A Trailblazer in American Automobile Manufacturing | Toledo Stories: Body By Fisher | Full Film
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- čas přidán 23. 11. 2014
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In 1927, seven brothers who were partners in one of the most successful companies in the United States stood in a light rain at the groundbreaking of a new, bold building that would bear their name.
The name Fisher stood for quality and safety in the auto industry. The Fisher coach logo on the doorsill of millions of autos and the slogan Body by Fisher was a hallmark of reliability and American manufacturing and style for most of the last century.
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My father was an employee of the Fisher Body Plant in Fairfield Ohio from the day it opened after WWII until his medical retirement in the mid 70's. He was blue collar, working production control.
His job there provided for us all those years. He loved his job and was always treated well. Dad passed away in 1982 and I think of Dad every time I see that "Body by Fisher" logo.
coldfoot99 all the people blaming unions here don’t realize that’s the reason why your dad and thousands like him were able to support their families and live he American dream. We need more jobs like that, not a mentality of cutting wages and benefits. A return to those days!
It's junk now.
Your Dad sounds like Good Harding working Man. 🏆
I've always wanted to know the story of body by fisher, i can imagine how many of these cars I've owned that your father may have been instrumental in putting together.
My Grandaddy worked at the same plant - they called him "Red", and he was in the tool and dye department.
I have my grandfathers retirement watch with the Fisher Body logo on the watch dial. It’s a solid gold Elgin from the early 60’s, it’s never been worn.
HE WAS GAY? TOO?
Always liked the logo
At 66 grew up seeing Body by Fisher plates on many cars in my life. Never gave it a second thought just assumed it was good. NOW I KNOW. This is why I love CZcams.
Likewise, 3rd Generation from the Lansing, Michigan Plant.
Well produced documentaries like this are a privilege to watch. I remember Detroit when it was a prestigious place.
@Van Tastic Maybe corporate greed after all the jobs were moved? Remember Reagan the union buster?
@Van Tastic in Cleveland the early 1980’s when dad who worked at GE and I worked at Fisher Body, and so many large factories where shut down. Thousands of real jobs evaporated, another sum replaced Prosperity!
I worked for general motors for 25 years and I can honestly say that there is no g.m. without Fisher body!
Amen.
My daddy worked at Fisher Body in Pontiac. I remember going on tours of the plant when I was a little girl. It was exciting to see where my daddy worked. He later retired from Pontiac Motors. He did his 30 years and retired and moved back to his hometown in East Tennessee. I always liked his little Fisher Body carriage pins he got for years of service. ❤🇺🇸
YOU DADDY WAS GAY TOO?
@Freedom Freedom
That's awesome 👏 👌 😎
Thank you for this story. God bless your family.
Charles Fisher is my great grandfather. I really appreciate this documentary. Thank you!
Are you related to Steve Taylor from Toledo, OH?
Have you heard of Urban "Bud" Fisher, who died in Grand Rapids a year or two ago? He was part of the Fisher Body family. My wife knew him, and we were wondering if his father was one of the seven brothers.
The Fishers - a great Catholic family - congrats! 😀
Shawn Flint My parents when I was little had a 1953 Pontiac convertible I still remember that metal body by Fisher and loved that car had it for 10 years,think we wore it out drove all over on our vacations and took rides every night after dinner,we were only folks who had a convertible in small town 😃😇😁then bought 1960 Red Bonneivlle Ponatiac sure wish they made cars like that today!
There is a whole debate about the acquisition of Fisherbody by GM. And I knew this name when I read the related papers. Glad to meet his relative here.
I remember seeing the Fisher logo stamped on the metal door threshold when I was a kid. it was in a 1970 Pontiac Catalina
The last new car my Dad ever bought was a light brown '70 Catalina. He traded in our '66 Catalina the he bought when he sold our 1960 Catalina. Same dealership too. My old man was nothing if not loyal!
Fuuzzy... me too! 1970 olive green Catalina. Was 10 yrs old. Loved it!
I remember that as well. Some really nice bodies by Fisher.
