WEBVTT

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- [Narrator] Electric
Legacy is brought to you by,

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(upbeat music)

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- [Narrator] At MidWest
America, we're proud

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to be a credit
union, not a bank.

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Which means we offer
everything you expect

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from a modern
financial institution

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like mobile banking, bill pay

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and easy access to
mortgages and other loans.

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But unlike a bank, we're local,
non-profit and member-owned.

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(crowd cheers)

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So we're accountable to
you not shareholders.

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(bubbles popping)

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And we invest in the
community we call home.

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MidWest America
Federal Credit Union,

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more than just a bank.

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- [Narrator] And by,

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(slow music)

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(dramatic music)

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- [Narrator] In the heart
of Fort Wayne, Indiana,

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you will find a
complex of buildings.

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Cold, empty husks
being torn apart

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by the elements from
years of neglect.

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It's a sight that many
Americans have grown callous to,

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a relic of the Rust Belt,

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another industrial factory
closed and forgotten.

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These buildings that have stood
for over one hundred years,

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once teamed with
thousands of workers.

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Its walls echoed with
clanking, humming and whirring

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from mighty machinery,
manufacturing multiple
product lines,

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cranking out millions of units,

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but this story is
not about buildings.

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It's about the people who
worked in these buildings,

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not just how they worked,
but how they lived.

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If these walls could talk,

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they would tell tales of
geniuses, pioneers, mavericks

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and of workers who
became a family.

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So what happened here?

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Why are these buildings
now empty and silent?

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Why did it all end?

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Perhaps what's more
interesting is how it began.

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And, all of the
stories in between.

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(dramatic music)

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(western music)
This whole story begins

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with the light bulb.

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Ask anyone and
they will tell you

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that Thomas Edison
invented the light bulb.

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Right?

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But it really isn't that simple.

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Not only was Thomas Edison
not the first person

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to think up the light bulb,

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the idea was patented two years
before Edison was even born.

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Edison made a better light
bulb by improving on ideas

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that came before him.

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Before Thomas Edison
tinkered with light bulbs

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and became America's
most celebrated inventor,

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he was a telegraph operator for
the Wabash Railroad Company.

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It was this job that brought
him to Fort Wayne, Indiana

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in the summer of 1864 when
he was just 17 years old.

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It would be another 15 years

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before inventor Thomas Alva
Edison would triumphantly emerge

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from his lab with a practical
incandescent light bulb

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that could change
the world, however,

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someone other than
Edison would be the first

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to bring electric
lighting to Fort Wayne.

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Incandescent lamps
weren't the only means

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of electrical illumination
being experimented with

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at the time,

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another invention with a lot

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of momentum behind
it was arc lighting.

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Inventor Charles
Brush was the first

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to bring his arc light system
to the commercial market.

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Arc lights were much brighter

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than the incandescent light
bulb that Edison had designed.

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They were too bright
for small rooms.

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- The first advantage
of having of creation

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of electricity was
lights, of course.

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Street lights and
lights in large spaces

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such as a
manufacturing facility,

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'cause arc lights you couldn't
have in a room like this.

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It would, it just wouldn't work.

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- [Narrator] In 1880, a Brush
arc light system was put

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into operation in
Wabash, Indiana,

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making it the first city
in the United States

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to illuminate their streets
entirely via electricity.

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In 1881 James Jenney
and a business partner,

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Walter S. Hicks, traveled
to Fort Wayne, Indiana,

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in hopes of finding
investors in a venture

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to manufacture and
sell arc light systems.

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- Fort Wayne was already
considered a railroad center.

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There were six rail lines
that went North, East,

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South and West, so there
was a lot of activity.

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The town had a
reputation for success

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that brought businesses here.

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You had a skilled workforce.

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- [Narrator] Jenney and Hicks,

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however were finding it
difficult to lure investors

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and their trip to the
Summit City was proving

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to be fruitless.

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The two discouraged men
returned to the Aveline Hotel,

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where they were staying

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and sat down for
an evening meal.

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That night, a chance encounter

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with a fellow diner
would change their luck

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and the course of
Fort Wayne history.

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They struck up a
conversation with John Kiess,

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a shipping clerk

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with the Evans-McDonald
wholesale dry goods company.

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They told Keiss
about their reason

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for traveling to Fort Wayne.

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Keiss eagerly made arrangements

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for them to meet
with his employer.

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- "Yeah, I know somebody who
might want to look at that."

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Because he knew his
boss was an entrepreneur

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who would jump on a good
idea and carry it through,

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to the max actually.

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And so that's how
it was arranged.

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- [Narrator] Ranald Trevor
McDonald was an entrepreneur

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with a penchant for investing in

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and promoting new
business ventures.

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- There would be no
company without him,

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I'm certain of that.

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It appears that he was
a man who saw an idea

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and used all of his energy

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to make a successful operation.

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- [Narrator] Not
only was he receptive

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to meeting with Jenney and Hicks

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but he immediately
made arrangements

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for a demonstration of
the arc light system

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in his warehouse
that very night.

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On Monday evening,
July 11th, 1881,

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with everything in place,

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the switch was thrown

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and a blazing light emitted

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from Jenney's arc lights.

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A newspaper account
from the evening said

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"the warehouse was made
as bright as the sun."

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One week later McDonald

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and several other
investors made an agreement

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with Hicks to finance
the manufacture

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and sale of the arc
light and dynamo system.

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- He was able,
certainly in the case

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of the Jenney Electric
Lights and others

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to see into the future,

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that with the proper
capitalization,
investment and energy,

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one could develop a
profit-making business

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out of this electric light idea.

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(chiming music)
- [Narrator] And so,

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in the summer of 1881,

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the Fort Wayne Electric
Light Company was formed.

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The products were advertised
under the Jenney name,

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making Jenney Electric
interchangeable

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with Fort Wayne
Electric Company,

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at least in the public's mind.

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In June of 1883,

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the company made baseball
history by installing lights

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at Fort Wayne's League Park.

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The first night game

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involving a professional
team was played

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under the bright
arc lights installed

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by the young Charles Jenney.

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R.T. McDonald was
not just an investor

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and officer of the company

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but he was also the chief
promoter and salesman.

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He would travel all
over the country

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in a quest to land
new contracts.

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Sometimes he would visit a
town in a private rail car,

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often hiring a band
to herald his arrival

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with fanfare and a parade.

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He would hold public meetings

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and extol the virtues
of electricity in hopes

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the town leaders would purchase
a Fort Wayne Jenney system

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to light the streets
of their town.

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Around this time,

07:48.033 --> 07:50.233 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
a future Fort Wayne
Electric Company employee

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was making a name for
himself in New York.

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James J. Wood is frequently
mentioned alongside

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Thomas Edison, Elihu
Thomson and Charles Brush

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as one of the key
pioneering inventors

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in applied electrical science.

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- Wood, I think,
was on the level,

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at the genius level basically.

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And I think he could see
how electricity flowed

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and then figure out
how to build a machine

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to make it do what he wants.

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- [Narrator] Wood excelled
at all things mechanical.

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He is credited with
designing the machinery

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that made the connections for
the suspension cables used

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in the construction of
the Brooklyn Bridge.

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In 1880 he received
his first patent

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at the age of 24

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for his design of
an arc light dynamo.

08:36.433 --> 08:38.733 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
He had several more
patents under his belt

08:38.733 --> 08:39.966 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
when he won the contract

08:39.966 --> 08:42.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
to install the first
floodlight system

08:42.400 --> 08:47.033 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
for the newly built
Statue of Liberty in 1885.

08:47.033 --> 08:49.000 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
As James Wood's star was rising

08:49.000 --> 08:51.466 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
in the East the sun
was about to set

08:51.466 --> 08:53.733 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
on the Jenney era in Fort Wayne.

08:53.733 --> 08:55.933 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Although James Jenney
had founded the company

08:55.933 --> 08:58.500 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
with the business
skills of R.T. McDonald,

08:58.500 --> 09:00.533 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
it was Jenney's son, Charles,

09:00.533 --> 09:03.533 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
that was the technical
genius behind the patents.

09:03.533 --> 09:04.966 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
Charles parted ways

09:04.966 --> 09:08.266 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
with the Fort Wayne Electric
Light Company in 1885

09:08.266 --> 09:10.066 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
and moved to Indianapolis,

09:10.066 --> 09:13.433 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
where he soon procured funding
to start his own company,

09:13.433 --> 09:16.933 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
the Jenney Electric
Company of Indianapolis.

09:16.933 --> 09:20.633 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
R.T. McDonald wasted no time
in recruiting another genius

09:20.633 --> 09:22.500 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
to replace Charles Jenney.

09:22.500 --> 09:25.766 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Marmaduke Marcellus Michael
Slattery was employed

09:25.766 --> 09:27.300 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
as the chief electrician

09:27.300 --> 09:31.400 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and came to the Fort Wayne
Jenney Electric Works in 1887.

09:31.400 --> 09:34.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- At that time, he was
just had the Jenney system,

09:34.233 --> 09:38.500 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
producing arc lights
and he foresaw

09:38.500 --> 09:41.233 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
that the incandescent
light had a future

09:41.233 --> 09:46.000 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and Slattery had developed
his own incandescent system.

09:46.000 --> 09:48.700 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- [Narrator] Slattery, who
was known as Duke to many,

09:48.700 --> 09:51.600 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
came to America from
Limerick, Ireland.

09:51.600 --> 09:55.066 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
He was a pioneer in the
field of alternating current.

09:55.066 --> 09:57.333 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Slattery had another
interesting passion,

09:57.333 --> 10:00.000 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
battery-powered
electric vehicles.

10:00.000 --> 10:01.633 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
Duke was often seen riding

10:01.633 --> 10:05.300 align:left position:22.5% line:77% size:67.5%
his battery-powered
three-wheeled bike
around Fort Wayne.

10:05.300 --> 10:07.933 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
During his travels McDonald
had made a connection

10:07.933 --> 10:11.633 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
with another successful
businessman, Charles A. Coffin

10:11.633 --> 10:13.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
who just happened to
be the president of one

10:13.833 --> 10:17.266 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
of the largest
electrical apparatus
manufacturing companies

10:17.266 --> 10:21.266 align:left position:22.5% line:77% size:67.5%
in the United States,
the Thomson-Houston
Electric Company.

10:21.266 --> 10:25.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70%
Coffin admired
McDonald's salesmanship
and marketing savvy.

10:25.000 --> 10:29.766 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
- Coffin appreciated McDonald's
unusual executive ability

10:30.966 --> 10:33.500 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
and knew him for a
bluff individual,

10:34.700 --> 10:37.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
erratic and daring
but just and shrewd.

10:39.066 --> 10:41.500 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
McDonald's methods
were not Coffin's

10:41.500 --> 10:43.500 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
but the two men were probably

10:43.500 --> 10:47.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
the most successful
merchandisers

10:47.033 --> 10:49.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
in the electrical
industry in that period.

10:49.666 --> 10:51.200 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] In a daring move

10:51.200 --> 10:53.900 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
to raise cash to keep up with
production demands McDonald

10:53.900 --> 10:56.200 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and other Fort Wayne
investors struck a deal

10:56.200 --> 10:58.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
with Coffin, selling
a controlling interest

10:58.700 --> 11:00.766 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
of the Fort Wayne
Electric Company's stock

11:00.766 --> 11:03.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
to the Thomson-Houston
Electric Company.

11:03.400 --> 11:05.333 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
- Coffin was much
more conservative

11:05.333 --> 11:07.566 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
in his business dealings.

11:07.566 --> 11:08.833 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
He could see into the future.

11:08.833 --> 11:11.766 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
He was trying to build
an empire, basically.

11:11.766 --> 11:13.233 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
So what he decided to do,

11:13.233 --> 11:15.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
"Well, I'll just buy controlling
interest in these companies

11:15.800 --> 11:18.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
"and buy their patents
at the same time."

11:18.000 --> 11:20.400 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
So he built a conglomerate.
(dramatic music)

11:20.400 --> 11:23.766 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] In 1888 a
disastrous fire destroyed most

11:23.766 --> 11:26.500 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
of the Fort Wayne Electric
Light Company's factory,

11:26.500 --> 11:28.900 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
putting the future of
the company in peril.

11:28.900 --> 11:33.900 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- In their warehouse
was $100,000 worth

11:34.633 --> 11:36.000 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
of goods ready to go.

11:36.000 --> 11:39.633 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
Now that's a lot
of money in 1888.

11:39.633 --> 11:41.100 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
A lot of money.

11:41.100 --> 11:44.500 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
Their production capacity to
supply their existing customers

11:44.500 --> 11:49.466 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
for parts and the
like were gone.

11:50.666 --> 11:52.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
So they weren't able
to generate income

11:52.200 --> 11:55.666 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
from selling supplies to
their existing companies.

11:55.666 --> 11:58.900 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
At the time they had
a six month backlog

11:58.900 --> 12:01.500 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
of orders for new installations,

12:01.500 --> 12:03.466 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
which they could not fulfill.

12:03.466 --> 12:04.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- [Narrator] Several
offers came in

12:04.700 --> 12:06.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
from other cities
enticing the factory

12:06.700 --> 12:08.566 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
to locate to their town.

12:08.566 --> 12:10.233 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
Charles Coffin announced

12:10.233 --> 12:13.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
that if Fort Wayne
could raise $30,000,

12:13.100 --> 12:16.566 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
the Thomson-Houston Company
would rebuild the factory.

12:16.566 --> 12:20.133 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
R.T. McDonald made a public
plea and the town responded,

12:20.133 --> 12:21.800 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
raising enough money

12:21.800 --> 12:24.500 align:left position:22.5% line:77% size:67.5%
to ensure the Fort
Wayne Electric Light
Company would rise

12:24.500 --> 12:25.966 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
from the ashes.

12:25.966 --> 12:28.733 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- They almost immediately
found other locations

12:31.700 --> 12:34.300 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
within the city, empty
factories or warehouse space

12:34.300 --> 12:36.433 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
where they could build up

12:36.433 --> 12:38.533 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and start operations
pretty quickly

12:38.533 --> 12:40.166 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
and the community
was oh definitely

12:40.166 --> 12:42.933 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
in support of keeping it here.

12:42.933 --> 12:44.733 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
- [Narrator] In August of 1889,

12:44.733 --> 12:47.433 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
the board members resolved
to shorten the company name

12:47.433 --> 12:49.433 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
for the purpose of
public promotion

12:49.433 --> 12:51.533 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
to the Fort Wayne
Electric Company,

12:51.533 --> 12:54.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
dropping the word
light from the title.

12:54.200 --> 12:57.166 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
They also resolved to drop
the use of the Jenney name

12:57.166 --> 13:00.500 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
from the company's public
and private profile.

13:00.500 --> 13:02.900 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
The Thomson-Houston
Electric Company had grown

13:02.900 --> 13:04.933 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
to one of the largest
electrical companies

13:04.933 --> 13:06.700 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
in the Eastern United States

13:06.700 --> 13:10.166 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
by acquiring smaller
companies with bright minds.

13:10.166 --> 13:12.700 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
One such asset they
acquired was the services

13:12.700 --> 13:15.200 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
of the young James J. Wood.

13:15.200 --> 13:16.433 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
During this time,

13:16.433 --> 13:18.766 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Wood was managing a very
successful enterprise

13:18.766 --> 13:22.200 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
for the company in his
Brooklyn, New York factory.

13:22.200 --> 13:23.633 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
With the Fort Wayne
Electric Company

13:23.633 --> 13:25.733 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
in need of resources and talent,

13:25.733 --> 13:28.066 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
McDonald struck a deal
with Charles Coffin

13:28.066 --> 13:31.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
to transfer control of
James J. Wood's company

13:31.300 --> 13:33.066 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
to Fort Wayne.

13:33.066 --> 13:35.400 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
In August of 1890
it was announced

13:35.400 --> 13:39.566 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
that the Wood System would be
manufactured in Fort Wayne.

13:39.566 --> 13:42.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Wood's Brooklyn factory
would be relocated.

13:42.066 --> 13:45.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Machinery and workers,
including Wood himself,

13:45.033 --> 13:47.500 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
would be moving to Indiana.

13:47.500 --> 13:50.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
On December 3rd,
1890 two train loads

13:50.433 --> 13:54.700 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
of machinery and tools,
along with 127 employees,

13:54.700 --> 13:57.533 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
arrived at their new
home in Fort Wayne.

13:57.533 --> 14:02.500 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- Skilled workers and
engineers, monumental task.

