In a separate For Sale post - there is discussion about AO Smith security badging and guard shacks. Per posting guidelines, I am attempting to clarify a few items mentioned in that posting - through this separate discussion.
There is a prior comment in the other posting that contains interview information that pertains to an AO Smith employee who worked out of the Milwaukee AO Smith facility - NOT - the Ionia, MI facility. The Ionia facility was the only division that converted the Mustangs into Shelbys. While this was occurring, this plant and facility was making a lot of other products including fiberglass parts yet for the vette (but no longer the vette bodies). So if the facility was producing so much more than Shelby conversions, than why would the badge designate just Shelby?? I just spoke with a friend and former AO Smith engineer from that time period who stated that employees were not identified by product or product line worked on. This was a union facility and employees could be working on Shelbys one day and working on Corvette parts another day.
There was also only ONE guard shack at the Ionia AO Smith facility and it was basic at best - and located on one of the side streets. See the two included photos. This guard shack was on West Main street and only some of the employees would have passed by the shack on the way to a facility entrance from this side and location of the building. Again, only one guard shack but multiple employee entrance locations.
The Ionia, MI facility also went through a number of name changes during its existence including: Ypsilanti Reed Furniture (1913-1948) Mitchell-Bentley Corporation (1953-1964) Dow Smith, AO Smith, General Tire (1971- ), Gencorp (last name before the factory was torn down in 1996). That would be another flag to me regarding the prior mentioned interview when the individual says he worked at AO Smith for 38 years. Yes - very believable for AO Smith Milwaukee employees and not questioning that - but not as much for a an AO Smith employee of Ionia. The AO Smith name was for a small time period and one of many names used.
This is just my opinion, but I would therefore want proof or verification from a former Ionia AO Smith employee before accepting that this is the real deal. Ionia was a really really rural town back in the AO Smith time period and not sure that the badge fits the time period and location. My opinion only
There is a prior comment in the other posting that contains interview information that pertains to an AO Smith employee who worked out of the Milwaukee AO Smith facility - NOT - the Ionia, MI facility. The Ionia facility was the only division that converted the Mustangs into Shelbys. While this was occurring, this plant and facility was making a lot of other products including fiberglass parts yet for the vette (but no longer the vette bodies). So if the facility was producing so much more than Shelby conversions, than why would the badge designate just Shelby?? I just spoke with a friend and former AO Smith engineer from that time period who stated that employees were not identified by product or product line worked on. This was a union facility and employees could be working on Shelbys one day and working on Corvette parts another day.
There was also only ONE guard shack at the Ionia AO Smith facility and it was basic at best - and located on one of the side streets. See the two included photos. This guard shack was on West Main street and only some of the employees would have passed by the shack on the way to a facility entrance from this side and location of the building. Again, only one guard shack but multiple employee entrance locations.
The Ionia, MI facility also went through a number of name changes during its existence including: Ypsilanti Reed Furniture (1913-1948) Mitchell-Bentley Corporation (1953-1964) Dow Smith, AO Smith, General Tire (1971- ), Gencorp (last name before the factory was torn down in 1996). That would be another flag to me regarding the prior mentioned interview when the individual says he worked at AO Smith for 38 years. Yes - very believable for AO Smith Milwaukee employees and not questioning that - but not as much for a an AO Smith employee of Ionia. The AO Smith name was for a small time period and one of many names used.
This is just my opinion, but I would therefore want proof or verification from a former Ionia AO Smith employee before accepting that this is the real deal. Ionia was a really really rural town back in the AO Smith time period and not sure that the badge fits the time period and location. My opinion only