I had the same experience when I was a kid in our 73 Buick century wagon
My dads 1969 Camaro
Work there right out of high school 66 and after when I came back from Nam and 68th those were the days
My 79 Trans am body was built by Fisher still in great shape they made quality products
I had to go check my 67 Camaro, replaced the door sills with after market but happy to see "Body by Fisher" logo. I've had the car 40 years but after watching this it looks better then ever.
"At the shop one day, Lawrence asked each of his sons to pick up a stick and break it. Then, to pick up another stick and give the sticks to their eldest brother, Fred. Now Fred, bundle them all together and try to break them. He couldn't do it. Lawrence said
"You see boys - on your own you may be weak or vulnerable - BUT TOGETHER YOU ARE STRONG and CAN NEVER BE BROKEN".
GOD BLESS AMERICA.
The Romans insignia was a bunch of twigs bundled and tied together , it represented Fascism . United we are strong .
The Nazi's, Japan, Italy all had their own national flag , What does that mean ??? Any country with a national flag is Fascist ???? Don't really get how Fascism got involved here???
@@margaretingleby679 Just adding on to your point. Lest anyone misunderstand, the Fascists co-opted both their name, symbol and concept of a strong unbreakable unit created from a tied bundle of single sticks from the Romans. As you said this weapon and symbol was established by the Romans so it was well before those who called themselves Fascists came along and appropriated the root word for their suffocating, overbearing style of government.
I had to edit my comment. The gay slur is the same as the old English term for a loose bundle of sticks....and nothing to do with the tightly bound fasces comprised of vergae (that's the word!)
@@elquebi in Australia a single stick is what we call a Boomerang that doesn't come back . Lol .
@@margaretingleby679 I saw something interesting which I never noticed before. U.S. President Biden gave his address to Congress in the chamber of the House of Representatives and behind the rostrum, flanking the flag and two black marble columns on the wall are two bronze fasces. I also learned that the old U.S. Mercury dime had a fasces on the obverse side well before Fascism rose in Italy.
My father was an apprentice tool and die maker at the Grand Rapids, MI Fisher Body Plant #3. After serving in the US Army as a tank mechanic during WWII he returned to his apprenticeship at the princely sum of $35/week while supporting a wife and child. He eventually worked his way up to department supervisor. I inherited his Fisher Body gold retirement watch which still keeps great time. It was a sad day when that plant was torn down several years ago.
I have my grandfathers gold Hamilton watch from when he retired from Buick in the 1970s... still works and has the buick logo on the face.
My Grandfather retired from the Fisher Body plant in G.R. in 1976. I believe he was also in the tool and die dept. He was very proud of his time there and was a very loyal Buick owner.
I have lost count of all the cars and trucks I have had over the years but the one I liked the most was my 65 Olds Delta 88 . A body by Fisher.
David Glaum amen! My best example was my 65 chevy impala ss.
'72 Camero......."Body by Fisher"....fit like a glove!
My first car was a baby blue,1968 Olds Delta 88 Custom, 455. Solid vehicle. Drove that thing cross county so many times. Owned it til my bodyman husband sold it in 1984.
Always had Body by Fisher cars, until my current Mazda.
My favorite car growing up was a white with red interior, 1959 Pontiac Bonneville Coupe my mother owned. That car gave her more trouble, but boy was it slick with those fins & whitewalls. Ahh....nostalgia.
@@chachadodds5860 ..Woo Hooo..big blocks ruled!
Loved this documentary. Looks like this family never lost touch of how they grew up and stayed humble. amazing. I have 5 GM cars and all display the body by fisher except two, 69 corvette and a 96 chevy express conversion van.
This is a fantastic video. I loved every moment of it
I loved the image of the person drawing the Fisher carriage and logo on the tank during WWII.
When my aunt was a young woman she would stroke her hips and proclaim to anyone in ear shot, "Body by Fisher". 😊
Your aunt sounds like a fun girl. She still around?
Well, have you ever envisioned a good old country ass whoopin?
@@miata149 really? Thank you Sir. A thread of memory and I don't know why I cry. ☺
I'm guessing her last name may have been Fisher ??????? Is that what the punch line is here ???
Was Mr. Fisher the milkman?