14:03.233 --> 14:05.133 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
It's interesting to me

14:05.133 --> 14:09.133 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
that Wood was able to
convince 127 people

14:09.133 --> 14:11.866 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
who were probably from
New York and lived there

14:11.866 --> 14:14.500 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
and had family there to come.

14:14.500 --> 14:16.933 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] Titans emerged
from the fiercely competitive

14:16.933 --> 14:20.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
electrical industry, the
Thomson-Houston Company,

14:20.400 --> 14:22.433 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
the Edison General
Electric Company

14:22.433 --> 14:26.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and the Westinghouse Electric
and Manufacturing Company.

14:26.233 --> 14:29.433 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
One prominent Edison General
Electric Company investor,

14:29.433 --> 14:32.900 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
J.P. Morgan, instigated
secret negotiations

14:32.900 --> 14:34.333 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
with Charles Coffin

14:34.333 --> 14:38.200 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
to discuss a merger of
Edison with Thomson-Houston.

14:38.200 --> 14:40.900 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The process took over
a year to solidify

14:40.900 --> 14:45.500 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
but on June 1st 1892 the
consolidation was announced.

14:45.500 --> 14:48.666 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The General Electric
Company was born.

14:48.666 --> 14:52.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
Charles Coffin was chosen to
be president of the new entity.

14:52.133 --> 14:54.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
R.T. McDonald's stellar
salesmanship had managed

14:54.466 --> 14:58.000 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
to keep the factories
running at full capacity.

14:58.000 --> 15:02.233 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
In the early evening of January
3rd, 1893 a fire started

15:02.233 --> 15:05.666 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
on the third floor of the
largest building in the complex.

15:05.666 --> 15:09.333 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
Damage was estimated at $150,000

15:09.333 --> 15:12.400 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and even though the loss
would be covered by insurance,

15:12.400 --> 15:15.066 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
it would take weeks
to repair the damage.

15:15.066 --> 15:17.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
When Charles Coffin
and the leadership

15:17.033 --> 15:19.900 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
at the newly-formed General
Electric Company learned

15:19.900 --> 15:22.866 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
about the latest calamity
to strike Fort Wayne Works,

15:22.866 --> 15:25.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
they urged McDonald
not to rebuild

15:25.400 --> 15:27.633 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
but instead move the operation

15:27.633 --> 15:30.266 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
to the sprawling facility
that Edison had erected

15:30.266 --> 15:32.266 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
in Schenectady, New York.

15:32.266 --> 15:34.766 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
McDonald staunchly
resisted this proposal.

15:34.766 --> 15:37.500 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
He had invested too much
in the Fort Wayne facility

15:37.500 --> 15:38.900 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
to abandon it now.

15:38.900 --> 15:41.533 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- I think he wanted
to maintain the legacy

15:41.533 --> 15:42.833 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
that he had started.

15:42.833 --> 15:45.166 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
Well I think it
was also a burden

15:45.166 --> 15:49.833 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
because he was the main man
to protect his investors

15:49.833 --> 15:54.833 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and his workers from monetary
collapse, if you will.

15:56.233 --> 15:58.033 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- [Narrator] R.T.
McDonald and the employees

15:58.033 --> 16:00.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
of the new Fort Wayne
Electric Company had

16:00.033 --> 16:02.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
now survived two fires together

16:02.533 --> 16:05.633 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
but a different struggle for
survival was about to begin.

16:05.633 --> 16:06.800 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
(dramatic music)

16:06.800 --> 16:09.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Global events
would spark a panic

16:09.033 --> 16:12.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
that would spread like wildfire
through the financial world.

16:12.200 --> 16:15.566 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
It was called the Panic of 1893

16:15.566 --> 16:18.866 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
and the resulting economic
depression would see the failure

16:18.866 --> 16:21.500 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
of 15,000 companies.

16:21.500 --> 16:24.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
The results of this economic
calamity were soon felt

16:24.233 --> 16:26.933 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
at the new General
Electric Company due

16:26.933 --> 16:29.133 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
to the practice of
extending credit

16:29.133 --> 16:32.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
to the buyers of
electrical systems.

16:32.100 --> 16:34.666 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
The Fort Wayne Electric
Company was also having trouble

16:34.666 --> 16:37.333 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
staying afloat in the
floodwaters of bad notes

16:37.333 --> 16:40.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
created by R.T.
McDonald's salesmanship.

16:40.100 --> 16:41.900 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
- He would go into
community and say

16:41.900 --> 16:44.766 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
"I can sell you this
system for $15,000."

16:44.766 --> 16:47.033 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
Said "Well, we only got $5,000."

16:47.033 --> 16:50.766 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
"So, well, we'll give
you credit on the rest."

16:50.766 --> 16:52.266 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- [Narrator] McDonald
turned to Coffin

16:52.266 --> 16:55.633 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and General Electric borrowing
over half a million dollars

16:55.633 --> 16:57.433 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
in a short amount of time

16:57.433 --> 16:59.566 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
but it was not enough
to maintain business

16:59.566 --> 17:02.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and stay ahead of
the tsunami of debt.

17:02.166 --> 17:04.666 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- Even Coffin's company, the
General Electric Company,

17:04.666 --> 17:06.200 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
was in trouble.

17:06.200 --> 17:08.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
And he wanted his
money back (laughs).

17:10.066 --> 17:12.566 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
McDonald owed him $500,000.

17:12.566 --> 17:14.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- [Narrator] McDonald
was now prepared

17:14.000 --> 17:16.266 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
to sell the whole company
to General Electric

17:16.266 --> 17:19.666 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
if Coffin would promise to
keep the Fort Wayne Works open,

17:19.666 --> 17:22.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
guarantee the company's
outstanding debts

17:22.066 --> 17:25.366 align:left position:22.5% line:77% size:67.5%
and insure that the
local investors would
be taken care of.

17:25.366 --> 17:27.966 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
Mr. Coffin wanted to close
the Fort Wayne factories

17:27.966 --> 17:30.133 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
and transfer the
entire operation

17:30.133 --> 17:33.433 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
to the General Electric
facilities in Schenectady.

17:33.433 --> 17:36.566 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
This proposal was just not
acceptable to McDonald.

17:36.566 --> 17:38.733 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- McDonald realized
that the takeover

17:38.733 --> 17:39.933 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
of the company was imminent.

17:39.933 --> 17:41.600 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
That they were gonna,
in fact they were,

17:41.600 --> 17:45.733 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
they sent representatives
from General Electric here

17:45.733 --> 17:50.700 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
to take the company over and
in a vote of the stockholders.

17:52.066 --> 17:53.300 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- [Narrator] When McDonald
learns of this plot,

17:53.300 --> 17:56.700 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
he has only a few days
to react to the threat.

17:56.700 --> 17:58.633 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
He soon hatches
a plan of his own

17:58.633 --> 18:02.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
in which he uses his
persuasive powers as a salesman

18:02.266 --> 18:05.533 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
to save the company with
a legal-system shell-game.

18:05.533 --> 18:08.600 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
McDonald has a Fort Wayne
judge appoint receivers

18:08.600 --> 18:12.133 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
to protect the company under
a bankruptcy agreement.

18:12.133 --> 18:14.600 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
He then creates a new company,

18:14.600 --> 18:17.500 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
the Fort Wayne
Electric Corporation.

18:17.500 --> 18:20.333 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
The receivers in turn
ink a two-year contract

18:20.333 --> 18:22.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
with the new Fort Wayne
Electric Corporation

18:22.966 --> 18:24.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
to conduct the business affairs

18:24.533 --> 18:28.900 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
of the now protected Fort
Wayne Electric Light Company.

18:28.900 --> 18:31.500 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- That mighta been, might
not have been illegal

18:31.500 --> 18:34.133 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
but it was a pretty
shady operation.

18:34.133 --> 18:38.666 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
But by the time the General
Electric representatives

18:38.666 --> 18:40.866 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
came to town, it
was a done deal.

18:40.866 --> 18:42.766 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- [Narrator] McDonald
had effectively saved

18:42.766 --> 18:43.966 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
the City of Fort Wayne

18:43.966 --> 18:46.566 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
from a devastating
economic blow.

18:46.566 --> 18:50.100 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
He was heralded as a hero
in the local newspapers.

18:50.100 --> 18:52.900 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
- I think he felt
a real obligation

18:52.900 --> 18:56.933 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
to the local people who had
helped capitalize this company

18:56.933 --> 18:58.166 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
and build it up

18:58.166 --> 19:00.000 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
and wanted to see
their interests,

19:00.000 --> 19:02.266 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
monetary interests, protected.

19:02.266 --> 19:07.266 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
I think he also was genuinely
concerned about his employees.

19:08.700 --> 19:11.133 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] New catalogs and
sales materials were printed

19:11.133 --> 19:13.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and soon even the
buildings bore the name

19:13.833 --> 19:16.533 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
of the Fort Wayne
Electric Corporation.

19:16.533 --> 19:17.766 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
By this time,

19:17.766 --> 19:20.566 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
McDonald was connected
with over 50 businesses,

19:20.566 --> 19:22.500 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
in seven different states.

19:22.500 --> 19:24.266 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
In December of 1898,

19:24.266 --> 19:28.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
he took a trip to Dallas, Texas
where he became gravely ill.

19:28.300 --> 19:29.433 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
On the morning

19:29.433 --> 19:31.233 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
of Christmas Eve 1898,
(violin music)

19:31.233 --> 19:35.866 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Ranald Trevor McDonald
passed away at the age of 49.

19:36.966 --> 19:39.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The news of his
sudden passing shocked

19:39.033 --> 19:40.566 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
and saddened many,

19:40.566 --> 19:44.200 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
especially those friends
and workers in Fort Wayne.

19:44.200 --> 19:46.200 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
McDonald was their champion,

19:46.200 --> 19:48.966 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
someone who had brought so
much prosperity to the city

19:48.966 --> 19:51.533 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
and had defended
her so valiantly.

19:51.533 --> 19:55.400 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- He had this vision of
building a successful company

19:55.400 --> 19:56.400 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
in Fort Wayne.

19:57.866 --> 20:00.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Not only for himself but
for the people invested

20:00.300 --> 20:01.733 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
and his workers here.

20:01.733 --> 20:06.733 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
And, I don't think this
enterprise would have started

20:10.366 --> 20:15.366 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
or been sustained without
his vision and energy.

20:17.600 --> 20:19.766 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
- [Narrator] In January of 1899,

20:19.766 --> 20:22.600 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
less than a month after
the death of McDonald,

20:22.600 --> 20:25.333 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
creditors of the Fort
Wayne Electric Corporation

20:25.333 --> 20:27.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
filed a claim
against the company

20:27.000 --> 20:30.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
in Federal Court for
past due payments.

20:30.200 --> 20:33.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
The company did not have
enough cash to pay this demand

20:33.233 --> 20:36.533 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
and so on February 16th, 1899,

20:36.533 --> 20:40.100 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
the officers of the Fort
Wayne Electric Corporation

20:40.100 --> 20:42.100 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
filed for bankruptcy.

20:42.100 --> 20:43.633 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
The company had to borrow money

20:43.633 --> 20:45.800 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
to meet payroll for that month.

20:45.800 --> 20:50.433 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
The outstanding debt which
included $185,000 owed

20:50.433 --> 20:52.966 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
to General Electric was greater

20:52.966 --> 20:55.400 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
than the company's total assets.

20:55.400 --> 20:59.066 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
An auction date was set to
sell the company and its assets

20:59.066 --> 21:00.766 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
to pay off its creditors.

21:00.766 --> 21:04.300 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
When the auction gavel fell
with the call of "Sold!"

21:04.300 --> 21:05.933 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
It was Charles Coffin,

21:05.933 --> 21:08.566 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
representing the General
Electric Company,

21:08.566 --> 21:10.166 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
that won the auction.

21:10.166 --> 21:12.033 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
The news wasn't all bad.

21:12.033 --> 21:13.533 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
Coffin announced
that the factory

21:13.533 --> 21:16.133 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
could resume
operations immediately.

21:16.133 --> 21:19.100 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
And to the delight of the
city workers and investors,

21:19.100 --> 21:21.566 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
he proclaimed it would
remain in Fort Wayne

21:21.566 --> 21:23.333 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
for the time being, as long

21:23.333 --> 21:25.666 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
as the company
could be profitable.

21:25.666 --> 21:28.266 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Charles Coffin and the
General Electric Company

21:28.266 --> 21:31.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
now had full legal
ownership and control

21:31.400 --> 21:34.233 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
over the Fort Wayne
Electric Corporation.

21:34.233 --> 21:36.333 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
It wasn't long after
the auction purchase

21:36.333 --> 21:39.600 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
before Coffin approached
Wood with an offer.

21:39.600 --> 21:41.866 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Sell all of the
Wood System patents

21:41.866 --> 21:43.300 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
to General Electric

21:43.300 --> 21:47.033 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and receive a 10-year
guaranteed employment contract

21:47.033 --> 21:51.100 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
as a lead design engineer for
General Electric in New York.

21:51.100 --> 21:52.933 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
Once Coffin had these patents,

21:52.933 --> 21:54.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
he could produce the
products anywhere

21:54.833 --> 21:58.200 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
in the country he wanted
without Wood's permission.

21:58.200 --> 22:01.900 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- But it was the new
ones that were valuable.

22:01.900 --> 22:05.633 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Valued into the millions
of dollars, probably.

22:05.633 --> 22:08.800 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The ideas and then
their implementation.

22:08.800 --> 22:10.300 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
- [Narrator] But
for some reason,

22:10.300 --> 22:12.233 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
Wood rejected the offer

22:12.233 --> 22:16.266 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
and instead made a counteroffer
seeking a 10-year guarantee

22:16.266 --> 22:19.233 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
that the operations
would stay in Fort Wayne.

22:19.233 --> 22:23.333 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- He went and met with the
General Electric executives

22:23.333 --> 22:27.333 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and said "hey look, I
have these patents here

22:27.333 --> 22:30.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
"and if you decide
to close that plant,

22:30.433 --> 22:32.166 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
"I'm not gonna
let you have 'em."

22:32.166 --> 22:34.200 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- [Narrator] Coffin
promised to keep the works

22:34.200 --> 22:36.600 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
in Fort Wayne for three years

22:36.600 --> 22:39.200 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
and Wood signed a
10-year contract.

22:39.200 --> 22:42.500 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
However, he would retain the
ownership of his patents,

22:42.500 --> 22:45.866 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
giving him leverage in
future negotiations.

22:45.866 --> 22:47.266 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
Once again, the jobs

22:47.266 --> 22:50.166 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
of the Fort Wayne
workers had been saved.

22:50.166 --> 22:53.333 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
This time their hero
was James J. Wood.

22:53.333 --> 22:56.633 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- Wood sort of took
over McDonald's legacy

22:56.633 --> 23:01.266 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
but it wasn't through
finance and salesmanship,

23:01.266 --> 23:03.633 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
it was through his
technical skill.

23:03.633 --> 23:06.033 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] It is not
exactly clear why Wood fought

23:06.033 --> 23:08.600 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
for Fort Wayne over
his own personal gain.

23:08.600 --> 23:10.133 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
- I think he liked the town.

23:10.133 --> 23:11.766 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
He liked the people,

23:11.766 --> 23:15.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
he had become integrated
into the social network.

23:16.166 --> 23:17.200 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
You know, he was a club member,

23:17.200 --> 23:18.500 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
he went to ball games

23:18.500 --> 23:23.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and I think he also was
cognizant of the fact

23:24.600 --> 23:26.333 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
that if the factory
moved out of this town,

23:26.333 --> 23:28.300 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
a lot of this town
is gonna hurt,

23:28.300 --> 23:31.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
people are gonna be hurt
because of his decision

23:31.100 --> 23:32.933 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and he may not have
wanted to take on

23:32.933 --> 23:35.533 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
that emotional
burden, if you will.

23:35.533 --> 23:37.833 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- [Narrator] Years later
he was certain he had made

23:37.833 --> 23:39.200 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
the right decision.

23:39.200 --> 23:41.266 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
"With all the
confidence in the world,

23:41.266 --> 23:44.600 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
"I signed a contract to
operate the plant in Fort Wayne

23:44.600 --> 23:47.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
"on a fixed percentage
of the earnings

23:47.000 --> 23:49.633 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
"and although I received
nothing for the first two

23:49.633 --> 23:52.266 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
"or three years
but a small salary,

23:52.266 --> 23:55.866 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
"neither the company nor
myself had any reason to regret

23:55.866 --> 23:59.066 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
"that the industry was
kept in Fort Wayne."

23:59.066 --> 24:00.433 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
James J. Wood.

