3 Saving the Lincoln Plant Stonework 7 Leland, Lincoln and the Liberty

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3 Saving the Lincoln Plant Stonework 7 Leland, Lincoln and the Liberty Aircraft Engine 13 Estate Planning 14 A Lincoln with Lindbergh

published semi-yearly Volume II, Number 1 • spring, 2004 the lincoln link

First Production Lincoln Cars

The first twenty production Lincoln automobiles to be manufactured are lined up for inspection prior to delivery to newly appointed Lincoln distributors. The date of the photograph is August 31, 1920. Generally considered to be a 1921 model, the body style is Type 101, a seven-passenger touring car, the first of 1498 of this body type built by Murray. The Lincoln L series chassis carried 104 different body variations in the 66,000 Lincoln L cars built from 1920 through 1930.

On the cover: Mark Dietiker and Paul Misholek of Western Waterproofing Co. carefully remove the stone façade of the 1917 Lincoln Motor Company Detroit plant administration building prior to the razing of the buildings in 2002.

2 volume II, number 1

Saving the Lincoln Plant Stonework

by John T. Eby

ince 1917, the fifty-acre site at the corner of Warren and Livernois Avenues in Detroit, Michigan, has been dominated by a set of mas- Ssive yellow brick and limestone buildings known successively as the Lincoln Motor Company plant, the old Lincoln plant, and the Detroit Edison Yard. The 1917 buildings no longer exist— they were razed in late 2002. This is the chronicle of how a group of preservationists saved a portion of those buildings. The Detroit Lincoln Plant Administration Building immediately before its demolition in the autumn of 2002. The Lincoln Motor Car Foundation coordinated the Henry and Wilfred Leland removal and preservation of key portions of the stone façade of this historic building. built the Warren Avenue Lincoln Motor Company plant complex in verted the Warren Avenue facili- Henry Ford and his family. As the winter of 1917-18 to manu- ties for the manufacture of auto- part of the Society’s activities, facture the Liberty aircraft engine. mobiles, and in 1921 they intro- Mike had diligently spent a great This engine was a high-perfor- duced the “Leland built” Lincoln deal of time during 2001 and mance, U.S.-designed engine motor car. This plant produced 2002 attempting to arrange a tour used in World War I aircraft. The over 400,000 Lincoln motor cars of the Warren Avenue Lincoln engine design accommodated from 1921 to 1952, including the plant for the Society’s member- 4-cylinder, famous L, KA, and KB model ship. 6-cylinder, Lincolns, as well as Zephyrs, The old Lincoln plant was of V-8 and V-12 Continentals and early Mexican particular interest to the member- versions, Road Race Lincolns. When the ship of the Henry Ford although the Ford Motor Company moved Association because the plant and V-12 was the Lincoln vehicle assembly to its equipment was the major asset highest vol- Wayne, Michigan, Ford sold the purchased by Henry Ford as part ume variant Warren Avenue facility to Detroit of the bankruptcy sale of the produced. Edison. Detroit Edison, now a Lincoln Motor Company on The Lincoln part of DTE, used the complex as February 4, 1922. The Lincoln Motor offices, warehouses and a storage Motor Company had, unfortu- Company was yard for almost fifty years. nately, become one of many vic- one of five manufacturers of the Mike Skinner is the dynamic, tims of the 1920-21 post-war V-12 version of the engine during gregarious president of the Henry depression, and was forced into the war and built 6500 of the Ford Heritage Associa tion. The receivership just as it was intro- approximately 20,000 V-12’s pro- Association is a very active organi- ducing its new vehicles. The duced. zation dedicated to researching Lelands produced only 3107 After the war, the Lelands con- and preserving the heritage of vehicles before the firm folded.