Grandma's 1979 custom cruiser wagon had the body by fisher label.
WOW, , so interesting about Fisher Brothers and the company, I remember seeing the logo like it was yesterday
As a kid I always looked for the carriage in the door of a car.i was fasanated by it .so happy I now know the story behind it .thank you so much
I remodeled the Fisher mansion on Palm Beach Island. We found two hidden safes in the basement. Nothing in them but that was a big surprise and somewhat exciting.
Bruce Simpson were you hanging out with Geraldo Rivera?
That would have been awesome
Ya, right...nothing in them...sure...ah ha....tell us another one.
@@bigdogone916 NO just demolition of breaker box that had no guts to it.
They didn't say they were honest, they proved it.
I was in Detroit last weekend. I explored the Fisher Body Plant 21. All I can say is wow. It was sad seeing that building in the shape it is completely vandalized and the building is starting to fall apart. I can only imagine what the atmosphere was like in that factory in the early to mid 1900’s I can imagine that was a great place to work at. So historical.
My 1948 Pontiac says "Body by fisher." Never knew anything about it until now. That is really cool
Every time I open my car door and see the logo BODY BY FISHER! I feel connected to my family and friends that worked for GM subsidiaries!
Saginaw Steering ⚙ Local 465
Thanks for you and the unions for closing down the American auto market
@@genejackson4261 Back up & take a look at the bigger picture my friend! It's much bigger than that! Peace be unto you..
I lived in Norwalk,Ohio where the Fisher family started, But I never knew all this till later on. Today I can drive by there first auto plant in Norwalk,Ohio and there homes there. The hospital they started Fisher Titus is a very nice. Lots of great history there in Norwalk.
Chuck Allen Poore yep I'm with a Fisher her dad n brothers run shop
I remember our 1972 Chevrolet Impala with the "Fisher," carriage stamp. That car was a tank. And just as physically attractive as it was a strong, reliable vehicle! What happened to those days?
👍🏼We had the same BIG "White 4 door Boat" as a FAMILY car.(Lansing, MI)
Good job, proud American history.
well said!
I remember seeing the logo on many of the cars my father had while I was growing up. Probably why I'm a GM guy to this day. Have owned probably close to 20 by now.
Never knew the story behind the name. Very cool story.
Thanks for sharing.
Great video. My 1st job out of college was at Fisher Body. Worked for 30 years at GM.
You are a part of history, Memphisdoug. This experience has undoubtedly enriched you, corporate BS aside.
That's funny, @@hueroski! You must be from Detroit too.
@@jimburig7064 Or he owns a 1979 Chevrolet Caprice, like my family did, with the Body by Fisher logo in the door sills--apparently with no realization that vinyl and plastic junk is not something to proudly attach one's name to.
Dad worked at Willow Springs Illinois Fisher Body plant for 37 years .. He was very proud of his badge, gate pass...Blue-collar guy, strong as an ox..... I own a 65 Impala. I get to look down at the door badge every time I drive it AND THINK OF MY POP...bjoe55
Having family in the auto business, I grew up seeing 'Body by Fisher' in the Pontiacs being sold there.
J.B.Finney Pontiac, Crenshaw Blvd. L.A. Long gone.
Now I know. Too cool. Thanks for the upload.
Wow! What a family. What a legacy.
I went to work for Fisher Body in Van Nuys California when I was 18 yrs old worked for Gm for 32yrs
...and now it's a shopping center. But those were good days. Right out of high school one could make a decent salary, eventually buy a home for his family, and be able to count on a healthy retirement. The town of Panorama City CA was conceived with just those autoworkers in mind. Yep, those were the days....
@@thomastrout9997 thanks for your input
@@thomastrout9997
We NEED THOSE DAYS BACK......I think a lot of people hope TRUMP can help that.
Every GM car I had in high school and I had a few were body by Fisher. I'm happy to learn the history behind it.
I remember it on mom and dad's 72 Ford country squire station wagon. It held the nine of us no problem.