24:01.633 --> 24:04.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The company would soon
get another new name.

24:04.033 --> 24:07.666 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
On May 9th, 1899, the
Fort Wayne Electric Works

24:07.666 --> 24:11.166 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
was incorporated under
General Electric in New York.

24:11.166 --> 24:13.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The corporation would
have seven directors,

24:13.833 --> 24:17.600 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
three from Fort Wayne and four
in the New York headquarters,

24:17.600 --> 24:21.500 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
ensuring a majority remained
under Coffin's influence.

24:21.500 --> 24:24.133 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Henry C. Paul would
be the new president

24:24.133 --> 24:27.233 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and Fred S. Hunting
would be sales manager.

24:27.233 --> 24:30.166 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Both of these were roles
that R.T. McDonald had filled

24:30.166 --> 24:31.900 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
before his death.

24:31.900 --> 24:34.266 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
James J. Wood would
be the electrician

24:34.266 --> 24:37.033 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and the general
superintendent leading the way

24:37.033 --> 24:39.966 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
into this new era for the
resilient Fort Wayne company.

24:39.966 --> 24:42.633 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
(chiming music)

24:48.033 --> 24:49.533 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
(upbeat music)

24:49.533 --> 24:51.633 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] The last two
decades of the 19th century

24:51.633 --> 24:53.366 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
had been about the light bulb.

24:53.366 --> 24:54.900 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
At the turn of the century,

24:54.900 --> 24:58.033 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
more and more communities
had access to electricity

24:58.033 --> 25:01.300 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and it was becoming clear it
could be used to power more

25:01.300 --> 25:02.733 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
than just light bulbs.

25:04.066 --> 25:06.700 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
Once electricity became
available in homes and offices,

25:06.700 --> 25:09.133 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
smaller motors were
developed for applications

25:09.133 --> 25:12.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
that required less
than one horsepower.

25:12.033 --> 25:15.666 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
These were called fractional
horsepower motors.

25:15.666 --> 25:18.700 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
- Actually it was James
J. Wood who was probably

25:18.700 --> 25:23.066 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80%
the first, that I know of
anyway, to develop a small motor

25:23.066 --> 25:25.566 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
that was practical
for household use.

25:25.566 --> 25:28.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
They were used in vacuum
cleaners, hairdryers,

25:28.400 --> 25:33.366 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
washing machines,
milkshake making machines,

25:34.133 --> 25:35.633 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
and that sorta thing.

25:35.633 --> 25:37.400 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] One of the first
consumer oriented products

25:37.400 --> 25:39.633 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
produced at the Fort
Wayne Electric Works,

25:39.633 --> 25:42.600 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
that utilized an
electric motor was a fan.

25:42.600 --> 25:45.400 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- The engineers in Schenectady
had trouble developing

25:45.400 --> 25:48.733 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
a small motor and Wood
said, "I can do that."

25:48.733 --> 25:53.600 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
And so he developed what was
called the croquet ball motor,

25:53.600 --> 25:58.433 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
very small motors, they were
specially adapted for fans.

25:58.433 --> 26:01.000 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
And before that,
you could think,

26:01.000 --> 26:04.000 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
well, this is a kinda fan
you had before a motor.

26:05.166 --> 26:07.566 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- [Narrator] James J.
Wood designed desk fans,

26:07.566 --> 26:11.700 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
ceiling fans and even a fan
held up by an ornate metal

26:11.700 --> 26:15.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
fire breathing dragon
mounted to the wall.

26:15.100 --> 26:17.233 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
The electric motor
would be a major factor

26:17.233 --> 26:19.266 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
in shaping the
identity of the company

26:19.266 --> 26:20.833 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
in the century to come.

26:20.833 --> 26:24.066 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
The market for motors used
in home appliances was rising

26:24.066 --> 26:27.333 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
because of the development
of useful household items.

26:27.333 --> 26:30.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
One of the biggest game
changing appliances of the time

26:30.300 --> 26:32.433 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
was the washing machine.

26:32.433 --> 26:36.000 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
The market was huge and Fort
Wayne had several manufacturers

26:36.000 --> 26:39.333 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
making their own version
of the washing machine.

26:39.333 --> 26:42.166 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
The one common denominator
was that these appliances

26:42.166 --> 26:43.933 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
needed an electric motor.

26:43.933 --> 26:46.366 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
And the Fort Wayne Electric
Works was stepping up

26:46.366 --> 26:47.666 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
to meet demand.

26:47.666 --> 26:50.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- The motors in the fans
were so popular that,

26:50.400 --> 26:52.266 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
I remember reading
a story in 1913

26:52.266 --> 26:54.000 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
where they could not keep up.

26:54.000 --> 26:55.900 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- [Narrator] Things were
going so well in fact,

26:55.900 --> 26:59.033 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
that by 1920, the company
responded to the demand

26:59.033 --> 27:02.266 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
by building a separate
factory in Decatur, Indiana,

27:02.266 --> 27:05.766 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
just to manufacture motors
for washing machines.

27:05.766 --> 27:07.566 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
Because electricity was so new

27:07.566 --> 27:09.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
and was still a luxury for some,

27:09.533 --> 27:11.966 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
not every home or business
was willing to commit

27:11.966 --> 27:13.900 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
to paying a monthly bill.

27:13.900 --> 27:18.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
So James J. Wood provided them
with a pay as you go method,

27:18.233 --> 27:21.366 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
by inventing a coin
operated meter box.

27:21.366 --> 27:25.500 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
In 1911, General Electric was
hit with an anti-trust action

27:25.500 --> 27:27.066 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
by the federal government.

27:27.066 --> 27:29.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
General Electric would
no longer be able to own

27:29.800 --> 27:33.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
and operate companies that
competed for the same business.

27:33.200 --> 27:36.066 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
This brought about yet
another name change,

27:36.066 --> 27:37.733 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
the company would now be

27:37.733 --> 27:41.300 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
the Fort Wayne Electric
Works of General Electric.

27:41.300 --> 27:43.100 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
Business continued to grow

27:43.100 --> 27:45.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
under the official
General Electric banner,

27:45.966 --> 27:49.700 align:left position:22.5% line:77% size:67.5%
James J. Wood was
able to convince the
GE Board in New York

27:49.700 --> 27:54.566 align:left position:22.5% line:77% size:67.5%
to authorize a $1
million expansion of
the Broadway factory.

27:54.566 --> 27:58.266 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
- You're seeing how they were
constructed in the early 1900s

27:58.266 --> 28:02.166 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
when it was with a
steam powered equipment

28:02.166 --> 28:05.066 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
and horse and wagon deliveries.

28:05.066 --> 28:07.966 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
The design of the buildings,

28:07.966 --> 28:11.633 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
the thought that went
into making them.

28:11.633 --> 28:16.200 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- The floors are 14 to 16
inch thick poured concrete.

28:17.333 --> 28:20.633 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
I mean, it's just, it's
like a bomb shelter.

28:20.633 --> 28:23.066 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
You know, they are so solid.

28:23.066 --> 28:28.066 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- Massively thick walls and
you just don't think about

28:29.100 --> 28:31.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
like in the
multistory buildings,

28:31.433 --> 28:33.033 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
the columns between floors,

28:33.033 --> 28:34.233 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
you go to the basement

28:34.233 --> 28:37.866 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and these columns are
huge round columns

28:37.866 --> 28:39.933 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and each floor they
get a little smaller

28:39.933 --> 28:42.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
because they're
supporting less weight.

28:42.466 --> 28:45.266 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
It's all concrete, steel,
brick construction,

28:45.266 --> 28:49.800 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
it's just so massive, so
much steel in the floors.

28:49.800 --> 28:54.200 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- It is US steel and
that is Carnegie steel.

28:54.200 --> 28:59.200 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
We've got the same
steel in our structures

29:00.600 --> 29:03.600 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
that was used to build the
skyscrapers in New York City.

29:03.600 --> 29:06.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- This was almost like
four factories in one,

29:06.033 --> 29:08.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
we had the transformers
being built

29:08.033 --> 29:10.400 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
on the other side of the street.

29:10.400 --> 29:13.733 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
Multiple different
lines of motors

29:13.733 --> 29:18.700 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
where in most of the other
facilities had one line of motor

29:19.800 --> 29:22.600 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
they built, or a product,

29:22.600 --> 29:27.600 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
here at Fort Wayne, we were
making general purpose motors

29:28.700 --> 29:31.933 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and appliances motors,
hermetic motors.

29:31.933 --> 29:33.500 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- [Narrator] The addition
of the new buildings

29:33.500 --> 29:35.833 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
meant a greater
responsibility was placed

29:35.833 --> 29:40.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
on the Fort Wayne Electric
Works Volunteer Fire Department.

29:40.200 --> 29:43.566 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
In 1895 it was
determined that the Works

29:43.566 --> 29:46.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
should have its own
firefighting force.

29:47.366 --> 29:50.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
William Billy Wurtle,
a German-born machinist

29:50.400 --> 29:53.866 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
would be named would be named
Chief of the Firemen in 1904

29:53.866 --> 29:57.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and in 1913 he was given
the full time duties

29:57.300 --> 30:00.233 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
of fire prevention and
firefighter training.

30:00.233 --> 30:03.033 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
The Fort Wayne GE
Volunteer Fire Department

30:03.033 --> 30:05.100 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
would continue to
be a well-equipped

30:05.100 --> 30:08.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and well trained group
for many decades.

30:08.433 --> 30:10.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Training was conducted
on a regular basis

30:10.700 --> 30:13.066 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
with the Fort Wayne
City Fire Department

30:13.066 --> 30:16.333 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
including evacuation drills
with the ladder truck.

30:16.333 --> 30:19.766 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- I was a volunteer fireman
back in the 70s, early 70s.

30:20.900 --> 30:23.333 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Out here all the
way up until I left.

30:23.333 --> 30:26.433 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- Rudy and I were both on
the Volunteer Fire Committee

30:26.433 --> 30:29.000 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
for Fort Wayne for GE.

30:30.333 --> 30:33.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
And we would do special training
with the fire department

30:33.133 --> 30:34.533 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
on Taylor Street.

30:34.533 --> 30:36.433 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
- They would send
us to fire school,

30:36.433 --> 30:39.166 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
we learned to put out
different types of fires.

30:39.166 --> 30:44.166 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
- At least 100, 150 volunteer
GE firefighters here

30:45.233 --> 30:47.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and so General Electric
was big enough,

30:47.666 --> 30:49.333 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
they could afford
their own fire crew.

30:49.333 --> 30:51.366 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] The campus of
the Fort Wayne Electric Works

30:51.366 --> 30:54.766 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
was able to avoid any major
fires during the first decade

30:54.766 --> 30:56.633 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
of the 20th century

30:56.633 --> 30:58.500 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
but there was one
significant fire

30:58.500 --> 31:00.666 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
at a prominent Fort Wayne hotel

31:00.666 --> 31:04.100 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
that had a historical
connection with the Works.

31:04.100 --> 31:07.900 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
In the early morning
hours of May 3rd 1908,

31:07.900 --> 31:11.733 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
a fire started in the Aveline
Hotel and spread quickly.

31:12.633 --> 31:14.500 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
Many guests in the upper floors

31:14.500 --> 31:18.300 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
had to jump from the windows
to escape the flames.

31:18.300 --> 31:22.300 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
12 people died before the
fire could be contained.

31:22.300 --> 31:25.600 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
This hotel was the location
of the first dinner meeting

31:25.600 --> 31:28.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
between James Jenney
and John Kiess

31:28.400 --> 31:30.966 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
that led to the deal
with R T McDonald

31:30.966 --> 31:34.800 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and the beginning of the Fort
Wayne Electric Light Company.

31:34.800 --> 31:39.433 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
McDonald himself later purchased
the hotel before his death.

31:39.433 --> 31:41.733 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
John Kiess, the
shipping clerk who made

31:41.733 --> 31:44.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
that historic connection
at the Aveline Hotel

31:44.400 --> 31:47.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
decades earlier, went
on to have a long career

31:47.466 --> 31:50.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
with the Fort Wayne
Electric Light Company.

31:50.300 --> 31:54.333 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
In fact, in 1914 he was
one of the charter members

31:54.333 --> 31:56.766 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
of the Fort Wayne
Quarter Century Club.

31:56.766 --> 31:58.633 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The Quarter Century
Club was set up

31:58.633 --> 32:00.333 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
to recognize those employees

32:00.333 --> 32:05.100 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
who had at least 25 years of
service with General Electric.

32:05.100 --> 32:07.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Also among the Fort
Wayne charter members

32:07.433 --> 32:08.933 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
were Plant Superintendent,

32:08.933 --> 32:12.400 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
Edward A. Barnes,
and James J. Wood.

32:12.400 --> 32:15.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The Fort Wayne GE
Quarter Century Club

32:15.000 --> 32:18.100 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
would continue to gain
members as the years went on.

32:18.100 --> 32:20.333 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- In fact the quarter
century was so big,

32:20.333 --> 32:23.166 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
they used to have it at
the Memorial Colosseum

32:23.166 --> 32:24.666 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
and it would be full.

32:24.666 --> 32:29.600 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
- It offers people the chance
to meet their fellow workers

32:30.466 --> 32:31.866 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
again after all these years.

32:33.066 --> 32:34.833 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
You'll see a lot of hugs.

32:34.833 --> 32:36.500 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
- Seeing people we haven't
seen in years, you know?

32:36.500 --> 32:38.800 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
And how they've changed.

32:40.200 --> 32:42.166 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] The group
started having annual meetings

32:42.166 --> 32:47.166 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
in 1916 and continued to
do so over 100 years later.

32:48.566 --> 32:51.500 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
One member attended a
meeting at the age of 101,

32:51.500 --> 32:53.500 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
having been born only one year

32:53.500 --> 32:56.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
after the club started
having its meetings.

32:56.000 --> 32:58.866 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Robert Guingrich started
working for General Electric

32:58.866 --> 33:03.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
in Fort Wayne in 1941
and served for 38 years.

33:03.833 --> 33:06.700 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- I went out to work and
there was a big old flats

33:06.700 --> 33:10.766 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
in my trailer just
loaded with motors,

33:10.766 --> 33:12.633 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
boxed up in boxes.

33:12.633 --> 33:15.100 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
I said, "Where's all
these motors coming from?"

33:15.100 --> 33:17.366 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
Well he said, "GE's got a
plant here in Port Wayne,

33:17.366 --> 33:21.200 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
"we manufacture motors,"
and he had to deliver 'em.

33:21.200 --> 33:23.166 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
He said, "There's ever a
job, you can get there."

33:23.166 --> 33:26.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Well he said, he didn't
know but he said,

33:26.033 --> 33:28.733 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
"Fill out an affidavit,
put it in the mail box."

33:28.733 --> 33:31.433 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
That was on the Thursday
and I got it Friday,

33:31.433 --> 33:33.733 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
a call to take my
examination on Friday

33:33.733 --> 33:36.633 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and I went to work on
Saturday at time and a half.

33:36.633 --> 33:41.500 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
And boy, you talk about
an upset happy person,

33:41.500 --> 33:42.733 align:left position:35% line:89% size:55%
it was me.

33:42.733 --> 33:44.233 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- [Narrator] When he
attended this meeting,

33:44.233 --> 33:46.800 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
he had been retired for more
years than he had worked.

33:48.200 --> 33:52.600 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Bob Guingrich's eyes had seen
over 100 years of history,

33:54.066 --> 33:55.466 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
the same history that The
Fort Wayne Electric Works

33:55.466 --> 33:56.866 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
would have to
navigate throughout

33:56.866 --> 33:59.666 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
the 20th century and beyond.

33:59.666 --> 34:02.500 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
When Bob Guingrich
was born in 1917,

34:02.500 --> 34:06.333 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
the United States was fighting
in the First World War.

34:06.333 --> 34:10.000 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
The 360 young women of the
Fort Wayne Electric Works

34:10.000 --> 34:12.066 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
were an integral
part of the workforce

34:12.066 --> 34:14.766 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and had formed strong
bonds with each other.

34:14.766 --> 34:16.933 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
The men of the company had
enjoyed competing together

34:16.933 --> 34:18.400 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
in sports for decades

34:18.400 --> 34:21.266 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and the women celebrated
their strengthened comradery

34:21.266 --> 34:23.766 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
by forming their
own sports teams.

34:23.766 --> 34:28.400 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
In 1915 several young ladies
formed the Elex basketball team

34:28.400 --> 34:31.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
named after the
Greek word elektron.