3 A period aerial view of the Detroit Lincoln Motor plant. The Lincoln manufacturing, engineering and administration complex was originally constructed in 1917 on a fifty-acre site at the corner of Warren and Livernois Avenues. The complex stretched over a half a mile along Livernois Avenue. building shortly after the auction. After a series of dialogues dur- Mike was tenacious in his fol- ing which DTE sought to under low-up with DTE, and during stand the motives of the Henry one of his September, 2002, tele- Ford Heritage Associ a tion and phone conversations with DTE, the Lincoln Motor Car they informed him, “A tour Foundation, in which artifacts the would be impractical, because the Foundation was interested, and buildings are unsafe, and they are what would happen to them after scheduled to be razed. In removal, DTE granted per- fact, they are being mission for the donation demolished as we of major pieces of the speak.” “This is the stone façade of the Mike, a consum- Administration mate preservationist, type of Building. DTE recog- immediately asked if nized the desirability A Ford Motor Company promotional photograph of a 1926 Type 151 the Association could project for of tangibly preserving Lincoln Locke Sport Roadster posed have permission to a portion of the in the driveway of thet Lincoln Plant salvage some artifacts which the buildings, but the Administration Building in from the administra- endorsement was 1925/26. The Lincoln Motor Car tion building prior to qualified. They did Foundation saved the Lincoln nomen Foundation its demolition. Mike’s not have any funding clature and decorative stonework on the front of the building in the back- motive in making the exists.” to provide, and removal ground before the building was razed inquiry was to start a of stonework was entire- in 2002. The clock, unfortunately, dialogue with DTE on ly the Foundation’s was removed and lost many years behalf of a sister organiza- responsibility. ago. Photograph courtesy of Ford tion, the Lincoln Motor Car After some dialogue, the Motor Company. Foundation. He knew that that demolition contractor, Homrich, The bankruptcy auction took place group would be vitally interested Inc., who legally held title to the outdoors, on the main steps of the in saving pieces of the plant. The buildings during the demolition, Lincoln administration building, DTE site managers agreed to also granted permission for the and the Lelands and the Fords inquire as to the practicality of stonework donation. Their consummated the sale in the removing some items. endorsement too was qualified. 4 An aerial view of the Lincoln Factory complex in the process of being razed in the autumn of 2002. This plant produced 6500 Liberty V-12 aircraft engines during World War I and over 400,000 Lincoln automobiles during its lifetime. Photograph courtesy of R.A. Place. They did not believe themselves tors. We will be happy to adjust worry. We’re building a Baptist capable of suitably removing our schedule and cooperate with temple about a mile stonework for preservation. “We your contractor, but the stone- from the old are, after all, demolition contrac- work must be removed within Lincoln plant. We’ll two weeks so that our project have our people timing is not further compro- swing past to assess mised.” the project, find you On October 11, 2002, the a qualified masonry Lincoln Motor Car Foundation contractor, and had permission to remove about supervise the job. 2000 pounds of limestone blocks Things like this are from the façade of the second worth saving.” story of the old Lincoln Motor Jerry Capizzi, Earle Brown Company administration build- and Doug Mattix of The Lincoln ing—if they could find a suitable Motor Car Foundation: contractor, provide funding and “Fantastic! You bet that you can have the task completed in two count on us for funding, and we’ll weeks. Enter the “White Knights” recruit some others. This is the . . . type of project for which the First on the scene was Dick Foundation exists.” They subse- Duncan, one of the founders of quently recruited fellow Jerome-Duncan Ford, a large Foundation members Bob Ford dealership in Sterling Anderson, Bill Gerrard, Alan Heights, Michigan: “I’ve heard of McWade and David Roycroft as your project. Whatever you need, contributors. just ask. You can store or display Rich Voytowich, Ford Motor Mark Dietiker, Paul Misholek, and the stonework at our facility, and Company: “We’ll provide the Jim Strong of Western Waterproofing I’ll arrange for transportation.” press releases and media coordina- spent three days separating and low- Gary Roncelli of Roncelli tion for you, and get you some ering the major decorative granite blocks from the front of the Lincoln Construction, a major commercial coverage on radio and TV and Motor Company Administration contractor, also from Sterling inside Ford. Tell us when and Building. Heights, Michigan: “Not to where.” 5 the lincoln link

