User:Dbunyard/sandbox

Charles Sharp Crawford (Automotive Engineer)

Charles Sharp Crawford (Born April 3, 1883, Died January 28, 1935) was an early pioneer in the Automotive Industry.

Biography

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana

Graduated from Washington University in St Louis MO.

Career

Locomotive Designer for the Big Four railroad in Indianapolis

Chief Draftsman and Engineer for the Speed Changing Pulley Company

1906 - Lozier Motor works - Draftsman in experimental Department

1907-1909 - Speed Changing Pulley Company - Chief designer

1909 Cole Motor Company - Chief Engineer

1911 Cole Motor Company - Factory Manager

1912-1916 Cole Motor Company - Special Assistant to JJ Cole - President

1916-1921 - Premier Motor Car Company - Assistant general manager and later Vice President

1921-1922 - Independent Engineer Consultant in Indianapolis

1922-1928 - Stutz Motor Car Company - Chief Engineer - Indianapolis, IN

1928-1935 - General Motors - Chief Engineer - Opel of Germany

He was also Counsellor for the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) for 2 years

Also served as chairman of the Indiana section of the Society of Automotive Engineers for 2 years.

Interesting Events:

While in Germany, working for Opel, he was invited by Count Hug von Eckener to make a flight over Europe in the Graf Zeppelin.

In 1913, he drove from Indianapolis to San Francisco - a little late of the main trans continental group to promote new roads. He took the car apart in public to show the little wear on the vehicle, then put it back together and drove to Canada.

While at Cole, he worked with Northway Motors (Subsidiary of General Motors) to build the second production V8 Engine (after Cadillac) for Cole Motors. All Cole cars had V8s after that. He brought the V8 to Stutz afterwards.

Timeline

References

External Links

Obituary - The Indianapolis News - Monday January 28, 1935