34:31.033 --> 34:34.766 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Soon after that a core group
asked E. A. Daddy Barnes

34:34.766 --> 34:37.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
for help with forming
a GE Girls Club

34:37.700 --> 34:41.833 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
and in December of 1916,
the Elex Club was formed.

34:41.833 --> 34:45.300 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
- And they did all kinds
of work for the community

34:45.300 --> 34:47.000 align:left position:15% line:5% size:75%
and travel for the ladies,

34:47.000 --> 34:49.766 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
in those days, they didn't
want to travel on their own,

34:49.766 --> 34:53.333 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
so they took plane rides
to New York and overseas,

34:53.333 --> 34:55.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
they took bus rides
to different locations

34:55.833 --> 34:58.500 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
and it really expanded
the horizons of the ladies

34:58.500 --> 34:59.833 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
in those ages.

34:59.833 --> 35:01.833 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
And they worked with the YWCA

35:01.833 --> 35:04.133 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
when they were founding
the organization

35:04.133 --> 35:07.633 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and they had supper programs
and educational classes

35:07.633 --> 35:09.200 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
and different kind of programs

35:09.200 --> 35:11.433 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
to really educate the ladies.

35:11.433 --> 35:13.533 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- [Narrator] The Elex
Club continued and grew

35:13.533 --> 35:17.200 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
to 450 members by 1920.

35:17.200 --> 35:20.966 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
In 1919 a committee was formed
to explore the possibility

35:20.966 --> 35:24.533 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
of creating a recreational
building for the workers.

35:24.533 --> 35:27.633 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
Over the next few years
that plan became a reality

35:27.633 --> 35:31.566 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
when the GE Club building
was completed in 1927,

35:31.566 --> 35:34.600 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
with a gymnasium,
stage, lockers,

35:34.600 --> 35:37.300 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
and even a 12-lane
bowling alley.

35:37.300 --> 35:40.033 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Total employment for all of
the departments of the Works

35:40.033 --> 35:44.033 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
peaked at 10,000 in 1929.

35:44.033 --> 35:45.600 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
Having thousands of employees

35:45.600 --> 35:47.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
meant the Fort
Wayne Electric Works

35:47.166 --> 35:49.600 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
had a very large payroll.

35:49.600 --> 35:51.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Since the beginning
of the company,

35:51.000 --> 35:53.133 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
and through most of the 1920s,

35:53.133 --> 35:56.566 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
the payroll had been paid
out in cash every week.

35:56.566 --> 35:59.666 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Company officials were worried
that such a huge sum of cash

35:59.666 --> 36:02.366 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
being transported and
distributed each week

36:02.366 --> 36:04.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
might become a
target for robbers.

36:04.833 --> 36:07.300 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
A system was developed
to safeguard the cash

36:07.300 --> 36:08.933 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
as it was delivered
from the bank

36:08.933 --> 36:10.866 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
to the company payroll office.

36:10.866 --> 36:12.933 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
- Brink's guys
carrying money bags in

36:12.933 --> 36:15.466 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
and guys sitting
there with shotguns.

36:15.466 --> 36:17.233 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- [Narrator] The company
stopped paying with cash

36:17.233 --> 36:19.966 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
in September of 1927.

36:19.966 --> 36:22.000 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
Employees were issued a paycheck

36:22.000 --> 36:23.533 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
that they could safely deposit

36:23.533 --> 36:25.733 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
in the bank of their choosing.

36:25.733 --> 36:29.033 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
Then, on October 29, 1929,

36:29.033 --> 36:31.233 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
Wall Street Stock
Prices collapsed

36:31.233 --> 36:34.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
signaling the beginning
of the Great Depression.

36:34.066 --> 36:35.333 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
- People were laid off.

36:36.800 --> 36:40.266 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
They tried to mitigate the
impact upon their employees

36:41.666 --> 36:45.700 align:left position:10% line:5% size:80%
by reducing the number of hours
that each employee worked,

36:47.833 --> 36:51.600 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
so everybody at
least had some money.

36:51.600 --> 36:53.266 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- [Narrator] In this
time of uncertainty,

36:53.266 --> 36:55.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
labor unions became more
attractive to workers

36:55.966 --> 36:57.966 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
looking for security.

36:57.966 --> 37:01.933 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
In September of 1933 Fort
Wayne GE workers charted

37:01.933 --> 37:05.366 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
a union Local of the
American Federation of Labor.

37:05.366 --> 37:08.866 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
This would eventually
become known as Local 901.

37:08.866 --> 37:11.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
The Fort Wayne
Electric Works lost two

37:11.066 --> 37:12.866 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
of its longest serving leaders

37:12.866 --> 37:15.666 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
during the years of
the Great Depression.

37:15.666 --> 37:18.233 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Plant Superintendent
Edward A. Barnes

37:18.233 --> 37:21.566 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
retired in June of 1931.

37:21.566 --> 37:24.000 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
James J. Wood, the
prolific inventor

37:24.000 --> 37:27.133 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and leader who fought to
keep the works in Fort Wayne,

37:27.133 --> 37:30.933 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
died on April 19, 1928.

37:30.933 --> 37:34.733 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
He received 240 patents
for his inventions,

37:34.733 --> 37:36.633 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
placing him fourth all-time

37:36.633 --> 37:39.633 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
among all General Electric
Company inventors.

37:39.633 --> 37:42.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The loss of Barnes and
Wood marked a passing

37:42.166 --> 37:44.466 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
of the original
Jenney Electric era

37:44.466 --> 37:48.866 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
into the 20th Century Fort
Wayne Works of General Electric.

37:48.866 --> 37:53.800 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Small motor sales had grown to
$16 million annually by 1930

37:53.800 --> 37:55.066 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
and the Fort Wayne Works

37:55.066 --> 37:58.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
had 24% of the
national market share.

37:58.700 --> 38:01.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The equivalent of
eight and a half acres

38:01.033 --> 38:02.666 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
of manufacturing floor space

38:02.666 --> 38:05.766 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
was dedicated to the
production of small motors

38:05.766 --> 38:09.833 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and this department alone
employed over 3,000 workers

38:09.833 --> 38:14.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
cranking out 58,000
units per week by 1937.

38:15.700 --> 38:17.466 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
Before WWI broke out in Europe,

38:17.466 --> 38:19.600 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
James J. Wood had
the opportunity

38:19.600 --> 38:22.166 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
to take a business
trip to Grasse, France,

38:22.166 --> 38:24.900 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
to research a new
technology being developed.

38:26.100 --> 38:27.800 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
He hoped to learn
from French monk,

38:27.800 --> 38:30.066 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
Marcell Antoine Audiffren,

38:30.066 --> 38:34.133 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
the inventor of the Audiffren
Hermetic Refrigeration system.

38:34.133 --> 38:37.666 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
In October 1911, GE
decided to manufacture

38:37.666 --> 38:39.733 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
the system in Fort Wayne.

38:39.733 --> 38:42.333 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Wood chose Clark Orr
to help him develop

38:42.333 --> 38:44.100 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
this modern home refrigerator

38:44.100 --> 38:46.333 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
at the Fort Wayne
Electric Works.

38:46.333 --> 38:48.500 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
The Fort Wayne team
collaborated with engineers

38:48.500 --> 38:50.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
from GE in
Schenectady, New York,

38:50.700 --> 38:53.900 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
to produce the Monitor
Top Refrigerator,

38:53.900 --> 38:55.500 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
that design would be one of GE's

38:55.500 --> 38:59.100 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
most successful home
appliances for years to come.

38:59.100 --> 39:02.466 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
By 1935 the demand for
refrigerator motors

39:02.466 --> 39:05.700 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
would exceed the demand
for washing machine motors.

39:05.700 --> 39:08.966 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
While the Monitor Top was
still in the prototype stages,

39:08.966 --> 39:11.133 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
a separate production
facility was set up

39:11.133 --> 39:13.300 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
for the refrigeration
department.

39:13.300 --> 39:16.033 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
This would be known as
the Winter Street location

39:16.033 --> 39:19.266 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and it would produce much
more than just refrigerators.

39:19.266 --> 39:21.133 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
The next product
to be the subject

39:21.133 --> 39:24.766 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
of office conversation
was the water cooler.

39:24.766 --> 39:27.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Albert Ralston developed
the General Electric

39:27.300 --> 39:30.533 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
drinking fountain water cooler
at the Winter Street plant

39:30.533 --> 39:35.533 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
in the 1930s and received a
patent for his design in 1944.

39:36.633 --> 39:38.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Winter Street engineer
James H. Powers

39:38.400 --> 39:41.900 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
was issued the task of bringing
a new product to market

39:41.900 --> 39:46.566 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and in 1935 the GE Electric
kitchen garbage Disposall

39:46.566 --> 39:47.866 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
made its debut.

39:47.866 --> 39:50.233 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
The developers in the
shop gave it a nickname,

39:50.233 --> 39:52.433 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
The Electric Pig.

39:52.433 --> 39:55.733 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Powers was also responsible
for convincing manufacturers

39:55.733 --> 39:59.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
of kitchen sinks to
standardize a larger drain hole

39:59.300 --> 40:02.533 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
to accommodate the installation
of garbage disposals.

40:03.933 --> 40:06.966 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
As the decade of the 1930s
was coming to a close,

40:06.966 --> 40:09.533 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
the Fort Wayne Works of the
General Electric Company

40:09.533 --> 40:12.633 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
was about to turn its attention
away from refrigerators

40:12.633 --> 40:16.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and kitchen sinks to the
not so friendly skies.

40:19.966 --> 40:21.333 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
(dramatic music)

40:21.333 --> 40:23.966 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
- [Narrator] On
September 1, 1939,

40:23.966 --> 40:27.100 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
Hitler's Nazi Army
invades Poland.

40:27.100 --> 40:31.366 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
Two days later, Britain and
France declared war on Germany.

40:31.366 --> 40:34.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
In 1939, General
Electric was approached

40:34.366 --> 40:37.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
by British manufacturer
Rolls Royce

40:37.033 --> 40:39.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
about manufacturing
starter motors

40:39.100 --> 40:42.333 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
for its British
military aircraft.

40:42.333 --> 40:44.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
The management at Rolls
Royce were concerned

40:44.800 --> 40:47.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
that German aircraft
would bomb their factory

40:47.400 --> 40:49.500 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
in Coventry, England.

40:49.500 --> 40:52.933 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
The Fort Wayne Works was
chosen to be the location.

40:52.933 --> 40:54.733 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The Fort Wayne Works
had been developing

40:54.733 --> 40:58.466 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
fractional horsepower motors
for U.S. military aircraft

40:58.466 --> 41:01.233 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
as early as 1938.

41:01.233 --> 41:03.466 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
These motors were used
in fighter planes,

41:03.466 --> 41:05.966 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
like the Lockheed
P-38 Lightning.

41:08.133 --> 41:10.800 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
War rages in Europe and Asia.

41:10.800 --> 41:14.433 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
As Germany and Japan expand
their military campaigns,

41:14.433 --> 41:17.633 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
it becomes increasingly
clear that modern warfare

41:17.633 --> 41:20.066 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
will hinge upon air superiority.

41:21.233 --> 41:23.800 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
As Germany launches
the Battle of Britain,

41:23.800 --> 41:27.566 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
the island nation
only has 620 aircraft

41:27.566 --> 41:32.500 align:left position:22.5% line:77% size:67.5%
to mount a defense
against thousands of
Luftwaffe warplanes.

41:32.500 --> 41:36.033 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
The U.S. ally is in
desperate need of aircraft.

41:37.166 --> 41:39.066 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Not only did the
British need planes,

41:39.066 --> 41:42.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
but if the United States was
going to remain a world power

41:42.233 --> 41:46.600 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
it would also have to step up
production of U.S. warplanes.

41:46.600 --> 41:49.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
There was one important
piece of technology

41:49.000 --> 41:51.900 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
being developed at this
time that the Allies hoped

41:51.900 --> 41:55.733 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
would give them an advantage
in achieving air superiority,

41:55.733 --> 41:57.966 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
the turbosurpercharger.

41:57.966 --> 42:00.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
This device helped
aircraft travel higher

42:00.700 --> 42:03.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and faster by
gathering up thin air

42:03.433 --> 42:05.700 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
and condensing it
into dense air,

42:05.700 --> 42:08.300 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
increasing the amount of
oxygen the engine takes in

42:08.300 --> 42:11.133 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
for combustion, giving
the aircraft the ability

42:11.133 --> 42:14.633 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
to perform more efficiently
at higher altitudes.

42:14.633 --> 42:18.500 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
By late 1940, the demand was
rising for military aircraft

42:18.500 --> 42:20.333 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
equipped with GE
turbosuperchargers.

42:21.766 --> 42:23.766 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
This included military aircraft

42:23.766 --> 42:27.300 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
such as the Lockheed
P38 Lightning,

42:27.300 --> 42:30.066 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt,

42:30.066 --> 42:32.966 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
the Northrop P-61 Black Widow,

42:32.966 --> 42:35.733 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and the Consolidated
B-24 Liberator.

42:36.866 --> 42:39.333 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
One of the most imposing
bombers of the era,

42:39.333 --> 42:43.733 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
the B-29 Superfortress, with
four massive prop engines

42:43.733 --> 42:45.566 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
required eight
turbosuperchargers.

42:46.966 --> 42:49.700 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
With the looming possibility
that the United States would be

42:49.700 --> 42:52.800 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
drawn into the war against
Hitler's advancing forces

42:52.800 --> 42:55.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
in Europe, it was clear
the military would need

42:55.833 --> 42:59.566 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
a lot of planes, and that meant
a lot of turbosuperchargers.

43:01.033 --> 43:03.933 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
The need was so urgent that
the United States government

43:03.933 --> 43:07.400 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
decided to finance the building
of several new factories

43:07.400 --> 43:10.866 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
dedicated to the production
of turbosuperchargers.

43:10.866 --> 43:14.766 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
In June of 1941, the federal
government announced plans

43:14.766 --> 43:18.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
to build a massive new factory
in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

43:19.600 --> 43:22.900 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
Over 47 acres of land was
purchased from General Electric

43:22.900 --> 43:26.833 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
on Taylor Street just west
of the St. Mary's River.

43:26.833 --> 43:28.900 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The building plans
called for a structure

43:28.900 --> 43:33.100 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
with over 700,000 square
feet of manufacturing space

43:33.100 --> 43:36.100 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
at a cost of $25 million.

43:36.100 --> 43:38.866 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
The factory would have
on-site testing facilities

43:38.866 --> 43:42.266 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
to simulate flight
at 25,000 feet.

43:42.266 --> 43:43.866 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
- The turbochargers
took a great amount,

43:43.866 --> 43:46.533 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
and it was super
heated steam as well,

43:46.533 --> 43:49.600 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
'cause it had to be dry
for the turbochargers

43:49.600 --> 43:52.033 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
to replicate exhaust.

43:52.033 --> 43:54.433 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- [Narrator] Three huge
boilers would be installed

43:54.433 --> 43:57.566 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
to supply steam for
turbosupercharger testing,

43:57.566 --> 44:00.433 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
and all other plant operations.

44:00.433 --> 44:03.600 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
The factory would require
over 9,000,000 gallons

44:03.600 --> 44:05.300 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
of water per month.

44:05.300 --> 44:08.000 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Once the factory was built,
it would be leased back

44:08.000 --> 44:10.900 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
to General Electric to begin
producing turbosuperchargers.

44:12.433 --> 44:15.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
The plans were made
public on December 5th,

44:15.033 --> 44:17.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and ground was broken
for the new factory

44:17.200 --> 44:20.300 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
on December 6, 1941.

44:20.300 --> 44:21.533 align:left position:35% line:89% size:55%
And then.

44:21.533 --> 44:26.300 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
(winds gusting)
(explosions boom)

44:27.933 --> 44:30.600 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
(aircraft hums)

44:32.133 --> 44:34.533 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
(dramatic music)

44:34.533 --> 44:36.733 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- [Franklin] Yesterday,
December 7th, 1941,

44:42.533 --> 44:46.333 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
a date which will
live in infamy.

44:47.700 --> 44:49.766 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- [Narrator] The surprise
attack on Pearl Harbor

44:49.766 --> 44:52.133 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
had suddenly pulled
the U.S. into the great

44:52.133 --> 44:55.900 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
worldwide conflict
sooner than anticipated.

44:55.900 --> 44:58.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
The American war machine
went into overdrive,

44:58.966 --> 45:01.366 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and U.S. factories
joined the war effort

45:01.366 --> 45:03.600 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
with a heightened
sense of urgency.