Gary Roncelli: “We’ve found two outstanding contractors for you, and recommend that you take the lower of the two bids. We’ll donate the supervision, transport, store and clean the stonework, and, if you don’t mind, film the process.” Jason Homrich, Homrich, Inc.: “Pick the dates that are convenient for you and we’ll work around your schedule. We’ll do all we can to assist you.” During October 22- 24, 2002, Western Waterproofing, a historic building restoration contractor, erected scaffolding over the front of the administration building and carefully sawed the joints of seven large limestone blocks over the main entrance of the old Lincoln Motor Company administration building. The major limestone blocks that spell “Lincoln” and the carved, decorative oak leaf branch- es that flanked a long-gone clock were separated with great care The front of the Lincoln Administration building after the surgery to save the from the supporting brick wall and decorative stone pieces. The building no longer exists, but it is hoped that the carefully lowered to the ground by entrance will be reconstructed as part of a Lincoln vehicle display facility. crane. ing doorway as part of a vehicle automotive structure has been The blocks now belong to the display facility open to the public. preserved to serve as a physical membership of the Lincoln Motor As a result of the efforts of a manifestation of our collective Car Foundation. Utilizing these wide group of preservationists heritage. The Lincoln Motor Car original pieces as the core, the and those interested in industrial Foundation and the public are the Foundation plans to reconstruct history, a small portion of a very beneficiaries of their timely gener- the Lincoln administration build- important historic aviation and osity.

6 volume II, number 1

Leland, Lincoln and the Liberty Aircraft Engine by John T. Eby role in the War that late in 1914 The cause of “Don’t get he personally met with Woodrow involved” was dealt a serious s World War I raged on Wilson to promote American blow when, on May 7, 1915, off through 1915 and 1916, intervention, and, in particular, the southern coast of Ireland, the debate about the fostering of an American air- the German submarine U-20 American entry into the craft industry. Mr. Wilson’s reply sank the British passenger liner war consumed the atten- was, “Don’t worry, Leland—I’ll Lusitania with an unannounced tionA of the U.S. public. The keep America out of war.” torpedo attack. The ship sank in American government, led by twenty minutes with the loss of President Woodrow Wilson, was 1198 lives, including 128 a unique blend of isolation- Americans. The American ists, pacifists, and public was enraged, those who truly and there were believed that the demands for an Americans could facili- immediate declara- tate the brokering of a tion of war on peace. Most of the Germany. The Wilson popular press, on the administration instead other hand, was active- chose to use diplomacy, ly agitating for American and solicited an agreement intervention on the side of from the Germans to pay the Western Allies, Britain reparations and to cease and France. submarine attacks on pas- Henry Leland, the president senger ships without warn- of the Cadillac Motor ing. Company, a subsidiary of A stalemate existed General Motors, frequently throughout 1916 on the traveled in Europe and had Western Front in France. many professional and person- The war had deteriorated al contacts there. Based on into deadly trench warfare those trips and meetings, he and, after repeated attempts, had sadly believed since 1913 both the Western Allies that war in Europe was inevi- and the Central Powers led table and that the United States by Germany lost hope of gaining would have to become involved. The American automobile industry significant ground. The “Unless we intervene, our pres- produced over 20,000 Liberty aircraft Germans, responding to the lack ent civilization may be engines during World War I. Most of of progress against the French destroyed,” he was quoted as these engines were 400-horsepower and British, and hoping to choke V-12 engines. Note in this V-12 cross saying. off supplies coming from North section the modern configuration of Mr. Leland believed so overhead valves and overhead dual America, reinstated unrestricted strongly in the coming American camshafts. submarine warfare early in 1917.

