Junky
Well Known Member
Old Exhaust Stories Veterans Day
George and Earl
1. Holly, George and Earl that is, started life in Bradford, Pennsylvania in 1878, together they produced a small, single cylinder, 3-wheeled vehicle, they called it the “Runabout.” It would do 30 MPH. They recognized that this was the era of the Motorcar, with their knowledge and hard work they started the Holly Motor Company and made one 4 wheeled model. By 1902 the brothers made their first marketable automobile, the Holly Motorette. It sold for $550, they produced more than 600 of them.
2. Their first carburetor, called the ”Iron Pot” was used on the new “Curved Dash” Oldsmobile in 1904. Their new Holly Motor Company had then been established on Beaubien Street in Detroit. While they were selling carburetors to Oldsmobile they decided to give up on making cars concentrate on making carburetors and ignition systems.
3. However, it was because of their success building the Motorette, that Henry Ford commissioned them to produce carburetors for his Model T. The Model T carburetor was an immediate success, because of this success, they formed the Holly Carburetor Company which became one of Fords biggest suppliers.
4. In 1914 George Holly and Henry Leland (of Cadillac and Lincoln fame) went to Europe to study manufacturing techniques. At that time it was said that, “more than one-half of the automobiles sent out from American factories in 1914 were equipped with Holly carburetors.
5. By 1925 most carburetors were cast iron. A Holly employee, Daniel Meloche invented an improved refractory coating for the cast iron molds, allowing for permanent iron molds that made grey iron castings over many cycles, whereas earlier iron molds were quickly consumed when casting iron. This process employing life-long molds was leased to Fords “River Rouge” plant, as well as others.
6. George Holly, in the 1920s, became interested in and involved with many air transport companies. By 1931 George became director of the Warner Aircraft Corporation.
7. In 1952 Holly moved part of their operation from Michigan to Bowling Green, Kentucky, now the home of the Corvette. That year Holly produced the Visi-Flo carburetor with a glass inspection window allowing you to make a visual check of the fuel level, sediment, flooding and float action. This special carburetor was produced by Lancaster Lens Company, of Lancaster, Ohio.
8. In 1968, Colt Industries acquired Holly Carburetor of Warren, Michigan. At this time Holly was making Auto ignition systems, aviation fuel controls and employed about 3,000 people in four facilities in three states. Corporate Headquarters were still in Warren, Michigan with plants in Bowling Green, KY. Paris, Tenn. and Clare, Michigan
9. During the oil embargo of 1974 Holly was making carburetors for Fords new 4-cylinder cars (Pinto). The company moved it’s headquarters to Bowling Green, Kentucky.
10. Holley continued to dominate racing, (during the 1980’s) in NHRA Pro-Stock and the NASCAR Sprint series. They also entered the Fuel-Injection market for OEM-EFI components. The Holly Company is alive and well today.
George and Earl
1. Holly, George and Earl that is, started life in Bradford, Pennsylvania in 1878, together they produced a small, single cylinder, 3-wheeled vehicle, they called it the “Runabout.” It would do 30 MPH. They recognized that this was the era of the Motorcar, with their knowledge and hard work they started the Holly Motor Company and made one 4 wheeled model. By 1902 the brothers made their first marketable automobile, the Holly Motorette. It sold for $550, they produced more than 600 of them.
2. Their first carburetor, called the ”Iron Pot” was used on the new “Curved Dash” Oldsmobile in 1904. Their new Holly Motor Company had then been established on Beaubien Street in Detroit. While they were selling carburetors to Oldsmobile they decided to give up on making cars concentrate on making carburetors and ignition systems.
3. However, it was because of their success building the Motorette, that Henry Ford commissioned them to produce carburetors for his Model T. The Model T carburetor was an immediate success, because of this success, they formed the Holly Carburetor Company which became one of Fords biggest suppliers.
4. In 1914 George Holly and Henry Leland (of Cadillac and Lincoln fame) went to Europe to study manufacturing techniques. At that time it was said that, “more than one-half of the automobiles sent out from American factories in 1914 were equipped with Holly carburetors.
5. By 1925 most carburetors were cast iron. A Holly employee, Daniel Meloche invented an improved refractory coating for the cast iron molds, allowing for permanent iron molds that made grey iron castings over many cycles, whereas earlier iron molds were quickly consumed when casting iron. This process employing life-long molds was leased to Fords “River Rouge” plant, as well as others.
6. George Holly, in the 1920s, became interested in and involved with many air transport companies. By 1931 George became director of the Warner Aircraft Corporation.
7. In 1952 Holly moved part of their operation from Michigan to Bowling Green, Kentucky, now the home of the Corvette. That year Holly produced the Visi-Flo carburetor with a glass inspection window allowing you to make a visual check of the fuel level, sediment, flooding and float action. This special carburetor was produced by Lancaster Lens Company, of Lancaster, Ohio.
8. In 1968, Colt Industries acquired Holly Carburetor of Warren, Michigan. At this time Holly was making Auto ignition systems, aviation fuel controls and employed about 3,000 people in four facilities in three states. Corporate Headquarters were still in Warren, Michigan with plants in Bowling Green, KY. Paris, Tenn. and Clare, Michigan
9. During the oil embargo of 1974 Holly was making carburetors for Fords new 4-cylinder cars (Pinto). The company moved it’s headquarters to Bowling Green, Kentucky.
10. Holley continued to dominate racing, (during the 1980’s) in NHRA Pro-Stock and the NASCAR Sprint series. They also entered the Fuel-Injection market for OEM-EFI components. The Holly Company is alive and well today.