45:03.600 --> 45:06.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Production was ramping
up in every sector

45:06.033 --> 45:07.833 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
as the nation rushed to supply

45:07.833 --> 45:11.066 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
the United States Armed
Forces with the weapons of war

45:11.066 --> 45:14.733 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
needed to defeat the Axis
powers in Europe and Asia.

45:16.100 --> 45:18.366 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
At the same time, skilled
workers were leaving

45:18.366 --> 45:21.166 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
their factory jobs to
fight for their country

45:21.166 --> 45:24.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
leading to a
shortage of workers.

45:24.033 --> 45:27.133 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
American women were asked
to step up to the challenge

45:27.133 --> 45:29.333 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
to help their country
achieve victory.

45:30.833 --> 45:33.866 align:left position:22.5% line:77% size:67.5%
A new breed of
worker, exemplified
by Rosie the Riveter,

45:33.866 --> 45:36.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
was hitting the factory
floor ready to prove

45:36.366 --> 45:39.466 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
that women could do
the same work as men.

45:39.466 --> 45:42.800 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
In the early months of
1942, the last product

45:42.800 --> 45:46.400 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
meant for civilian use
rolled off the assembly line.

45:46.400 --> 45:48.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
From this point forward,
the Fort Wayne Works

45:48.800 --> 45:51.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
would be dedicating its
full production capacity

45:51.666 --> 45:54.033 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
to help the war effort.

45:54.033 --> 45:57.466 align:left position:22.5% line:77% size:67.5%
The urgent need for
turbosuperchargers
made the completion

45:57.466 --> 46:00.700 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
of the Fort Wayne
factory a top priority.

46:00.700 --> 46:01.866 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
- It was a 24 hour a day,

46:01.866 --> 46:05.066 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
seven day a week
construction project.

46:05.066 --> 46:07.433 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
So, it was up in like 11 months.

46:09.000 --> 46:10.533 align:left position:22.5% line:77% size:67.5%
- [Narrator] While
the construction
work was being done,

46:10.533 --> 46:13.366 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
a pilot assembly line was
set up in another facility

46:13.366 --> 46:15.100 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
to train the workers.

46:15.100 --> 46:16.566 align:left position:22.5% line:5% size:67.5%
- They had to not
just build the plant,

46:16.566 --> 46:21.033 align:left position:12.5% line:5% size:77.5%
they had to acquire and
move, move the machinery in,

46:21.033 --> 46:24.800 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
set it up, train employees,
set up the production lines,

46:26.500 --> 46:27.866 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
an amazing feat.

46:27.866 --> 46:29.266 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
- [Narrator] In
less than a year,

46:29.266 --> 46:31.833 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
the Taylor Street
turbosupercharger factory

46:31.833 --> 46:33.833 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
was up and running.

46:33.833 --> 46:37.000 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
The first unit was produced
by September 25, 1942.

46:38.900 --> 46:40.400 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
Thousands more would be needed,

46:40.400 --> 46:43.666 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and it would take thousands
of workers to do it.

46:43.666 --> 46:48.500 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
2,260 workers were hired
and trained in 1942.

46:50.233 --> 46:53.333 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
By the end of 1943,
the Taylor Street plant

46:53.333 --> 46:58.333 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
had 4,825 workers building
turbosuperchargers.

46:59.666 --> 47:01.600 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
Most of the workers were women,

47:01.600 --> 47:04.933 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
but the management had
three categories listed,

47:04.933 --> 47:09.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
men, women on men's
jobs, and other women.

47:09.433 --> 47:14.433 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- At the beginning of the war,
1940, 20% of their employees

47:15.466 --> 47:17.733 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
over the whole
corporation were women.

47:17.733 --> 47:22.666 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
By 1944, 40% of the workers

47:23.866 --> 47:25.933 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
in the General Electric
Corporation were women.

47:25.933 --> 47:27.866 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] The United States
government had commissioned

47:27.866 --> 47:30.133 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
only five factories
across the country

47:30.133 --> 47:32.466 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
to produce the
turbosuperchargers.

47:32.466 --> 47:37.133 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
In 1943, production was
up close to 18,000 units,

47:37.133 --> 47:39.566 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
which was second overall.

47:39.566 --> 47:43.500 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
In 1944, workers at the Fort
Wayne Taylor Street plant

47:43.500 --> 47:46.166 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
had the highest production
levels in the nation,

47:46.166 --> 47:50.500 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
with almost 50,000
turbosuperchargers manufactured.

47:50.500 --> 47:53.133 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
By the end of the war the
Fort Wayne factory had built

47:53.133 --> 47:56.733 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
a total of nearly 90,000
turbosuperchargers,

47:56.733 --> 48:01.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and over 175,000
supercharger impellers.

48:03.233 --> 48:04.800 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Although the work at Taylor
Street was very important,

48:04.800 --> 48:07.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
this was only a fraction
of the Fort Wayne Works

48:07.400 --> 48:09.866 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
contribution to the war effort.

48:09.866 --> 48:12.233 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
The Broadway Campus was
hard at work as well,

48:12.233 --> 48:15.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
producing a wide variety
of much needed instruments,

48:15.233 --> 48:19.233 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
for war being fought in the
air, on the ground, and at sea.

48:20.433 --> 48:22.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Military aircraft had
sophisticated systems

48:22.833 --> 48:25.566 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
that required several
small electrical motors

48:25.566 --> 48:27.833 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
for a variety of tasks.

48:27.833 --> 48:31.600 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
A typical warplane
needed 170 motors.

48:31.600 --> 48:34.200 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
The fractional horsepower
motor department

48:34.200 --> 48:36.766 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
of the Fort Wayne Electric
Works had to expand

48:36.766 --> 48:40.166 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
its product line to build
motors for such applications

48:40.166 --> 48:44.066 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
as computers, compressors,
ammunition boosters,

48:44.066 --> 48:46.900 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
antenna reels, fuel pumps,

48:46.900 --> 48:51.300 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
defrosters, cameras, tail
skids, sighting seats,

48:51.300 --> 48:53.866 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and searchlights,
just to name a few.

48:53.866 --> 48:56.600 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
The Fort Wayne Works
also manufactured larger

48:56.600 --> 49:00.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
electric motors for the
B-17 and B-29 bombers

49:00.466 --> 49:04.566 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
to be used in landing gear,
wing flaps, bomb doors,

49:04.566 --> 49:07.333 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
and tail wheel actuators.

49:07.333 --> 49:10.733 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
Those bombers were also equipped
with rotating turret guns

49:10.733 --> 49:12.833 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
for fending off enemy fighters.

49:14.200 --> 49:17.500 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
GE developed a new amplidyne
and motor control system

49:17.500 --> 49:21.300 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
that gave gunners quicker,
more accurate targeting.

49:21.300 --> 49:25.566 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
Fort Wayne produced 7,500
of these units per month.

49:25.566 --> 49:29.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
The Navy also made use
of GE amplidyne systems

49:29.033 --> 49:31.233 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
to control the rotation
and positioning

49:31.233 --> 49:34.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
of its 40 millimeter
anti-aircraft guns.

49:35.833 --> 49:37.766 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
The Winter Street plant
was charged with building

49:37.766 --> 49:40.800 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
the entire power drive
system for the 40 millimeter

49:40.800 --> 49:44.933 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Twin Mount Mark 1 Bofors
Anti-Aircraft Gun.

49:44.933 --> 49:47.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Compressors were built
here that were used

49:47.166 --> 49:51.966 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
in anti-aircraft gun control
systems and recoil mechanisms.

49:51.966 --> 49:54.933 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Other production at the Winter
Street facility included

49:54.933 --> 49:57.966 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
refrigeration units for
food and medical supplies

49:57.966 --> 50:01.900 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
onboard various Navy vessels,
including battleships,

50:01.900 --> 50:04.833 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
aircraft carriers,
and smaller ships.

50:04.833 --> 50:07.500 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
There was one special
transformer component that was

50:07.500 --> 50:11.800 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
manufactured for use in
military communication radios.

50:11.800 --> 50:15.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
The dynamotor converted
the 20 volt DC power

50:15.300 --> 50:18.466 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
supplied by aircraft to
the several hundred volts

50:18.466 --> 50:22.866 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
needed to power the electron
tubes in radio units.

50:22.866 --> 50:25.766 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
The Fort Wayne Works
manufactured over 1,000,000

50:25.766 --> 50:29.066 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
of these dynamotors during
the course of the war.

50:29.066 --> 50:31.966 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
A wide variety of large
generators were built here,

50:31.966 --> 50:35.266 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
including the 300 kilowatt
auxiliary generators

50:35.266 --> 50:37.666 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
used in submarines.

50:37.666 --> 50:41.100 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Thousands of huge diesel
and gas powered generators,

50:41.100 --> 50:43.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
some of which
weighed several tons,

50:43.166 --> 50:45.566 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
were made for the U.S. Army.

50:45.566 --> 50:48.933 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
The U.S. Navy also ordered
a variety of generators,

50:48.933 --> 50:51.566 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
totalling 10,000,
for use on several

50:51.566 --> 50:53.366 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
different types of ships.

50:53.366 --> 50:56.033 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
The transformer department
of the Fort Wayne Works

50:56.033 --> 50:59.333 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
went above and beyond the call
of duty to fulfill an order

50:59.333 --> 51:02.700 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
straight from the front
lines in North Africa.

51:02.700 --> 51:04.966 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
25 people gave up their weekend,

51:04.966 --> 51:09.133 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
as all three shifts came in
for production on Sunday.

51:09.133 --> 51:12.533 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
All of the extra effort paid
off as the order was fulfilled

51:12.533 --> 51:16.333 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and shipped out in just
four days, instead of five.

51:16.333 --> 51:18.900 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
This exemplified the
work ethic espoused

51:18.900 --> 51:21.900 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
by the entire Fort Wayne
Works during World War II.

51:23.300 --> 51:25.900 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
The Navy Board for Production
Awards selected the Works

51:25.900 --> 51:28.600 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
to receive the Navy
E for Excellence

51:28.600 --> 51:32.533 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
in industrial productions
three consecutive years.

51:32.533 --> 51:37.533 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
During 1942, 1943, and
1944, The Navy E flag

51:38.766 --> 51:41.333 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
was flown over the plant
and workers could wear

51:41.333 --> 51:44.033 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
a Navy E lapel insignia.

51:44.033 --> 51:47.000 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
Employees didn't just give
their time and effort,

51:47.000 --> 51:49.400 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
they also gave their money.

51:49.400 --> 51:52.300 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
The Fort Wayne Works
received the Minuteman flag

51:52.300 --> 51:55.600 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
from the U.S. Treasury
in recognition that 90%

51:55.600 --> 51:59.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
of the employees had
given 10% of their pay

51:59.000 --> 52:00.300 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
to buy war bonds.

52:00.300 --> 52:02.733 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
That added up to
a lot of dollars,

52:02.733 --> 52:06.033 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
since the annual wartime
payroll of the Fort Wayne Works

52:06.033 --> 52:08.366 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
averaged over $23 million.

52:09.633 --> 52:11.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
The combined employment
at all of the factories

52:11.966 --> 52:15.433 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
of the Fort Wayne Works
exceeded 20,000 employees

52:15.433 --> 52:18.833 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
during peak production in 1944.

52:18.833 --> 52:22.166 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Women had become a significant
percentage of the workforce

52:22.166 --> 52:25.033 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
and the Fort Wayne General
Electric women's group,

52:25.033 --> 52:29.866 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Elex Club, had grown to
include 2,200 members.

52:29.866 --> 52:34.100 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
These women contributed to
troop morale in a personal way.

52:34.100 --> 52:37.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Throughout the war, Elex
members prepared and shipped,

52:37.233 --> 52:40.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
10,000 boxes to service
personnel to give them

52:40.466 --> 52:42.033 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
a little reminder of home.

52:43.233 --> 52:45.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
America's military might
and industrial strength

52:45.966 --> 52:48.933 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
combined to help turn
the tide in Europe.

52:48.933 --> 52:52.633 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Less than a year after Allied
Forces invaded Normandy,

52:52.633 --> 52:57.633 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Nazi Germany finally
surrendered on May 8th, 1945.

52:58.800 --> 53:01.533 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Celebrations broke out
all over the world.

53:01.533 --> 53:04.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
World War II wasn't
completely over,

53:04.000 --> 53:07.566 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
but Americans could
breathe a sigh of relief.

53:07.566 --> 53:11.166 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
It was over a month after VE
day, before the production rush

53:11.166 --> 53:13.533 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
eased up enough at the
Fort Wayne Works to do

53:13.533 --> 53:16.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
a symbolic gesture to
acknowledge the victory.

53:16.666 --> 53:19.633 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
Management gave the order
to relight the grand

53:19.633 --> 53:22.366 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
General Electric logo
sign, which shone out

53:22.366 --> 53:24.900 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
over Fort Wayne from
its perch on top of one

53:24.900 --> 53:27.700 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
of the tallest
buildings on the campus.

53:27.700 --> 53:30.666 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
The sign had been turned
off right after news reached

53:30.666 --> 53:34.633 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Fort Wayne about the Japanese
attack on Pearl Harbor.

53:34.633 --> 53:37.533 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
This sign had been a symbol
of pride for the company

53:37.533 --> 53:41.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and Fort Wayne
residents since 1928.

53:41.033 --> 53:44.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
It stood 50 feet high
above the rooftop,

53:44.000 --> 53:48.066 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
giving off a blue and
white glow from 925

53:48.066 --> 53:51.566 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
incandescent 25 watt bulbs.

53:51.566 --> 53:54.266 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
This sign would be a constant
landmark on the Fort Wayne

53:54.266 --> 53:57.133 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
skyline through the
rest of the 20th century

53:57.133 --> 53:59.266 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
and into the 21st century.

54:00.666 --> 54:03.633 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
The nation's attention now
shifted to the Pacific theater

54:03.633 --> 54:05.533 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
and within a few uneasy months

54:05.533 --> 54:08.766 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
that conflict too
came to an end.

54:08.766 --> 54:13.500 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Japan surrendered
on August 14, 1945.

54:13.500 --> 54:15.500 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
Two atomic bombs had crippled

54:15.500 --> 54:17.466 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
the heart of Japan's
war industry,

54:17.466 --> 54:20.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
wiping out factories
and workers.

54:20.033 --> 54:22.366 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
When the news was announced
at the Fort Wayne Works

54:22.366 --> 54:24.933 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
of General Electric, the
factory whistles blew

54:24.933 --> 54:26.966 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
heralding the victory.

54:26.966 --> 54:30.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Workers joined the
jubilant celebration.

54:30.100 --> 54:33.433 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
Works Manager M. E. Lord
announced that Fort Wayne

54:33.433 --> 54:36.633 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
GE employees were allowed
to take two days off

54:36.633 --> 54:38.166 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
to be with their families.

54:38.166 --> 54:41.066 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Soon, millions of U.S.
military men and women

54:41.066 --> 54:42.833 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
were returning home.

54:42.833 --> 54:45.866 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
The women of the Fort Wayne
Elex Club had to cancel

54:45.866 --> 54:48.966 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
a January 1946 trip to Chicago,

54:48.966 --> 54:52.400 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
because the railroad coaches
were filled to capacity

54:52.400 --> 54:55.533 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
with war veterans making
their way back home.

54:55.533 --> 54:57.533 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
The end of the war
meant that the majority

54:57.533 --> 55:01.466 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
of the military production
was coming to an end as well.

55:01.466 --> 55:04.066 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
The workers of the Taylor
Street factory had fulfilled

55:04.066 --> 55:06.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
their duties to
supply the military

55:06.000 --> 55:09.433 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
with the desperately
needed turbosuperchargers.

55:09.433 --> 55:12.066 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
The U.S. Government closed
the production facility

55:12.066 --> 55:14.733 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
in April of 1946.

55:14.733 --> 55:17.600 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
A few days later, General
Electric purchased the plant

55:17.600 --> 55:21.766 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
outright from the government,
at a cost of $5,000,000.

55:21.766 --> 55:24.866 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
It would no longer produce
turbosuperchargers,

55:24.866 --> 55:27.666 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
but instead it was converted
to a fractional horsepower

55:27.666 --> 55:32.666 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
motor factory, and magnet wire
mill, employing 725 workers.

55:34.033 --> 55:36.033 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
The Fort Wayne Works of
General Electric welcomed back

55:36.033 --> 55:39.000 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
2,400 veterans after the war.

55:39.000 --> 55:41.733 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Many women returned to
their pre-war positions,

55:41.733 --> 55:44.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
or left to devote time
to their families.

55:45.633 --> 55:47.566 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
After the military
contracts ran out,

55:47.566 --> 55:51.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
the workforce had to be
reduced to peacetime levels.