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Motors, and Billy Durant, who controlled GM, initially refused to allow participation in the war effort. “This is not our war, and I will not permit any General Motors unit to do work for the government,” he told Wilfred Leland, Henry’s son, who was second in command at Cadillac. When the conversation was repeated to Henry Leland, he was devas- tated. He was also uncharacteristi- cally vocally furious at the appar- ently uncompromising viewpoint of Billy Durant, which Mr. Leland Packard and Lincoln personnel review the first running prototype of the Liberty viewed as unpatriotic. engine at the Detroit Packard plant on July 28, 1917. The prototype was an At that time, the United eight-cylinder configuration, but most of the Liberty production was the twelve- cylinder version. Wilfred Leland is to the left of the engine. Henry Leland is States had a very small aircraft immediately in front of the engine, discussing it with Alvan Macauley, president engine industry that potentially of Packard. Photo courtesy of NAHC, Detroit Public Library. could be expanded; however, a strategy of creating a new, stan- This precipitous decision set the French request for aircraft and dardized aircraft engine became stage for American entry into the also to meet the anticipated the preferred approach. This pro- war on the side of the Western needs of the American forces. gram would pool the best avail- Allies—and ultimately the cre- Henry Leland believed that it able existing engine technolo- ation of the Lincoln Motor was necessary for the United gies, simplify engine mainte- Company and Ford Motor States—and himself personally— nance, and harness the manufac- Company’s production of luxury to be involved in the War. He turing capabilities of the U.S. automobiles. also was the most accomplished automotive industry to build the On April 6, 1917, after the precision internal combustion engines. The resulting family of sinking of a number of American engine manufacturer in the engines was named the U.S.A. merchant vessels by German sub world, and he had a growing Standardized Aircraft Engine, marines, the United States interest in seeing automotive popularly known as the declared war on the Central engine technology and manufac- “Liberty” engine. Powers. Already the British and turing methods applied to the French had been discussing their rapidly emerging aircraft indus- n June 3, 1917, after consul- needs for men and equipment try. Cadillac had the manpower, tations with the British and with the Americans, and on May technology and facilities to be O French and some prelimi- 23, 1917, the French formally able to make an immediate con- nary design work, the U.S. War requested 4500 airplanes and tribution to the war effort. Department cloistered a small 5000 pilots from the United Cadillac had also recently pur- engine design team in a suite of States. chased land on Clark Street in rooms at the new Willard Hotel Among the many problems Detroit and erected a new build- in Washington, D.C. In a remark- facing the Americans as they pre- ing that could be quickly con- able five days, by working twenty- pared for a major war was how verted to aircraft engine produc- four hours a day, the group had to procure a large number of tion. Unfortunately, Cadillac’s an initial design for a new, high- reliable aircraft engines in a short involvement was not Henry performance aircraft engine family. period of time. This task was Leland’s decision to make. Jesse G. Vincent of Packard and vital to complying with the Cadillac was part of General Elbert J. Hall of Hall-Scott Motor 8 volume II, number 1

Car Company from San Francisco led the team, supported by about two hundred people from a vari- ety of other companies. The new engine family was water cooled, with coil ignition, overhead valves and overhead camshafts. It was designed to be built of standardized parts in four-cylinder and six-cylinder inline versions and eight- and twelve-cylinder variants in a for- ty-five-degree V configuration. The four, six and V-8 versions were never put into volume production; it was the 1650-cubic- inch, 400-horsepower V-12 that became the most popular version. Above: At its peak production in 1918, Lincoln employed about It is the V-12 6000 people producing aircraft engines, including (left) this World War I version of Rosie the Riveter, seen welding Liberty configuration engine water jackets. A great number of women were employed that comes to in manufacturing businesses during the war due to the short- mind when one age of men. Photo courtesy of NAHC, Detroit Public Library. hears the term “Liberty Engine.” All of the major The high-volume create a new company solely for American automo- cylinder and piston the manufacture of aircraft tive and aircraft manu- rod bearing manufactur- engines. On July 3, 1917, they facturers unselfishly con- ing techniques were devel- both left Cadillac, and, fully tributed technology and person- oped by Ford. aware of the new standardized nel to creating the new engine, A working V-8 version of the engine project, immediately left and the best international engine was delivered to the U.S. for Washington, D.C., to offer designs were copied. The forged, Bureau of Standards on July 3, to the government their services separate cylinders were copied 1917, one month after the and their plans to build a plant. from Rolls Royce and Mercedes; design process was initiated. A the fork-and-blade piston rod V-12 version of the engine ven though they had a and crankshaft configuration passed a fifty-hour running test working prototype, the War from DeDion and Cadillac on August 25, 1917. This was a E Department was still in the (Leland); the cam shaft and valve truly remarkable accomplishment midst of the design phase of the mechanism from Mercedes and in such a short period of time; new engine and was not in a Packard; the cam shaft, propeller however, the task of creating position to award contracts or hubs, crank shaft and piston high volume, reliable production make commitments for produc- designs from Hall-Scott; the would be even more challenging! tion. Though the military people water pump from Packard; and After Billy Durant’s curt refus- were impressed with the capabili- the carburetor from Zenith. The al of GM involvement in the war ty and sincerity of the Lelands, engines used Delco coil ignition effort, Henry and Wilfred Leland they were asked to wait for the systems and Allison bearings. made plans to leave Cadillac and appropriate time. 9 the lincoln link