Since i was born. ALL i ever saw when the door was Opened to any car my parents bought was "BODY BY FISHER" Then all my Car's i bought it said. "BODY BY FISHER"
Loyalty !!!!! GOTTA LUV IT !!!!! Thanks
Same here, saw it all the time
@@thomasschreiber9559 even on some of the best scale model diecast cars you will still see the body by Fisher thing with the coach !
@@michaelweizer7794 )
I did a tile job for a guy who talked about his private museum and when the job was done a couple weeks later he opened the door and gave me a tour. The first thing I saw was THE COACH at the back of the small building I asked what's that as I pointed at it and he pointed to a small logo in a display cabinet, that we've all seen on a the door jam and said - that's that. It is magnificent to see it up close and so well cared for.
Where was it ? Not the exact location of course but what state ?
I owned 4 Oldsmobiles and all had the Fisher logo. Now I know what that's all about
I actually miss Oldsmobile and Pontiac. The whole GM line nowadays would be amalgamated into vehicles indistinguishable from the others without the branding. I still have an 83 Hurst/Olds. It now has 32k miles.
There was a fisher body plant in Cincinnati ohio next to the gm plant where they used to build camaros!
This was a very interesting video. GM cars and trucks should say body by waste management today.
BODY BY CHEENA!
Body by road salt.
ford LTD Load of Trash from Detroit
Sad but true, it’s been said many times and I’m on of these people, I’m old enough to remember when GM built great cars. The 50’s and 60’s saying of so goes GM so goes the country has long ago been forgotten.
@@supersami7748 .. ..so am I for the first 38 years of my car junkie life there was at least one GM car and in some cases several in my life, Frankly I'm ashamed of GM today and I ve never forgiven them for dropping Pontiac!,
i have a 1969 camaro built at the Norway facility. i bought it in 82 it is the most solid car that i ever owned
Body by Fisher.. remember seeing this nameplate on the Fords back in the 70's-80's.. Very well made vid.. Being I live in Michigan I really am impressed.
Excellent documentary !!! Thank you for sharing
I didn't know who they were until I bought my first car and I saw the stagecoach emblem every time I opened the door this was on a 1969 Chevelle
Best job pretty much finest people I ever worked with you next to being in the army love you all take care
This is an EXCELLENT video ! Thank you !!!
Well done! I worked @ Fisher Body, Coit Road plant in Cleveland, Ohio, best job ever!
Question: What was the idea behind the cardboard liners under the door sill plates? They trapped moisture & caused rust like crazy. I love Fisher bodies, but those sheets of tag board were a bad plan.
@@bobbofly I’m not sure that would be a question for the engineering department, I worked in the mighty pressroom and also drove forklift.
Thanks,I know about Fisher my prototype were a Fisher body , packing a hemi engine.
My father worked for General Motors-Fisher Body in Detroit and later at the General Motors Technical Canter in Warren, Michigan. Dad was a skilled woodworker who made full scale models of GM automobiles out of wood. I remember as a young boy and again as a teenager, touring his shop at the Technical Center. It was exciting to see where he worked and what he did. All but a few glimpses of the new wood and clay models were covered from view, but it was so interesting. Before going to work for Fisher Body, Dad made custom laminated wood fishing nets, tennis rachets, and hockey sticks and fine wood cabinets in his shop in the village of Laurium, in Michigan's Copper Country in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan. His work with wood was not only functional but also art. Dad taught me a lot about woodworking as a boy and I have loved to work with wood all my life. I remember always looking at his hands and admired what he could do with them. Even today, when I look at photos of my dad, I am still drawn to his hands, the hands of a skilled woodworker and fine craftsman. I have my dad's Body by Fisher badges and carriage pins in a safe place. Thank you, dad, for all the wonderful memories you helped create for me. Thank you WGTE Public Media for sharing this very interesting history of Body by Fisher.
HI! I also worked at the Fisher Body Die Model Shop at the Tech Center. I made a video of some of the guys I worked with:
czcams.com/video/1PlMTbbFeIM/video.html
My dad worked in the cushion room fisher Pontiac for 32 and out for retirement.
I remember my dad bringing home a brand new 1976 Pontiac Grand Prix. That was the first time I ever took notice of the Fisher body coach logo. What a sweet ride that car gave.