55:51.233 --> 55:54.666 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
By the beginning of 1946,
employment levels had gone down

55:54.666 --> 55:58.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
from the high of 20,000 at the
peak of the war production,

55:58.233 --> 56:00.233 align:left position:35% line:89% size:55%
to 11,800.

56:01.400 --> 56:03.633 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
As life returned to
normal after the war,

56:03.633 --> 56:05.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
young veterans who
were glad to be home

56:05.700 --> 56:08.966 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
wanted to settle down and
start families of their own.

56:08.966 --> 56:13.400 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
This led to the post-war
housing boom and the baby boom.

56:16.966 --> 56:19.033 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
(upbeat music)

56:26.933 --> 56:28.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- [Narrator] With all
of these new families

56:28.400 --> 56:32.500 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
building new houses, demand for
home appliances skyrocketed.

56:32.500 --> 56:34.633 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
For the Fort Wayne Works
of General Electric,

56:34.633 --> 56:38.266 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
this meant record orders
for small electric motors.

56:38.266 --> 56:42.333 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
By 1948, production was up to
nearly eight million units.

56:42.333 --> 56:46.466 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
And in 1950, over 10
million motors were made.

56:46.466 --> 56:50.400 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
In 1952, the local company
newspaper changed its name

56:50.400 --> 56:53.766 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
to "General Electric News,
Fort Wayne, Indiana",

56:53.766 --> 56:57.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
dropping the time-honored use
of the "Fort Wayne Works" name

56:57.233 --> 57:00.600 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
which had been used since 1899.

57:00.600 --> 57:03.066 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
This in-house publication
had been a great resource

57:03.066 --> 57:06.366 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
for employees since the
early days of the company.

57:06.366 --> 57:08.900 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- For a long time there
was the "GE News",

57:08.900 --> 57:12.233 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
a weekly paper that
come out that covered

57:12.233 --> 57:13.700 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
what was going on
in the businesses

57:13.700 --> 57:18.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and usually had a few
employee interest articles.

57:18.233 --> 57:20.433 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- [Narrator] Since this
Fort Wayne factory complex

57:20.433 --> 57:23.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
had enough employees
to rival a small city,

57:23.166 --> 57:25.400 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
there was much to talk about.

57:25.400 --> 57:27.666 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Along with corporate
news about promotions,

57:27.666 --> 57:29.766 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
retirements, and special awards,

57:29.766 --> 57:33.266 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
there were also a variety
of specialty columns.

57:33.266 --> 57:36.166 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
No paper would be complete
without a sports section

57:36.166 --> 57:39.666 align:left position:22.5% line:77% size:67.5%
and there were plenty
of employee sports
teams to go around.

57:39.666 --> 57:44.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Bowling, softball, golf,
basketball, volleyball,

57:44.000 --> 57:47.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
water polo, soccer,
boxing, and, of course,

57:47.966 --> 57:50.633 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
the national pastime, baseball.

57:50.633 --> 57:53.366 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Employees had played baseball
since the earliest days

57:53.366 --> 57:56.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
of the Fort Wayne
Jenney Electric Company.

57:56.000 --> 57:57.966 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The Fort Wayne Works
of General Electric

57:57.966 --> 58:00.700 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
even had its own
professional baseball team

58:00.700 --> 58:03.366 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
known as the GE Voltmen.

58:03.366 --> 58:06.933 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
But perhaps the biggest Fort
Wayne GE baseball connection

58:06.933 --> 58:10.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
involves someone who was
in a league of her own.

58:10.466 --> 58:13.266 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Isabel Alvarez came
from Cuba to play

58:13.266 --> 58:14.700 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
in the All-American Girls

58:14.700 --> 58:17.900 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Professional Baseball
League in 1949.

58:17.900 --> 58:19.933 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
She played for the
Fort Wayne Daisies

58:19.933 --> 58:23.066 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
during the 1951 season
and ended up playing

58:23.066 --> 58:24.800 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
for five different teams

58:24.800 --> 58:28.666 align:left position:22.5% line:77% size:67.5%
before finishing her
professional career
back in Fort Wayne.

58:28.666 --> 58:31.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
She started her American
dream with a job

58:31.033 --> 58:32.933 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
at General Electric Fort Wayne

58:32.933 --> 58:36.766 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and had a long career
before retiring in 1999.

58:36.766 --> 58:40.733 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Another baseball story begins
a little closer to home.

58:40.733 --> 58:42.433 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Bob Guingrich started working
(upbeat music)

58:42.433 --> 58:45.433 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
for GE Fort Wayne in 1941.

58:45.433 --> 58:47.266 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
He was quite the
bowler in his day,

58:47.266 --> 58:49.433 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
playing for the
GE Fort Wayne team

58:49.433 --> 58:53.900 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
in the American Bowling
Congress competition of 1955.

58:53.900 --> 58:57.533 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
But what he remembers most
fondly, over 60 years later,

58:57.533 --> 58:59.033 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
is the time he spent coaching

58:59.033 --> 59:01.833 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
the Fort Wayne General
Electric Little League Team.

59:01.833 --> 59:04.366 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- That was the thing
that really give me

59:04.366 --> 59:09.200 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
the great happiness to
see all those kids play.

59:09.200 --> 59:10.200 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
- [Narrator] Gerry Love was one

59:10.200 --> 59:12.266 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
of the young players he coached.

59:12.266 --> 59:13.400 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
- He was a teacher.

59:13.400 --> 59:15.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
He had a lotta
knowledge and he wanted

59:15.300 --> 59:17.733 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
to share that knowledge with us.

59:17.733 --> 59:20.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
He was competitive,
he wanted to win.

59:20.100 --> 59:23.300 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
But most of all he
wanted us to improve

59:23.300 --> 59:24.800 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
and to have fun.

59:24.800 --> 59:26.733 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] Gerry took the
time to write Bob a letter

59:26.733 --> 59:29.133 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
thanking him for the
impact he made on his life

59:29.133 --> 59:31.066 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
even 50 years later.

59:31.066 --> 59:34.566 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- "Dear Mr. Guingrich, I was
a short, skinny second baseman

59:34.566 --> 59:37.266 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
"who could field a little
but couldn't hit a lick.

59:37.266 --> 59:39.600 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
"I remember that Saturday
waiting by the phone

59:39.600 --> 59:41.833 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
"to find out if I'd made a team

59:41.833 --> 59:43.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
"and being thrilled
to find it was GE

59:43.833 --> 59:45.900 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
"because they were the best.

59:45.900 --> 59:47.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
"You worked and then
gave up your off time

59:47.833 --> 59:49.300 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
"to teach us the game.

59:49.300 --> 59:51.100 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
"For that I thank you.

59:51.100 --> 59:54.133 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
"With warmest
regards, Gerry Love."

59:55.300 --> 59:57.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- [Narrator] During
the Baby Boom era,

59:57.000 --> 01:00:00.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
family activities became
increasingly important.

01:00:00.400 --> 01:00:02.466 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
One of the events
most fondly remembered

01:00:02.466 --> 01:00:04.600 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
is the annual Christmas party.

01:00:04.600 --> 01:00:08.800 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- I went to my first
GE Christmas party

01:00:08.800 --> 01:00:12.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
at the GE Club when
I was probably five.

01:00:12.100 --> 01:00:14.966 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- They'd have Santa
Claus up on the stage

01:00:14.966 --> 01:00:19.733 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and all the GE kids got
to sit on Santa's lap.

01:00:19.733 --> 01:00:22.966 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- It was crowded, it
was full, it was fun.

01:00:22.966 --> 01:00:24.500 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
Everybody was dressed up.

01:00:24.500 --> 01:00:26.366 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
- And I brought
my little children

01:00:26.366 --> 01:00:29.266 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and we would watch some
type of a stage show.

01:00:29.266 --> 01:00:32.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
And it was maybe a
comedian or some dog act

01:00:32.666 --> 01:00:34.166 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
or something like that.

01:00:34.166 --> 01:00:36.333 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
And it was like a really
nice program they put on.

01:00:36.333 --> 01:00:38.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
And then when we
walked, out my children

01:00:38.366 --> 01:00:41.133 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
would get the stocking
filled with the fruits

01:00:41.133 --> 01:00:43.300 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
and the gifts for them.

01:00:43.300 --> 01:00:45.100 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
- And maybe a nice Tonka truck.

01:00:45.100 --> 01:00:48.566 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- It was nice to get a
toy and to see Santa Claus

01:00:48.566 --> 01:00:51.600 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
because a lot of these
people came from Ohio,

01:00:51.600 --> 01:00:56.066 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Michigan, Whitley County to
work at GE in Fort Wayne.

01:00:56.066 --> 01:00:58.300 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- They also had these
Saturday morning programs

01:00:58.300 --> 01:00:59.833 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
for a while.

01:00:59.833 --> 01:01:01.933 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
You could come watch a movie
and they would have cereals,

01:01:01.933 --> 01:01:03.200 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
you would come back.

01:01:03.200 --> 01:01:05.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- Bowling leagues and
the softball leagues,

01:01:06.300 --> 01:01:07.933 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
basketball over at the club.

01:01:07.933 --> 01:01:10.300 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
- I was on Taylor
Street basketball

01:01:10.300 --> 01:01:12.000 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
and volleyball team.

01:01:12.000 --> 01:01:13.966 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
- Played golf in
the golf league.

01:01:13.966 --> 01:01:16.433 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- The social activities
through Elex,

01:01:16.433 --> 01:01:19.633 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
that was a big way for
us to expand and grow

01:01:19.633 --> 01:01:21.300 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
our friendship base.

01:01:21.300 --> 01:01:23.366 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
- At our company
picnic every year,

01:01:23.366 --> 01:01:27.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
you know, Transformer,
we had a tug o' war

01:01:27.033 --> 01:01:28.900 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
and that was big
bragging rights.

01:01:28.900 --> 01:01:30.133 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
You had trophy.

01:01:30.133 --> 01:01:34.366 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
- Picnics where
you'd get to meet

01:01:34.366 --> 01:01:36.166 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
the plant manager.

01:01:36.166 --> 01:01:38.533 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
And the plant manager,
he could sit down

01:01:38.533 --> 01:01:40.966 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
at your table and you
could eat chicken with him

01:01:40.966 --> 01:01:42.433 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
or whatever, you know.

01:01:42.433 --> 01:01:46.800 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- The Local 901 Union always
had parties and picnics.

01:01:47.666 --> 01:01:48.900 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
They still have 'em today.

01:01:48.900 --> 01:01:50.366 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
- [Narrator] The
clubs, the sports,

01:01:50.366 --> 01:01:52.166 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
the parties, the picnics,

01:01:52.166 --> 01:01:55.533 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
all combined to make
coworkers feel like a family.

01:01:55.533 --> 01:01:57.600 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- It had a big
family feeling to it.

01:01:57.600 --> 01:02:01.600 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- When you work next to
somebody every day for years,

01:02:01.600 --> 01:02:04.166 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
you learn about them, you
learn about their family,

01:02:04.166 --> 01:02:05.833 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
you know it.

01:02:05.833 --> 01:02:07.766 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Even though they live
in the next town over,

01:02:07.766 --> 01:02:09.500 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
they're still your neighbor.

01:02:09.500 --> 01:02:11.233 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
- You saw those
folks just as much

01:02:11.233 --> 01:02:12.700 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
as you saw your spouse.

01:02:12.700 --> 01:02:14.666 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- We'd have carry-ins
if people retired,

01:02:14.666 --> 01:02:16.633 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
carry-in if maybe
somebody passed away

01:02:16.633 --> 01:02:18.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and they were just
coming back to work.

01:02:18.833 --> 01:02:20.666 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
We just had carry-ins
for everything.

01:02:20.666 --> 01:02:22.900 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
- Sometimes if you had a person

01:02:22.900 --> 01:02:25.733 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
that was sick or you
were down-and-out,

01:02:25.733 --> 01:02:28.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
they'd always take up
a collection for you.

01:02:28.166 --> 01:02:29.533 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- When you're in a union,
(lively music)

01:02:29.533 --> 01:02:31.666 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
you're brothers and sister.

01:02:31.666 --> 01:02:33.200 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
That's how you relate.

01:02:33.200 --> 01:02:36.300 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
So you become very close and
you're there for each other.

01:02:36.300 --> 01:02:37.766 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
And when you're working
out on the factory floor,

01:02:37.766 --> 01:02:40.400 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
if somebody's running behind,
you go up and you help.

01:02:40.400 --> 01:02:44.533 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- It was just like neighbors,
friends, and over the years

01:02:44.533 --> 01:02:48.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
it was just awesome to
develop the friendships.

01:02:48.033 --> 01:02:49.533 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
- We were just a large family.

01:02:50.400 --> 01:02:52.933 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
And we got along so well.

01:02:52.933 --> 01:02:54.233 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
- [Narrator] And
in a lot of cases

01:02:54.233 --> 01:02:55.900 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
they actually were family.

01:02:55.900 --> 01:02:58.566 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
- I'm fourth generation GE.

01:02:58.566 --> 01:03:02.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
My great grandpa and
my grandpa Archbold,

01:03:02.200 --> 01:03:04.966 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
they lived in Ossian
and they would take

01:03:04.966 --> 01:03:08.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
the interurban train
and they would ride

01:03:08.166 --> 01:03:10.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
into Fort Wayne to work
at General Electric.

01:03:10.833 --> 01:03:12.666 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
And then my father started.

01:03:12.666 --> 01:03:15.566 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
And my father was
named Glen E. Archbold,

01:03:15.566 --> 01:03:17.066 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
no middle name.

01:03:17.066 --> 01:03:18.800 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
And one time I asked
grandpa, I said,

01:03:18.800 --> 01:03:21.000 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
"How come you didn't give
my dad a middle name?"

01:03:21.000 --> 01:03:22.933 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
He said, "Because I
knew he'd work at GE

01:03:22.933 --> 01:03:25.933 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
"and I wanted his
initials to be G.E."

01:03:25.933 --> 01:03:28.900 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- It was a family
tradition to work at GE.

01:03:28.900 --> 01:03:30.400 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
- GE was big.

01:03:30.400 --> 01:03:33.033 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
I mean, a lot of my friends
whose fathers worked at GE.

01:03:33.033 --> 01:03:34.633 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
My aunt worked at GE.

01:03:34.633 --> 01:03:37.266 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- My mother had worked
there during World War II.

01:03:37.266 --> 01:03:39.733 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- One of my uncles
worked at Decatur GE

01:03:39.733 --> 01:03:42.166 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
and some of his family members

01:03:42.166 --> 01:03:45.966 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
and one of my aunts worked
at Fort Wayne GE at Motors

01:03:45.966 --> 01:03:48.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and my brother worked
there for a while.

01:03:48.433 --> 01:03:49.933 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
- A couple cousins.

01:03:49.933 --> 01:03:52.666 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- My mother worked at GE,
all my aunts and uncles

01:03:52.666 --> 01:03:54.133 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
worked at GE.

01:03:54.133 --> 01:03:57.433 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
- I was in my late teens, early
20s and sort of floundering,

01:03:57.433 --> 01:03:59.233 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
trying to figure out
exactly what I wanted to do.

01:03:59.233 --> 01:04:00.866 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
And my grandfather and, in fact,

01:04:00.866 --> 01:04:03.800 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
a lot of my relatives had
worked at General Electric.

01:04:03.800 --> 01:04:05.866 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
My grandfather came
home so proud one day

01:04:05.866 --> 01:04:08.700 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
that he'd gotten me into the
Tool and Die Maker Program

01:04:08.700 --> 01:04:10.933 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
at GE like he had gone through.

01:04:10.933 --> 01:04:13.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
And I had to sadly
tell my grandfather,

01:04:13.200 --> 01:04:16.433 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
who I loved very much,
that tool and die machinery

01:04:16.433 --> 01:04:17.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
was not really what
I wanted to do.

01:04:17.833 --> 01:04:21.266 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- I met Dan Lovinger who
was the General Manager

01:04:21.266 --> 01:04:23.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
of Specialty
Transformer Operation

01:04:23.200 --> 01:04:26.233 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
and after several years we
developed a relationship

01:04:26.233 --> 01:04:27.966 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
and we ended up getting married.

01:04:27.966 --> 01:04:31.633 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- The people are my favorite
thing about working at GE.

01:04:31.633 --> 01:04:34.366 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
I mean, I even married
one (laughing).