The Lelands were convinced volumes and contracts. A suitable site at the end of that in order to shorten the war, Eventually contracts for the fol- the Warren Avenue trolley line in it was vital to initiate a produc- lowing V-12 engine volumes Detroit was found, but it would tion plan for the new engine were signed: Packard, 6000 have to be assembled by joining immediately. They wanted to be engines; Nordyke & Marmon, a large number of parcels, some a key element of that plan. 3000 engines; Ford, 5000 of which had already been subdi- Without any commitment from engines; General Motors vided for housing. After a rapid the government, they returned (Cadillac and Buick), 2000 marathon set of negotiations, the to Detroit and purchased a small engines (Billy Durant had recon- Lelands successfully melded the factory building and some sidered his position); and separate pieces of property into a adjoining residences on Holden Lincoln, 6000 engines. On fifty-acre site adjoining a rail line. Avenue. They utilized their own August 31, 1917, Lincoln was In September 1917 ground was capital for the equipment, the first manufacturer to formally broken for a complex of eight remodeling and expansion in sign their contract. buildings with an aggregate floor preparation for the manufacture The Lincoln Motor Company space of 616,000 square feet, of aircraft engines. The reputa- plant on Holden Avenue had and on February 22, 1918, tion of the Lelands quickly only about 110,000 square feet Lincoln formally took possession attracted additional capital and of office, warehouse and manu- of the new buildings. The mas- people to their new enterprise, facturing space. The facility sive main manufacturing build- and the Lincoln Motor allowed the manufacture of four- ing was four stories high and ran Company was incorporated on teen of the new V-12 Liberty for three city blocks along August 29, 1917, with an initial engines per day. The contract to Livernois Avenue. capital of $1,500,000 and with which Lincoln had committed During the construction of many of the Lelands’ old required the capability to manu- the new plant complex, Lincoln Cadillac associates. facture seventy engines each day continued to perfect their pro- In August of 1917 the gov- —a four hundred percent duction processes and to respond ernment called a meeting of the increase! New facilities were to the stream of engineering six preferred manufacturers for quickly needed, and again the design changes at their Holden the new engines to discuss costs, Lelands did not hesitate. Avenue facilities. On February 4, 1918, the first Lincoln-built A gleaming Liberty engine was produced at array of com- the Holden Avenue plant. pleted Liberty twelve-cylinder Production gradually started to aircraft engines increase and was shifted to the awaits ship- new Warren Avenue facility. In ment at the the month of August, 1918, one Lincoln Motor year after the signing of their Company plant. Lincoln contract, Lincoln produced 851 manufactured engines; in October they pro- 6500 such duced 1111 engines. The five engines manufacturers produced a total between Febru of 4002 engines in October; ary 1918 and only Ford was able to exceed January 1919. Photo courtesy Lincoln’s monthly rate. of NAHC, In a very short period of time, Detroit Public Lincoln and the rest of the Library. American automotive industry had designed the state-of-the-art aircraft engine and reliably produced 10 volume II, number 1