The first car I ever owned was a 1974 Chevy Chevelle Malibu and took pride in that logo. Until the body rotted off the frame...
My 1980 Z28 Camaro had a Body By Fisher logo on a silver strip on the inside door sill.
My great grandfather was the chief chassis engineer for Buick before it was GM and helped develop the first production car for Buick. I used to have his diaries describing all the things they tried but they were destroyed in a fire. My great uncle worked for Fisher Body repairing damaged car bodies with a torch and lead bars, probably why he ended up with Emphysema. My grandfather also worked at Buick his whole life and I have several books and even manuals from the war years when Buick built cylinder heads for the B-24 Liberator bombers. I have lots of pictures of my great grandfather and young grandfather in prototype cars that were dated a year or more before the car was produced. My grandfather said that they used to drive these prototypes to see how well they did and great grandpa always had some different 'test' car or another in the garage at home. One has them in a muddy field hunting with a 1923 Buick. The picture is dated 1921.
Please check out the Buick videos posted by Abcde on CZcams, he found and restored a 1918 Buick. Valve in head engine even then.
I always thought it was funny to see the emblem on the door sill , Body by Fisher because there was a Fisher price toy company , and I would somehow relate the two companies together..
On a plate on the rocker of my 1964 rambler classic says it is the first Fisher Uni-body. Neat vid .
Great video! Grew up with my parents cars and mine all said Body by Fisher on the door sill.
Now days it would read whoever can build it the cheapest get it to me the fastest and don't worry about it lasting long.
I remember my dad working in Detroit making cars!
He put in 33 years at GM and believe he started at the fisher body plant. I believe in there family values and it shows today. That family believed in its workers, me and my children still receive the same price as all other workers due to my dad’s length of service! I will drive a GM car the rest of my life to keep the memories of my family in Michigan!
my 1975 ford pinto station wagon had that fisher emblem on the chrome in the bottom of the door that bound the carpet to the steel frame and it was not A GM product that is when my dad told about fisher being a car body designer.
Two ' 69 Camaros, One ' 74 Nova, Thank You, Fisher Body Co.!!
Two '65 Impala Wagons, One '68 Belair Wagon, One '64 Buick Special, One '71 LeMans Wagon, One '73 Grand Am(favorite), One '63 Biscayne, One '63 Belair. One lovely lot!!!
What an amazing family!!!
My first car had a "Made by Fisher " label on the door sill. And that car didn't have any rust on it. It was a sign of quality. Unlike cars today .
Thanks for a fascinating story.
All my Oldsmobile's when I would step out of the door, and look down there was the tag "Body by Fisher." Even cars that I saw until 1999 had them. Does anyone remember the final year for the tag?
Thank you for an excellent documentary 😊👍
The original plant in Flint Michigan is still in there, although its a different type of occupants now but the history is never lost.
The center office building is still there , but the north and south units have been gone for years!! I lived in Flint and worked at the south unit building buick regals in 73 !!😀😀😀🍺🍺🍺
My first car was a 1988 Pontiac Bonneville with the body by Fisher logo on the doorjam
Real American hero's... this needs to be a movie
mr fisher had a big house and estate in watersmeet, michigan on thousand island lake. he also owned lots of surrounding land. after his death the big house burned and the land was donated to the national forest service
Seems a waste. No kids to take care of it?
Nicely done...Bravo!!
My two favorite cars that I ever owned were Fisher Bodies. Bothell Buick.
Great autobiography simply beautiful
I had “Body by Fisher” on my ‘72 Chevy Vega GT Hatchback and 72 Nova 2 Dr coupe.
those had great rust proofing. I mean no rust proofing. sorry.
This is a great history of a great family and company. I knew many people who worked or had a family member who worked at Fisher Body in Fairfield, Ohio.
A fantastic story! Thank you!
I remember my 1969 Nova
A Doc on what I thought was just an odd memory from my earlier life, the "Body by Fisher" emblem on my dad's Oldsmobiles. Noted it most every time I got in and out of them.
1975 Buick electric 225 body by fisher my dad car,my child hood 👏🏾
My uncle had a 75 coupe painted honey gold. Sweet ride.