01:04:34.366 --> 01:04:35.866 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- [Narrator] Because
General Electric

01:04:35.866 --> 01:04:39.100 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
was such a major employer in
Fort Wayne for over a century,

01:04:39.100 --> 01:04:41.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
a lot of people in the
town have some kind

01:04:41.166 --> 01:04:43.566 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
of personal connection to GE.

01:04:43.566 --> 01:04:47.166 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- Just about anybody in
the city of Fort Wayne

01:04:48.600 --> 01:04:52.000 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
has had a relative or a neighbor

01:04:52.000 --> 01:04:55.600 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
or an acquaintance,
somebody, somehow,

01:04:56.566 --> 01:04:59.333 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
sometime has worked here at GE.

01:04:59.333 --> 01:05:02.266 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
- I got orders to go to Vietnam.

01:05:02.266 --> 01:05:06.600 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
As soon as I got there,
would you believe

01:05:06.600 --> 01:05:08.866 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
there was a guy that
picked me up there

01:05:09.766 --> 01:05:11.400 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
from Fort Wayne, Indiana.

01:05:11.400 --> 01:05:13.000 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
And you know where he worked at?

01:05:16.000 --> 01:05:17.400 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
Right here at GE.

01:05:17.400 --> 01:05:19.966 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- The number of
employees that GE had had

01:05:19.966 --> 01:05:23.133 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
over the years compared
to the population

01:05:23.133 --> 01:05:25.100 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
of Allen County,

01:05:25.100 --> 01:05:27.600 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
and if I remember correctly,

01:05:27.600 --> 01:05:31.100 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
I think we come up with on
average one out of nine people

01:05:31.100 --> 01:05:33.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
had worked at GE
sometime or another.

01:05:33.833 --> 01:05:36.833 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
- Came to Fort Wayne in 1959.

01:05:36.833 --> 01:05:39.966 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
I think the employment was
around 10,000 to 12,000.

01:05:39.966 --> 01:05:43.566 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- Started our first
job at GE in 1964.

01:05:43.566 --> 01:05:45.666 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
I made $1.80 an hour.

01:05:45.666 --> 01:05:49.966 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
- I started in
September of 1973.

01:05:49.966 --> 01:05:50.966 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
I think I started off

01:05:50.966 --> 01:05:54.966 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
at about 3.50, 4.17 an hour.

01:05:54.966 --> 01:05:56.200 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
It was piece work.

01:05:56.200 --> 01:05:57.533 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
- And one of the
first impressions

01:05:57.533 --> 01:05:59.333 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
was just how sprawling it was.

01:05:59.333 --> 01:06:01.700 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
- This place was huge.

01:06:01.700 --> 01:06:03.066 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
- Big and scary (chuckles).

01:06:04.233 --> 01:06:08.533 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- Busy, everybody busy
working like a busy bee.

01:06:08.533 --> 01:06:11.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- I couldn't believe
that many buildings

01:06:11.100 --> 01:06:12.800 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
had that many people
working in 'em.

01:06:12.800 --> 01:06:15.533 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- Smells of the varnish,
different varnishes,

01:06:15.533 --> 01:06:16.466 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
different places
where they treat

01:06:16.466 --> 01:06:18.000 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
the motors and transformers.

01:06:18.000 --> 01:06:20.500 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- Any time you were in
GE, you would come out

01:06:20.500 --> 01:06:22.033 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
smelling like GE.

01:06:22.033 --> 01:06:24.566 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
And nobody could ever lie
and say they went to work

01:06:24.566 --> 01:06:26.033 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
because when you came home,

01:06:26.033 --> 01:06:27.866 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
you definitely had that smell.
(Rudy laughing)

01:06:27.866 --> 01:06:30.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- Sound of the punch
presses hammering away.

01:06:30.000 --> 01:06:32.166 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
- Boom, boom, boom.

01:06:32.166 --> 01:06:33.266 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
- And everybody talked loud.

01:06:33.266 --> 01:06:34.100 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
They hollered.

01:06:34.100 --> 01:06:34.933 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
(both laughing)

01:06:34.933 --> 01:06:36.166 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50%
- Yeah.

01:06:36.166 --> 01:06:37.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- Because the noise
level was so high

01:06:37.100 --> 01:06:38.366 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
and then you'd get outta GE

01:06:38.366 --> 01:06:39.133 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
you're still like that.
- You're still hollering

01:06:39.133 --> 01:06:39.966 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
at each other.

01:06:39.966 --> 01:06:41.400 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
(both laughing)

01:06:41.400 --> 01:06:43.133 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Said, just calm down,
you're not at work no more.

01:06:43.133 --> 01:06:44.366 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
(both laughing)

01:06:44.366 --> 01:06:47.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- The shift whistles, I
remember hearing those

01:06:47.300 --> 01:06:50.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
so I had an idea when
the first shift ended

01:06:50.166 --> 01:06:52.566 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
and when the second shift ended

01:06:52.566 --> 01:06:54.366 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
and when the third shift ended.

01:06:54.366 --> 01:06:59.266 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- After work, there was a bar
across from the 901 Union Hall

01:06:59.266 --> 01:07:02.766 align:left position:22.5% line:77% size:67.5%
and we called that
901 1/2 because that's
where you would go

01:07:02.766 --> 01:07:05.000 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
after work to talk about work.
(upbeat music)

01:07:05.000 --> 01:07:08.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
- A number of the neighborhoods
that still survive

01:07:08.300 --> 01:07:10.033 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
started to spring up around GE.

01:07:10.033 --> 01:07:13.133 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
A lotta folks wanted
to live near the plant.

01:07:13.133 --> 01:07:15.966 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- General Electric
Company was very important

01:07:15.966 --> 01:07:17.233 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
to the community.

01:07:17.233 --> 01:07:19.966 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
They had a lot of
employees and that was

01:07:19.966 --> 01:07:22.633 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
your bread and butter
to come and work at GE.

01:07:22.633 --> 01:07:25.733 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
- Good wages, terrific benefits,

01:07:27.166 --> 01:07:31.900 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
good retirement, and it
enabled a lot of families

01:07:32.633 --> 01:07:33.900 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
reach their dreams.

01:07:33.900 --> 01:07:37.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- I made enough money to
send my kids to college.

01:07:37.033 --> 01:07:40.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
They went to college,
had everything paid for.

01:07:40.100 --> 01:07:43.600 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
And I had good health
insurance for the family.

01:07:43.600 --> 01:07:44.800 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- [Narrator]
Employees could enjoy

01:07:44.800 --> 01:07:46.500 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
some of the fruits
of their labor

01:07:46.500 --> 01:07:48.666 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
by shopping at the
Employee Store.

01:07:48.666 --> 01:07:50.100 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
- We bought all GE appliances.

01:07:50.100 --> 01:07:51.600 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
They used to have a
GE appliance store

01:07:51.600 --> 01:07:54.500 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
over on Sweeney Avenue,
across from the credit union.

01:07:54.500 --> 01:07:57.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Well, we'd get better
deals on coffee pots,

01:07:57.100 --> 01:07:59.133 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
toasters, just
anything they had.

01:07:59.133 --> 01:08:01.033 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
So that was a big
thing at Christmas

01:08:01.033 --> 01:08:04.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
was to go to the GE
Store on Swinney Avenue

01:08:04.100 --> 01:08:07.433 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and pick out your hairdryers,
whatever you might want.

01:08:07.433 --> 01:08:08.766 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
(blender whirring)

01:08:08.766 --> 01:08:12.866 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
♪ Hear the newest most
exciting sound in town ♪

01:08:12.866 --> 01:08:15.100 align:left position:25% line:5% size:65%
♪ It's a General
Electric blender ♪

01:08:15.100 --> 01:08:17.266 align:left position:20% line:5% size:70%
♪ That's going around

01:08:17.266 --> 01:08:19.733 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
♪ Completely new
from base to lid ♪

01:08:19.733 --> 01:08:22.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
♪ Take it apart,
see what they did ♪

01:08:22.033 --> 01:08:24.566 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
♪ The nonskid base is the
lowest you'll ever see ♪

01:08:24.566 --> 01:08:28.300 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Man] The decanter has a
36-ounce blending capacity.

01:08:29.700 --> 01:08:33.733 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] In 1968, GE Fort
Wayne had 8,000 employees

01:08:33.733 --> 01:08:36.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
producing a variety of
motors, transformers,

01:08:36.700 --> 01:08:38.400 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
and other products.

01:08:38.400 --> 01:08:42.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
The 1970s saw the
advent of globalization.

01:08:42.466 --> 01:08:47.366 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- The system was such that
it just was not compatible

01:08:47.366 --> 01:08:50.066 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
with keeping up with where
the market was going.

01:08:50.066 --> 01:08:52.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- [Narrator] By 1977,
the Fort Wayne workforce

01:08:52.800 --> 01:08:56.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
had been pared down
to 5,500 employees

01:08:56.000 --> 01:08:57.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
as production continued
to be divvied out

01:08:57.833 --> 01:08:59.966 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
to other locations.

01:08:59.966 --> 01:09:02.733 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
- Through the '60s and the '70s

01:09:02.733 --> 01:09:07.466 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
and up till about
the early '80s,

01:09:07.466 --> 01:09:09.166 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
very early '80s,

01:09:09.166 --> 01:09:12.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
we were able to get
frequent price increases

01:09:12.666 --> 01:09:13.466 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
in the market

01:09:15.300 --> 01:09:17.766 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
to cover our escalating costs

01:09:17.766 --> 01:09:22.333 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
of labor contracts, cost of
materials, and those things.

01:09:22.333 --> 01:09:24.600 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
By the time we'd
reached the '80s,

01:09:24.600 --> 01:09:27.600 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
it was nearly impossible
to get a price increase.

01:09:27.600 --> 01:09:29.433 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
It was a thing of the past.

01:09:29.433 --> 01:09:31.000 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
- [Narrator] Soon
General Electric

01:09:31.000 --> 01:09:35.333 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
was announcing plans to build
two new plants in Mexico.

01:09:35.333 --> 01:09:40.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- The company built a
plant in Juarez, Mexico,

01:09:41.433 --> 01:09:44.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and that plant started
to pick up product

01:09:44.200 --> 01:09:45.700 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
out of Taylor Street.

01:09:45.700 --> 01:09:48.233 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
The 40 frame and 30 frame
motors went down there.

01:09:49.333 --> 01:09:52.833 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
That move probably was driven

01:09:54.000 --> 01:09:56.866 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
by the need to get
lower cost products.

01:09:56.866 --> 01:09:59.066 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] Weldon
Shaefer was asked to travel

01:09:59.066 --> 01:10:01.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
from Fort Wayne to
help set up the factory

01:10:01.366 --> 01:10:04.300 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
and train workers
in Juarez, Mexico.

01:10:04.300 --> 01:10:07.100 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
- Most of the workers were paid

01:10:07.100 --> 01:10:11.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
a rather low wage, which
was pretty much standard

01:10:11.366 --> 01:10:13.166 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
with all the other work

01:10:13.166 --> 01:10:17.533 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
that went across the
(speaking in foreign language)

01:10:17.533 --> 01:10:18.933 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
they called it.

01:10:18.933 --> 01:10:22.500 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
It was a transition of
American industry into Mexico.

01:10:23.900 --> 01:10:26.866 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Quite a number of people
that were probably not happy

01:10:26.866 --> 01:10:30.466 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
that I was helping
with that transition

01:10:30.466 --> 01:10:34.133 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
but I did feel it was
part of my responsibility

01:10:34.133 --> 01:10:36.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
no matter what and I understood

01:10:36.533 --> 01:10:38.966 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
it was a thing that
was gonna happen.

01:10:38.966 --> 01:10:41.666 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
There was nothing that
we're gonna do to stop it.

01:10:41.666 --> 01:10:43.466 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
Might as well make
the best of it.

01:10:44.600 --> 01:10:45.900 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- [Narrator] The board
at General Electric

01:10:45.900 --> 01:10:48.133 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
corporate headquarters
were looking for someone

01:10:48.133 --> 01:10:50.833 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
who could steer the ship
through the uncharted waters

01:10:50.833 --> 01:10:53.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
of the emerging global economy.

01:10:53.533 --> 01:10:56.933 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
They settled upon a bold
new leader that in some ways

01:10:56.933 --> 01:11:00.700 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
was reminiscent of the business
genius of Charles Coffin

01:11:00.700 --> 01:11:03.600 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
and the charisma
of R.T. McDonald.

01:11:03.600 --> 01:11:07.700 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Jack Welch became president
and CEO of General Electric

01:11:07.700 --> 01:11:10.400 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
in April of 1981.

01:11:10.400 --> 01:11:13.100 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
He took a more accessible,
hands-on approach

01:11:13.100 --> 01:11:16.433 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
to leadership and that
earned him a lot of respect.

01:11:16.433 --> 01:11:19.233 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- Think he was really
on the lookout for ways

01:11:19.233 --> 01:11:22.133 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
to maximize GE's prominence.

01:11:24.300 --> 01:11:26.366 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
And under him, I mean, it became

01:11:26.366 --> 01:11:30.933 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
one of the largest
corporations on the planet.

01:11:30.933 --> 01:11:32.400 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
- He used to say,

01:11:34.733 --> 01:11:37.100 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
"If you're doing things today

01:11:37.100 --> 01:11:39.533 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
"the way you did
them a year ago,

01:11:39.533 --> 01:11:41.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
"someone has either
caught up with you

01:11:41.833 --> 01:11:43.666 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
"or they've passed you."

01:11:43.666 --> 01:11:45.500 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
He was a big change agent.

01:11:45.500 --> 01:11:47.333 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- [Narrator] But his
culture of change was met

01:11:47.333 --> 01:11:49.966 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
with apprehension by
some of the GE workers

01:11:49.966 --> 01:11:52.666 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
that had counted on the
factory for generations.

01:11:52.666 --> 01:11:55.366 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- Unions were always
trying to get job security

01:11:55.366 --> 01:11:56.900 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
all across the country.

01:11:56.900 --> 01:12:00.200 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
That's what the labor
movement wanted from GE

01:12:00.200 --> 01:12:01.900 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
was job security.

01:12:01.900 --> 01:12:03.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- [Narrator] By the time
the 100-year anniversary

01:12:03.966 --> 01:12:06.900 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
of the founding of Fort Wayne
Jenney Electric Light Company

01:12:06.900 --> 01:12:11.900 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
rolled around in 1981,
there were 4,700 employees

01:12:12.500 --> 01:12:13.966 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
on the payroll.

01:12:13.966 --> 01:12:17.966 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
In 1982, major flooding
hit the city of Fort Wayne.

01:12:17.966 --> 01:12:19.966 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
A national disaster was declared

01:12:19.966 --> 01:12:23.333 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and President Ronald Reagan
came to survey the damage.

01:12:24.466 --> 01:12:26.466 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
As the flood waters
were still rising,

01:12:26.466 --> 01:12:29.466 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
the President took time to
help Fort Wayne volunteers

01:12:29.466 --> 01:12:33.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
place sandbags to hold
back the floodwaters.

01:12:33.166 --> 01:12:35.566 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
This wasn't the first
time that Ronald Reagan

01:12:35.566 --> 01:12:37.400 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
had visited Fort Wayne.

01:12:37.400 --> 01:12:40.733 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
Years earlier actor Ronald
Reagan came to visit,

01:12:40.733 --> 01:12:42.166 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
and his destination

01:12:42.166 --> 01:12:45.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
was the Fort Wayne Works
of General Electric.

01:12:45.033 --> 01:12:47.300 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Reagan was the host
of the television show

01:12:47.300 --> 01:12:52.300 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
"General Electric Theater"
from 1954 through 1962.

01:12:53.500 --> 01:12:55.366 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The Elex Club held a
banquet in his honor

01:12:55.366 --> 01:12:59.633 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
when he came to visit and
mingle with employees in 1954.

01:12:59.633 --> 01:13:01.100 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
During the 1980s,

01:13:01.100 --> 01:13:02.466 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
there were a lot of changes
(somber music)

01:13:02.466 --> 01:13:05.466 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
made under the
leadership of Jack Welch.

01:13:05.466 --> 01:13:08.200 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Employment levels at
GE Fort Wayne shrank

01:13:08.200 --> 01:13:11.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
to just 2,900 workers,
the lowest levels

01:13:11.833 --> 01:13:13.666 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
since before World War I.

01:13:15.100 --> 01:13:17.933 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
Guy Rhoades would often give
reports to the management

01:13:17.933 --> 01:13:21.766 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
at GE corporate headquarters,
including Jack Welch.

01:13:21.766 --> 01:13:26.766 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- He was a terrific manager,
remembered everything,

01:13:27.933 --> 01:13:30.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
got to know these motor
businesses quite well,

01:13:32.066 --> 01:13:35.133 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
was a tough reviewer.