it in volumes unthinkable a year earlier. During that short period, Lincoln had also successfully planned, built and equipped a totally new facility within which to build the engine, and had remod- eled and equipped a second facility. The entrance of the United States into the war and the fail- ure of the German submarine program to stem the flow of men and supplies from North America dramatically shifted the balance on the Western Front in favor of the Western Allies. On November 11, 1918, an armi- stice was signed, ending hostili- ties in the Great War. The production of the Liberty aircraft The Lincoln Motor Company was created to produce World War I Liberty air- engines slowed and ceased at craft engines. Henry Leland (far left) and Wilfred Leland (third from right) Lincoln in January 1919. and the Lincoln management team examine engine number 6500 completed by For four of the V-12 Liberty Lincoln in January 1919. Photograph courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, engine manufacturers, the end of National Automotive History Collection. aircraft engine production simply meant that they returned their stripped and converted to vehicle or completed at the factory. Even facilities, assets and people to their manufacturing. Again, the Ford Motor Company was forced previous automobile businesses. Leland name and reputation to shut indefinitely over the The Lincoln Motor Company had attracted capital and people. In Christmas 1920 holiday for no such business to which to November, 1919, the first dis- inventory adjustments. return, and it had huge facilities, a tributor for the coming Lincoln Lincoln sold only 700 vehicles large debt, and 5600 employees. motor car was appointed, rapidly from September through followed by fifteen more in the December 1920, falling far short he Lelands briefly consid- major cities in the country. The of the 6000 vehicles that had ered using the Lincoln car was introduced on September been originally planned. As the T Motor Company facilities to 16, 1920, to great acclaim and economic situation in America manufacture engines for other interest from the public. worsened through 1921 and automobile manufacturers, but Unfortunately for the Lelands, automobile sales continued to the Lelands’ true interest was in the introduction of their new decline, Lincoln completely producing automobiles. Henry vehicle occurred coincidentally exhausted its working capital. and Wilfred Leland, who had with the 1920-21 post-war The plant operated on a part- created the Cadillac and its repu- depression. Because of the eco- time basis, and prices were tation for fine engineering and nomic problems, sales of all types reduced in an attempt to stimu- innovation, set out to create of new vehicles plummeted and late sales, but to no avail. By the “the finest motor car ever built” customers and dealers canceled end of 1921, Lincoln had totally —the Lincoln automobile. orders. Walter Murphy, the depleted its financial resources, The company was reorganized Lincoln distributor in Los and no additional capital was and recapitalized, and the Warren Angeles, flatly refused delivery of forthcoming. The only option Avenue facilities were quickly 400 Lincolns that were in transit left, in the opinion of the 11 the lincoln link

Lincoln Board of Directors—but mobile industry. agement situation continued to not of the Lelands or William T. The auction proceeded quickly. deteriorate, and within a few Nash—was receivership. Only three bidders had made months the Lelands retired from Saturday, February 4, 1922, deposits that qualified them for the Ford Motor Company, end- was a typical Detroit winter the sale. By prearrangement, ing their brief, but critical, associa- day—cold, gray and blustery. Henry Ford’s agent, Harold tion with the Lincoln automobile. This was the day set by the Emmons, who strangely was also Federal District Court for the the Lelands’ attorney, bid eight he Lelands, after so many sig- auction of the assets of Lincoln million dollars. Since there were nificant contributions to the Motor Company. The sale was no other bids, the court officer T early years of the automotive to take place at 10 o’clock in the accepted Ford’s offer, and after a industry, remained in Detroit, but morning on the steps of the short signing ceremony, the faded into automotive history. large, yellow brick Lincoln Motor Lincoln Motor Company became Henry Leland died on March 26, administration building on Warren the property of Henry Ford. 1932, at the age of 89, and Avenue. Starting at about nine The Lelands expected to stay Wilfred Leland died on January o’clock, spectators expecting with Lincoln and help with the 20, 1958, at the age of 88. Henry Ford to be the purchaser management of the newest Ford The famed, powerful Liberty started to gather in front of the division, and immediately after the engine, although obsolete, was building. By 10 o’clock, when sale they became Ford Motor used in aircraft until the early the court officer took his seat at Company employees. However, 1930’s, as a tank engine in World a table in front of the main doors, their management style was War II, and was a favorite of three thousand people had gath- understandably different from speedboat racers and rum runners ered to witness this drama Ford’s approach, and clashes during Prohibition. Liberty between two giants of the auto- quickly began to occur. The man- engines powered the Ford Motor Company’s first commercial airplanes, the 2-AT Air Pullmans which were used in scheduled service between Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland in 1925. Liberties also powered the first aerial cross- ing of the Atlantic in 1919 and the first circumnavigation of the globe in 1924. After its conversion to automobile production, the Lincoln Liberty engine plant was utilized continuously to build all of the Lincoln automobiles through the 1952 model year, with a break for World War II. It was razed in 2002. The Lincoln automobile con- tinues to be produced in volumes that would have stunned, The Ford and Leland families strike a pose after the signing of the agreement for but also delighted, the Lelands. the purchase of the Lincoln Motor Company by the Ford Motor Company on February 4, 1923. The photograph was taken in the Lincoln Room of the Lincoln Motor Company administration building. From left: Henry Leland, Eleanor Ford, Edsel Ford, Clara Ford, Henry Ford, Blanche Leland, Wilfred Leland. Photograph courtesy of NAHC, Detroit Public Library. 12 volume II, number 1

