Harry H. Bassett
Harry H. Bassett | |
|---|---|
| Born | Henry Hoxie Bassett September 11, 1874 Utica, New York, U.S. |
| Died | October 17, 1926 (aged 52) Paris, France |
| Occupation | manager |
| Known for | President Buick Motor Car Company |
| Board member of | General Motors |
| Spouses |
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| Children | 2 |
Harry Hoxie Bassett (September 11, 1874 – October 17, 1926) was an American automotive industry executive and president of Buick Motor Car Company, division of General Motors from 1920 through 1926.
Early life
Bassett was born in
Weston-Mott Operations
After becoming abreast of Weston-Mott manufacturing operations in Utica, Bassett left for Flint and within one year was promoted to factory manager. The factory in Flint was new and was placed conveniently next to a new Buick manufacturing operation. By 1909, Durant traded General Motors stock for Weston-Mott stock and acquired 49% ownership of the Weston-Mott enterprise. The remaining 51% was purchased by General Motors in 1913 while the company was under the leadership of Charles W. Nash.[5] Although purchased by General Motors, Weston-Mott was positioned within the Buick Car Company. In 1916, Bassett was elected vice-president of the Weston-Mott company and assistant general manager of Buick.[6] That same year, Walter Chrysler then head of Buick Motor Car Company, threatened to leave General Motors as operations were back under control of Billy Durant. Durant offered Chrysler $500,000 annual salary plus bonus to remain with the company which Chrysler did for the next three years, finally resigning in 1919. The last straw for Chrysler was Durant's plan to invest $6M in the factory in Flint to manufacture frames when Chrysler had negotiated with A.O. Smith of Milwaukee to purchase frames cheaper than the Flint factory could produce them.[5] Durant's promoting Bassett to general manager that year, was a bid to position a successor to Chrysler.[4][5]
Buick Motor Car Company
When Chrysler finally did resign, Bassett was promoted to the Chrysler's position and became president and general manager of Buick. Immediately after taking office, Bassett was charged with implementing the $6M investment in the factory in Flint to manufacture frames and an additional $3M to establish a new factory in St. Louis.[7]
Bassett was very popular among the workers in his factories, many of whom referred to him as "Harry." Forbes wrote the following after interviewing Bassett: "I once had a similar experience on a tour through a Buick plant with Harry Bassett, then its president. He was "Harry" to hundreds of men; he was constantly on his feet going from department to department of the plant; the men approached him and he approached them as if there were not the slightest distinction in their status and, if he ran short of tobacco, he thought nothing of asking an overawed workman to give him a chew." Forbes went on, "I learned from other officials that all the men who had been with the company for any time felt that they were working, not for some monster corporation, but for Harry Bassett, and that it was up to them to do their best by him and for him." [4][8]
Death
Bassett travelled to Paris with a number of General Motors executives to attend the Paris Auto Show. While there, he contracted a cold which turned into bronchial pneumonia and on 17 October 1926, Bassett died.
References
- ^ "Michigan Marriages 1868-1925". familysearch.org. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
- ^ "1868-1925". familysearch.org. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
- ^ "New York State Census 1905". FamilySearch.org. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
- ^ ISBN 9788896365311.
- ^ a b c d e Langworth, Richard M.; Norbye, Jan P. (1986). The Complete History of General Motors 1908-1986. New York: Beekman House. pp. 13–94.
- ^ Automobile Journal (Volume 41 ed.). Pawtucket, RI: Automobile Journal Publishing Company. 10 March 1916. p. 15.
- Newspapers.com.
- ^ Forbes, Bertie Charles (15 April 1922). Forbes (Volumes 10-11 ed.). p. 128.
- Newspapers.com.