Great documentary, very informative.
Great story.
This must have been where my 1984 & 1988 Fiero's were made (actually the bodies were pretty-well designed & put-together) 😉
They made my 1973 Camaro Z28/RS :- )
that era of chevy camaro z28 ,has to be one of all time favs ,pontiac was the firebird ,but hands down camaro was sweet
Very interesting. Hard work and imagination goes a long ways.
There was a Fisher Body in Pittsburgh too...
Good content, thanks .
My Father was a tool and die maker at Mansfield Ohio. Pretty awesome 😎!
I worked at the Fisher Body plant in Livonia Michigan for 13 years, depth 60 and then the Door area's.
What company's working together ,both making money wow what a idea !
When you think how the Fisher brothers came to be synonymous with General Motors &,other car companies, it*s interesting, to see how a coach builder became even more famous through out the years.
My first car a '72 cutlass was a fisher body. Remember the emblem on the rocker panel trim.
It's weird that I've been interested in old architecture, from a carpenters perspective, for so long that I've never heard of this building! It's also weird that I know so little about the Fisher family.
I have owned a 1977 Trans Am and a 1981 Firebird. They both proudly displayed the "Body by" logo in the door frame.
Well done...
Now i know the family behind the name, Thanks.
Before that, a badge said, "COACH BY FISHER". I worked for the the Fisher family in South Florida for 6 years in the 80's
Fisher Body # 1
for 1970 Firebird is
a beautifully powered 455 LS5 with a special order M40 TurboHydromatic !
This Fisher Body #1 was built for Police and is a dream to drive with its GTO special order engine !
PHS Documents code 382 .
Fisher Body is #1
Thanks for posting this. I have collected many Fisher Body items and always wanted to know more about the brothers.
Very good video grew up at general motors or Fisher body Norwood five or six uncles retired and I still have my Fisher body Craftsman's guild certificate and was lucky enough to work in the factory 9 years in paint department and I owned one of legendary 427 69 Camaro and actually got to burn rubber in that parking garage before and after work great times brother was there 15 years dad was there 34 great times in America
Fascinating how quickly money and skilled workers flow into a town and flow back out like the tide. The next wave for Detroit will be something different.
Detroit is a shithole no one would want to come back hasn't been nice since early 60s
Ricky Pyle: Your post sounds suspiciously like: "The South will rise again . . . ."
@@miata149 There is talk of farming where they tear down houses and plow that soil for planting. It could be quite lucrative, and jobs for tractor mechanics, truck driving, carpentry, welding etc. that might be good experience for the young at heart. Something has to replace car production, in due time. It does look like a war zone, but something will transform it.
@@z978ady Well, sir, you are much more optimistic than many observers. Perhaps a few former mayors of Detroit will have some ideas for "revitalizing " their former kingdoms.
Body by Fisher. Brought us the wonderful Vega body...The car that started to rust before it left the plant!
Ford Pinto was worse than the Vega. Neighbor had a 79 pinto he bought new 30 years later had less than 10,000 miles. Had to be careful you didn't get hit from the rear, blow up and burn you alive.
@@raymondwagoner4896 The only Pinto`s that blew up when hit from the rear were the very first little short hatchback Runabouts, and only then when they were in a freeway traffic jam and some idiots came along and rear ended them at 60 to 80 mph while the Pintos were at a dead stop. They were hit so hard the bumper bolts were driven through the gas tank. They shortened the bumper bolts and it stopped the explosions, but I dont care what car your in if you are sitting still and someone hits you at 60 to 80 mph especially if it`s a land yacht like most cars were of that era I doubt anyones going to survive explosion or not. That was another one of those Ralph Nader deals, trying to destroy companies and reputations.
Pinto`s were made until 1980 and were actually very good cars. As far as rust every car made from the mid 50`s to the late 80`s were rust buckets.
Ford invented the process by which a car body with a positive charge is dipped in paint with a negative charge, which helps prevent rust, licensed it to other manufacturers, but didn't implement it in their own factories for more than a decade because it "cost too much" to change the factory to use the process, thank you very much, Mr. McNamara.