A straightforward document, preferably prepared with legal assistance, will make sure your things go where you want them to go after you pass on. Such a document also makes life simpler for the estate executor and sur- viving spouse in dealing with family and officialdom. When you plan the dispersal of your estate, consider the Lincoln Motor Car Foundation. Earmarking funds or securities to the Foundation will help assure that the Lincoln Heritage is preserved for generations to come. Of course, all donations to the Estate Planning Foundation, designated by the IRS as a non-profit organization, will offer you tax advantages. Beyond funds, donations of for the Lincoln Enthusiast physical items such as your artifacts, publications, perhaps even n this age, those critical of taking appropriate action to cars, to the Foundation will be words, “estate planning,” follow the wishes of a departed accepted and preserved in your usually refer to money, but mate or at least see that the col- name, when we are in a position it can involve more than lection items are preserved. But to do so. Check with us. Give a money. Estate planning can in recent years we have observed thought, also, to anything you Isimply be a clear directive stating sad examples of what can hap- might have that relates to how you want your possessions pen. A distraught and grieving Lincoln history, usage or organi- disbursed after you die. Yes, widow, for example, can be help- zations. Material such as photo- think about possessions, as well less in deciding what to do with graphs, correspondence, meet as money. Consider possessions her husband’s hobby things, and restoration records, and the of all kinds, including hobby which are frequently in disarray. like, are all part of the Lincoln items that mean a lot to you. The collection can remain lore. This is often considered You or someone knowledgeable unprotected and deteriorates. worthless, but could be priceless. must judge the worth of your Sometimes a collection suffers Moreover, we suggest you sit hobby-related accumulation, and due to water damage, theft, care- down with a tape recorder and only you should decide what lessness or family greed. A jeal- friends and record your Lincoln exactly should be done with it ous spouse could “get even” by experiences, tips and anecdotes after you die. You should leave throwing out the “junk” she as living history for future instructions. “No hurry in doing thought hubby loved more than generations. this,” you say. “I’ll be around a her. Widows may hold out for Your contributions, great or long time.” We hope so, but unreasonable prices because he small, all add to the heritage of accidents and illness are no said that was what it was worth. the Lincoln automobile. The respecter of persons. Situations change; the house may Lincoln Motor Car Foundation Most spouses fully appreciate be sold. Storage space is lost and is the custodian of that heritage. the importance of a Lincoln valuable things are tossed out in —by the Editor hobby collection and are capable a panic. And so forth. 13 the lincoln link

A Lincoln with Lindbergh

incoln automobiles worked into the main- stream of communities everywhere, thanks both to its reputation for quali- Lty and to the effective wide promotion and distribution of Ford Motor Company products. So it was that, somewhere in the United States, a Lincoln model 124A seven-passenger touring car was a part of a major Charles Lindbergh event in 1927. It carried the famed New York-to- Paris flier from a landing field to a city center amid crowds of adoring fans. The event was part of a well publicized and carefully planned States by Lindbergh in his Spirit the Daniel Guggenheim Fund 22,000-mile tour of the United of St. Louis airplane. Funded by for the Promotion of Aero

