Reo Magazine

Forest Parke Library and Archives - Capital Area District Libraries failed to give a man an added appreciation of the value of the name "Reo" on a mo tor car or motor truck. The standard of excellence to which every department must measure up, and does measure up, leaves no opportunity for the smallest detail to go wrong in the finished product. For those who cannot visit the factory in per son, a glance through these pages will give at least a partial idea of the care and thoroughness which makes the name "Reo" a guarantee of quality and efficiency for every motor car or motor truck that bears it. REO MOTOR CAR CO. REO MOTOR TRUCK CO. Lansing, Mich. Copyrighted, 1914, Reo Motor Car Co., Lansing, Mich. Forest Parke Library and Archives - Capital Area District Libraries WAS trying to sell Jones a Reo. Reothefifth was right up " on the "Well, the band's there all right Jones, you know, is one of these bit" all the way, fairly skimming - 30 pieces, too, and the way they I "from Mizzoury" fellows who along the hardpan, eating up the regale the populace on Saturday believe nothing they hear and only sandy stretches, taking the hills nights and holidays is enough to half what they see. A tough like an express elevator- whe-e-e-e- · send old Herman W. Creatore out customer, Jones is. Hard to sell, up- and then o.ver the brow, vol- · on the streets with a hurdy-gurdy." but once convinced that your planing down the other side, as the "Say, man, if your line of con proposition is right, he's your airship fellers say, witn-,tpe power versation were anywhere near as friend for life, and a steady booster cut off and not making a sound that good as this car, you'd have had my to boot. So my mind was made up you can hear above the rusb of air signature on the dotted line long to get his order or take my sign past your ears. · ago", snorted Jones, as we slipped down off the door. "Some car," Jones admitted. up Michigan Avenue, past the Jones liked the car- he couldn't And all the time I was feeding him Capital buildings. hide that. He liked her looks little fragments of useful informa "Well, if you want her, say so. her performance- her price. tion about the factory, such as They can't turn 'em out fast "But," said Jones, "how about "Did you ever see a structure more enough, and there's no telling but the factory behind the car? • Do than two blocks long, all under one what the sales manager might they build the cars to last, or just roof? Our main factory runs from swipe this one, if he saw her stand to sell? Is the factory in business Washington Avenue through Platt ing out in front of the factory, and for today only, or for the future? Street and Cedar Street. And ship her out to the dealer who You've got to sell me the factory, that's only one of the buildings." happens to be hollering the loudest my boy; I want to know something And again: "Employes! Say: for cars right now," I prodded. about the men who build the Reo; if the Reo bunch were to join hands The factory was looming into something about their ideals and · and form a line, the line would view. "No," returned Jones, "I their intentions. Tell me about reach three miles!" guess a factory that size doesn't the Reo organization, because a As we zipped through a little have much trouble keeping ahead car is no better than the men who village some boys in an adjoining of orders. Wh-e-e-ew"~ as his eye make it; you know what I mean. lot stopped their ball game to take took in the length of the main Now what have you got to say a slant at the car that was showing building- "What a plant! Enor about that?" such a speedy pair of heels. "That mous! Why, I had no idea it He thought he had me skidding. reminds me," said I, "they have a would be such a whopper. Do That's Jones- he knew I had the six-team league in the Reo shops. they need so much room?" best of him when it came to talking Guess that's some factory, eh? We drew up to the curb. "car," so he thought he could put Not just one nine, but a whole "You bet they do," said I. "All one over on me by springing the league-full." but the store-room. But we'll factory on me. This got Jones' goat. come to that later. This is the Lansing lay thirty miles away, "Oh quit your kidding," he main office building, and that one as the speedometer flies. It was popped. "You'll be telling me on the right is the engineering nine o'clock in the morning. about the Reo band that's going building." "Jones," said I , "jump in and we'll to meet us at the front gate, next." Jones looked at his watch "Fifty min have a look at the factory. utes," he exclaimed, · '"That's We'll be there in less than traveling some, over country an hour, and you can see roads." " Neve r mind that now," I returned , "It's the both how she runs and how factory you came to consider, she's built. That's my not the car, you know. Come answer." on and take in the sights One thing I admire about inside.'' Jones. You can't bluff him. " All right," he rejoined quick I don't know whether he ly. You haven't sold me yet, not by a long shot. The fac thought I was bluffing or tory's the thing." not, but anyway, in he "Then walk in," said I, and climbed and off we went. opened the front door. Forest Parke Library and Archives - Capital Area District Libraries R E 0 MAGAZINE The Men Who Make the Reo T IS always an inspiration to see a The studious looking gentleman, on big man at work. Emerson said the left in the lower illustration, is Mr. I that an institution is but the length Thomas. H e is talking over a very ened shadow of a man. If that is the particular point with Mr. Harry Teel, case, then when we see a big "shadow," who holds the important position of we may reasonably expect to see a " big" general factory superintendent. On the man responsible for it. theoretical knowledge of Mr. Thomas, · In the case of this institution, we backed by the practical application find not only one man of large capacity, given by Mr. Teel and his men, depends but we find that he is big enough not the actual road service of every R eo car. to attempt to be the only large man Mr. Thomas has been connected with around the place. He has surrounded the R eo organization ever since the pre himself with other men oflarge capacity, sent company was formed, - in fact, who work together as a general and his Mr. Scott secured him as soon as he staff on the field of battle - each in graduated from the technical school absolute charge of his brigade, and each where he received his professional educa dominated by a sense of loyalty to the tion, about fifteen years ago. His whole banner they are fighting under- a ban engineering career has centered around ner that bears the magic name "Reo." Reo the Fifth, and no small share of Before we step out into the big its success is due to his untiring efforts in guarding every engineering detail. factory, where we hear the hum of industry faintly reaching our I n this department, generally under ears like a great hive of bees, the personal supervision of Mr. T homas, let us drop in for just a few exhaustive tests are taken of samples moment's chat with the men who of every kind of material that goes into have made this big factory pos· the R eo product. sible, and whose generalship and Not all these tests are conducted in the experience keep it working as laboratory. Many of the heavy mechan smoothly as a watch. ical tests are conducted out in the factory, but they have all been worked out in ad First, this is Mr. R. E. Olds-a vance by Mr. Thomas, and results are re man whose name is forever linked with ported to him at frequent intervals. the very first beginnings of the motor R. E . Olds President Mr. Thomas says: "The Reo Motor Car car in America. It is more than 27 Company has the good fortune to be man years now since Mr. Olds first sur aged by practical men from the president prised the natives of Lansing, and down. • The prevailing idea in the engi adjoining cities, by actually produc neering department is to work strictly along ing a road vehicle that could propel practical lines, progressive, yet depending itself without calling on our old friend on sound, common-sense judgment, making the horse for assistance. no blunders for which the purchaser must As a boy, Mr. Olds was of a mechan pay. Every step we take, every invest i ical turn of mind, and spent every spare AGlimi>se lhto th~ Engi gation we make, is always conducted with moment in his father's machine shop, which one man in mind,-the ultimate user of the is still standing near the river, at Lansing.

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