive inventions were the electrical starting motor and...
, co-founder of Delco, was head of research at General Motors for 27 years. Herbert C. Harrison
Herbert C. Harrison
Herbert Champion Harrison , is credited with the invention and development of the modern hexagon cellular "honeycomb" automotive radiator and was the founder of the Harrison Radiator Company in 1910. Born in Calcutta India to British parents, his father was the Controller General of the Indian...
was President of Harrison Radiator until his death in 1927. 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....
lost control of GM for the final time in 1920.
United Motors Service would become a fully integrated division of General Motors in 1944.
United Delco
In 1971, the division’s name was changed to United Delco. With the Delco name becoming more well-know with consumers, the “Delco” name was incorporated into all of the divisions branches (Delco Remy, Delco Harrison, Delco Packard (Packard Electric), Delco Moraine).AC Spark Plug Division
In 1899 Albert ChampionAlbert Champion (cyclist)
Albert Champion was a French road bicycle racer, who won the 1899 Paris–Roubaix. In 1908 he founded the Champion Ignition Company to make spark plugs in Flint, Michigan. In 1909 the name changed to AC Spark Plug Company, after Champion's initials.-Cycling:Albert Champion was a talented racing...
, a champion bicyclist, formed the Champion Ignition Co.
Champion (spark plug)
Champion is an American brand of spark plugs.Originally Champion was a Fortune 500 Company founded by Robert A. Stranahan and Frank D. Stranahan in 1908 in Boston, MA and then moved to Toledo, OH in 1910 to be close to the Willys-Overland Auto Company....
By 1905, Albert Champion had lost control of his company and in 1908 he partnered with 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 Buick Motor Co.
Buick
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...
to form the AC Spark Plug Division 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...
.