14 volume II, number 1

nautics, the tour visited and honors along the way. every one of the 48 States. Keep in mind that The tour required 97 take- Lindbergh flew this compli- offs and landings during 96 cated trip in a business suit, days, from 20 July to 23 and in an unstable airplane October, 1927. Every stop with no forward vision or was timed to arrive at exact- radio, navigational aids, ly 2:00 p.m. on the dot, brakes or tail wheel. He was except one which was truly a superbly experienced delayed by total fog. Some and gifted pilot, dedicated small cities were remembered to demonstrating the safety with a weighted note. and reliability of travel by The tour was enormously air. popular, with crowds of And a Lincoln served a hero-worshiping well-wish- proud community when ers and parades, banquets they needed it.

Grateful acknowledgement is made to R.E.G. Davies, Paladwr Press, and his book Charles Lindbergh, An Airman, His Aircraft, and His Great Flights, Lindbergh gave Henry Ford his first airplane flight for the use of these illustrations. on August 11, 1927. 15 Founder William Clay Ford, Sr. Trustees Robert J. Anderson Earle O. Brown, Jr. Jerry Capizzi Chadwick A. Coombs John T. Eby Jerry L. Emery Darryl B. Hazel Dr. Richard J. Hopeman John S. Juratovic Vaughn Koshkarian Douglas W. Mattix Lee H. Miskowski H. Gene Nau Dr. David W. Roycroft Jack E. Shea John J. Telnack Roy N. Thorson Lifetime Members Nanette Anderson Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Anderson* Robert J. Anderson, Jr. Alan S. Berg Mr. & Mrs. Harry Bernardon Bob Boos* Mr. & Mrs. Earle O. Brown, Jr.* James Robert Brown Jeanne Brown Charles M. Cawley Jerry Capizzi David L. Cole Harold Doug Courtney C. Joel & Suzanne S. Dickson Michael D. Dingman Betsy T. Dingman Patrick M. Dingman David R. Dingman Chris W. Dunn 1926 English advertisement James I. Dunne Elizabeth L. Eby John M. Eby John T. Eby Leon B. Flagg Membership in the Lincoln Motor Car Foundation William Jake Fleming* William T. Gerrard Keith H. Gornick Name ______Address �� Gordon D. & Virginia D. Harbuck Judith A. Herrmann City/State/Zip �� Jack Juratovic* Allan Kammerer Ed & Hazel Lacey Telephone______E-mail �� C. Manley Wendell Mathis ■ Annual $25 ■ Annual Sustaining $100 ■ Lifetime $1000 Douglas W. Mattix John R. McNabb ■ Annual Corporate $1000 ■ Memorial ($500 minimum, please provide name) Allen R. McWade James G. III & Joan M. Milne Contributions to The Lincoln Motor Car Foundation are fully tax deductible. Please make Lloyd E. & June M. Pearson checks payable to The Lincoln Motor Car Foundation. Mail to: Jack Shea, Treasurer, 5022 David Petit Harbortown Lane, Fort Myers, FL 33919-4651. David & Elizabeth Roycroft Glen D. Roycroft Stephen F. Sauer THE LINCOLN LINK is the official Newsletter of The Lincoln Motor Car Heritage Museum and Jim Schmidt Jack E. Shea Research Foundation, Inc., 565 Haverhill Road, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304. Opinions Charles A. Steward expressed herein do not necessarily represent or reflect Foundation policy. Newsletter contributions Charles E. Taylor II should be sent to: Chadwick Arthur Coombs, Editor, 7482 Kennedy Road, Nokesville, Virginia Roy & Jeri Thorson 20181. Russell Upton Craig M. Watjen Alan S. Whelihan* ■ To introduce The Lincoln Link to Lincoln enthusiasts, the Foundation trustees are send- Carl A. Wolf ing the first and second issues to every member of every Lincoln club. Subsequent issues Bernie & Carolyn Wolfson will be mailed only to members of the Lincoln Motor Car Foundation. Tim & Billie Yeomans Robert W. Young *Lincoln vendors supporting the Foundation through lifetime membership