01:13:37.100 --> 01:13:39.800 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Seemed to ask all
the right questions.

01:13:39.800 --> 01:13:42.733 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
And you had to have
your wits about you.

01:13:42.733 --> 01:13:44.866 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
You couldn't wander off.

01:13:44.866 --> 01:13:47.533 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Your answers had to be
direct, to the point.

01:13:47.533 --> 01:13:48.900 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- [Narrator] The
pruning of operations

01:13:48.900 --> 01:13:51.633 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
that Jack Welch had
implemented system-wide

01:13:51.633 --> 01:13:53.566 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
began to pay off.

01:13:53.566 --> 01:13:58.533 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
GE stock was up by 500%
at the end of the decade.

01:13:58.533 --> 01:14:02.100 align:left position:22.5% line:77% size:67.5%
In Fort Wayne, the
Motor Business Group
remained profitable.

01:14:02.100 --> 01:14:04.166 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
- It was a powerhouse.

01:14:04.166 --> 01:14:08.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
I mean, it dominated
its markets,

01:14:08.033 --> 01:14:09.533 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
had high market share.

01:14:09.533 --> 01:14:13.366 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
It was very profitable and
it was a terrific business,

01:14:13.366 --> 01:14:15.566 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
probably one of
the best businesses

01:14:15.566 --> 01:14:16.900 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
in the General Electric Company.

01:14:16.900 --> 01:14:19.300 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- The motors we
built here were used

01:14:19.300 --> 01:14:21.200 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
in so many different things.

01:14:21.200 --> 01:14:24.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Wherever you were, you
would see GE motors.

01:14:24.400 --> 01:14:27.066 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- That was one great thing
about the motor business.

01:14:27.066 --> 01:14:31.600 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
It touched almost every
market you could think of.

01:14:31.600 --> 01:14:34.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- [Narrator] In 1989,
the Decatur Plant,

01:14:34.400 --> 01:14:36.433 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
which had been connected
with Fort Wayne Works

01:14:36.433 --> 01:14:39.933 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
for over 80 years,
was closed down.

01:14:39.933 --> 01:14:42.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- I think the idea that
may close the plant

01:14:42.400 --> 01:14:44.700 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
or move production
somewhere else

01:14:44.700 --> 01:14:47.000 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
had been going on
for a long time,

01:14:47.000 --> 01:14:49.133 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
but our plant in Decatur

01:14:49.133 --> 01:14:52.566 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
had one of the highest
levels of productivity

01:14:52.566 --> 01:14:55.233 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
within the whole
system of motors.

01:14:55.233 --> 01:14:59.833 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
So many of us kind
of thought it was

01:14:59.833 --> 01:15:03.066 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
a wolf cry that's not
gonna ever come about.

01:15:03.066 --> 01:15:04.666 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
But it did, it did.

01:15:06.366 --> 01:15:08.666 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] Many of the
workers were able to transfer

01:15:08.666 --> 01:15:10.200 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
to the Fort Wayne campus.

01:15:11.033 --> 01:15:14.533 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
- I started in 1969 in Decatur

01:15:14.533 --> 01:15:16.933 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
and I worked there till 1988

01:15:16.933 --> 01:15:19.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
when they announced they
were closing Decatur.

01:15:19.833 --> 01:15:22.566 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
And we had a chance to
come up here to Fort Wayne

01:15:22.566 --> 01:15:24.233 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
so I put in my bid

01:15:24.233 --> 01:15:25.433 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
and I got into Fort Wayne

01:15:25.433 --> 01:15:28.733 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and I stayed working
here till 2006.

01:15:28.733 --> 01:15:31.066 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] This was
truly a time of uncertainty

01:15:31.066 --> 01:15:33.066 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
for many GE workers.

01:15:33.066 --> 01:15:37.733 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- As a GE employee, you kinda
focused on the local area

01:15:37.733 --> 01:15:40.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and GE's what we're
doing here is, you know,

01:15:40.966 --> 01:15:42.833 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
why isn't it better recognized,

01:15:42.833 --> 01:15:45.366 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
or we've been here a long time,

01:15:45.366 --> 01:15:47.733 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
we're making money
for the company?

01:15:47.733 --> 01:15:52.166 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
A lotta times we felt
that maybe he didn't have

01:15:52.166 --> 01:15:54.433 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
employees' best interest in mind

01:15:54.433 --> 01:15:58.866 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and he was too focused
on the profits and all.

01:15:58.866 --> 01:16:01.166 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- [Narrator] But from a
shareholder's perspective

01:16:01.166 --> 01:16:04.366 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
this made the company's
value grow to record levels.

01:16:04.366 --> 01:16:05.533 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
(somber music)

01:16:05.533 --> 01:16:09.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
General Electric's
stock increased by 1000%

01:16:09.000 --> 01:16:10.633 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65%
during the 1990s.

01:16:11.800 --> 01:16:14.533 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Many GE employees owned
stock in the company,

01:16:14.533 --> 01:16:17.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
giving them a
unique perspective.

01:16:17.100 --> 01:16:20.133 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- My personal feeling
is his leadership

01:16:20.133 --> 01:16:21.333 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
was good for the company.

01:16:21.333 --> 01:16:24.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
We did very well
when Jack was here.

01:16:24.166 --> 01:16:27.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
- [Narrator] In 1993, the
annual GE shareholders' meeting

01:16:27.800 --> 01:16:29.933 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
was held in Fort Wayne.

01:16:29.933 --> 01:16:32.900 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Denver Sarver was
able to ask Jack Welch

01:16:32.900 --> 01:16:35.833 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
about his business
strategy during his visit.

01:16:35.833 --> 01:16:39.333 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- It was making seven,
eight percent at that time

01:16:39.333 --> 01:16:41.933 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
and he had other businesses

01:16:41.933 --> 01:16:45.100 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
that were making over 30%.

01:16:45.100 --> 01:16:47.466 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
And so if he sold
the motor business

01:16:47.466 --> 01:16:48.966 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
and invested the money from that

01:16:48.966 --> 01:16:51.733 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
into those other businesses,

01:16:51.733 --> 01:16:54.466 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
which would I rather
make 7% or 30%?

01:16:54.466 --> 01:16:59.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
As a shareholder, he
had to do what was best

01:16:59.466 --> 01:17:01.733 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
for the company and
the shareholders.

01:17:01.733 --> 01:17:04.733 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- If he could've back
in the '70s and '80s

01:17:04.733 --> 01:17:07.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
he woulda put every
General Electric plant

01:17:07.100 --> 01:17:09.833 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
on a barge and moved that barge

01:17:09.833 --> 01:17:11.966 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
wherever he could find
the cheapest labor.

01:17:11.966 --> 01:17:16.233 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- [Narrator] GE Fort Wayne
had about 1,450 employees

01:17:16.233 --> 01:17:19.100 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
at the end of the
Jack Welch era.

01:17:19.100 --> 01:17:22.633 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Slowly, piece by piece,
over the next few years,

01:17:22.633 --> 01:17:25.200 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
the Fort Wayne Works
would lose production jobs

01:17:25.200 --> 01:17:26.900 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
to other factories.

01:17:26.900 --> 01:17:28.733 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
Most went to Mexico.

01:17:28.733 --> 01:17:33.100 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80%
- Eventually, the cost of
producing product in Fort Wayne

01:17:33.100 --> 01:17:36.566 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
did catch up with the
Fort Wayne operations.

01:17:36.566 --> 01:17:39.400 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- But it was always the
feeling that you're seeing

01:17:39.400 --> 01:17:42.500 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
the business move away

01:17:42.500 --> 01:17:44.500 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
and jobs move away with it.

01:17:44.500 --> 01:17:47.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- If it's decaying,
eventually it will decay

01:17:47.000 --> 01:17:50.733 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
to a point where the
end result is the same.

01:17:50.733 --> 01:17:53.700 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
The business will
close or it'll be sold.

01:17:53.700 --> 01:17:56.100 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- Over the years they
lost a lotta people.

01:17:56.100 --> 01:17:58.666 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
They'd have small layoffs,
never call people back,

01:17:58.666 --> 01:18:01.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and I don't think the
public knew how small

01:18:01.700 --> 01:18:04.200 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
the employment was getting
at General Electric.

01:18:04.200 --> 01:18:07.733 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] By 2014, there
were only 90 employees left

01:18:07.733 --> 01:18:09.933 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
on the Fort Wayne roster.

01:18:09.933 --> 01:18:13.766 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
On January 28th,
2014, General Electric

01:18:13.766 --> 01:18:15.400 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
made the official announcement
(tense music)

01:18:15.400 --> 01:18:16.533 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
that it would be closing

01:18:16.533 --> 01:18:19.300 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
the entire Fort Wayne facility.

01:18:19.300 --> 01:18:20.633 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
- It was heartbreaking.

01:18:20.633 --> 01:18:22.700 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
I was so sad.

01:18:22.700 --> 01:18:24.166 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
- It hurts me, you know.

01:18:25.700 --> 01:18:30.500 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
It hurts me and I think
it hurt a lot of people.

01:18:30.500 --> 01:18:32.400 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
- Just almost a sick feeling,

01:18:34.166 --> 01:18:36.433 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
you know, that it was all over.

01:18:42.166 --> 01:18:46.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- All the memories,
all the people,

01:18:46.000 --> 01:18:49.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
just gone, you know.
(somber music)

01:18:49.166 --> 01:18:50.966 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
Never be a fifth generation.

01:18:52.000 --> 01:18:53.200 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
- Just kinda empty, you know,

01:18:53.200 --> 01:18:54.566 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
from what it used to be

01:18:54.566 --> 01:18:58.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
with all the equipment
and the noise

01:18:58.033 --> 01:19:03.000 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
and the sounds and
stuff, the people.

01:19:03.000 --> 01:19:04.200 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
Almost like a ghost town.

01:19:05.766 --> 01:19:08.366 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
- It's empty, it's empty.

01:19:10.433 --> 01:19:13.766 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
It's just like a
hole, it's empty.

01:19:17.966 --> 01:19:20.600 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
- It was bing, bang, boom.

01:19:20.600 --> 01:19:22.800 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
I mean, they unbolted
it, it was on a truck,

01:19:22.800 --> 01:19:25.033 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
and it was outta here.

01:19:25.033 --> 01:19:26.666 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- I couldn't believe
it, you know.

01:19:26.666 --> 01:19:27.933 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
It was the last transformer.

01:19:27.933 --> 01:19:31.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
We're gonna run out
of the factory and...

01:19:31.433 --> 01:19:34.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- Had an auction,
auctioned things off.

01:19:34.833 --> 01:19:36.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- At GE, everybody
always wrote their names

01:19:36.800 --> 01:19:37.966 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
on their tools.

01:19:37.966 --> 01:19:39.066 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
They wrote their
names on their carts

01:19:39.066 --> 01:19:40.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
so nobody would take their cart

01:19:40.533 --> 01:19:42.266 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
so that they'd always
have their work equipment

01:19:42.266 --> 01:19:43.500 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
to do their job.

01:19:43.500 --> 01:19:45.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
And that's what was
the saddest to me

01:19:46.766 --> 01:19:48.833 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
was seeing everyone's names.

01:19:52.800 --> 01:19:55.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- [Narrator] Kevin was
there for the final day

01:19:55.366 --> 01:19:59.600 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
when he had to close and lock
the door for the last time.

01:19:59.600 --> 01:20:02.533 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Interviewer] Walking out
of here for the last time,

01:20:02.533 --> 01:20:04.333 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
what did you do?

01:20:08.500 --> 01:20:10.100 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
- Went home and drank some beer.

01:20:11.166 --> 01:20:12.600 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
(Kevin laughing)

01:20:12.600 --> 01:20:15.633 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
(lively music)

01:20:15.633 --> 01:20:17.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- [Narrator] Kevin had
enough years of service

01:20:17.466 --> 01:20:20.100 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
to retire from General Electric.

01:20:20.100 --> 01:20:23.800 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
But it wasn't very long until
he received a phone call.

01:20:23.800 --> 01:20:26.133 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- About six months later
is when they started having

01:20:26.133 --> 01:20:30.033 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
the break-ins here with
kids, mostly kids, you know.

01:20:30.033 --> 01:20:32.933 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
And that's when GE
asked me to come back.

01:20:32.933 --> 01:20:34.500 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- [Narrator] With the
buildings now empty,

01:20:34.500 --> 01:20:36.166 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
community members were concerned

01:20:36.166 --> 01:20:38.066 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
about the future of the campus.

01:20:38.066 --> 01:20:39.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
- You're the councilman
for this area,

01:20:39.966 --> 01:20:41.500 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
what are you gonna do about it?

01:20:41.500 --> 01:20:43.466 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
And I thought that's
a good question.

01:20:43.466 --> 01:20:45.633 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
What can we do as a community?

01:20:45.633 --> 01:20:48.066 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] Fort Wayne City
Councilman Geoffrey Paddock

01:20:48.066 --> 01:20:51.500 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
helped organize a group
of former GE employees,

01:20:51.500 --> 01:20:54.333 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Fort Wayne residents,
and community leaders,

01:20:54.333 --> 01:20:57.866 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
to work on a future
plan for the GE Campus.

01:20:57.866 --> 01:21:01.066 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- I started contacting
other retirees.

01:21:02.200 --> 01:21:05.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
Is it a possibility
that the campus

01:21:05.000 --> 01:21:08.900 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
could become something other
than what it was prior?

01:21:09.800 --> 01:21:11.866 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] In March of 2016,

01:21:11.866 --> 01:21:14.733 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
workers removed the GE logo sign

01:21:14.733 --> 01:21:17.333 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
that had towered over
the GE Campus building

01:21:17.333 --> 01:21:19.700 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
for almost 90 years.

01:21:19.700 --> 01:21:22.933 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Its loss was a shock to
many in the community.

01:21:22.933 --> 01:21:24.666 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
- It was a landmark certainly.

01:21:24.666 --> 01:21:27.033 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
You saw it from all over town.

01:21:27.033 --> 01:21:28.533 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
- When I came to
Fort Wayne in '59,

01:21:28.533 --> 01:21:32.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
that sign was bright
and shining every night

01:21:32.300 --> 01:21:34.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and you could see
it from everywhere.

01:21:34.433 --> 01:21:36.900 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- This is where I work, this
is the GE sign, you know.

01:21:36.900 --> 01:21:40.300 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- The actual meatball,
the GE meatball

01:21:40.300 --> 01:21:42.833 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
has been shipped
down to Evendale,

01:21:42.833 --> 01:21:44.433 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
down in Cincinnati.

01:21:44.433 --> 01:21:45.600 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
- [Narrator] For the members

01:21:45.600 --> 01:21:47.533 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
of the General Electric
Campus Coalition,

01:21:47.533 --> 01:21:50.400 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
the removal of the
GE sign underscored

01:21:50.400 --> 01:21:53.300 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
how urgent the need was
to secure the property

01:21:53.300 --> 01:21:54.966 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
and preserve the legacy.

01:21:54.966 --> 01:21:56.466 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
- It was a wake up call

01:21:56.466 --> 01:21:59.733 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
because that really
ignited our group.

01:21:59.733 --> 01:22:01.300 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
- I think there
was a real concern

01:22:01.300 --> 01:22:04.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
that all the buildings
would be knocked down.

01:22:04.033 --> 01:22:05.933 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- [Narrator] Finally,
all of the hard work

01:22:05.933 --> 01:22:07.733 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
and searching would pay off.

01:22:08.766 --> 01:22:11.833 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
On February 13th, 2017,
(upbeat music)

01:22:11.833 --> 01:22:13.766 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
an important
announcement was made.

01:22:15.166 --> 01:22:18.000 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
Baltimore development
firm Cross Street Partners

01:22:18.000 --> 01:22:19.833 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
had agreed to
purchase the property

01:22:19.833 --> 01:22:22.133 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
from General
Electric and save it

01:22:22.133 --> 01:22:23.533 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
from the wrecking ball.

01:22:23.533 --> 01:22:26.433 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
Electric Works was born,
(lively music)

01:22:26.433 --> 01:22:29.866 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
a vision to transform
the 18 historic buildings

01:22:29.866 --> 01:22:33.833 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
on the 39-acre campus
into a mixed use facility

01:22:33.833 --> 01:22:37.366 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
where people can
live, work, and play.

01:22:37.366 --> 01:22:38.933 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
The hope is to utilize some

01:22:38.933 --> 01:22:42.666 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
of the 1.2 million square
feet of indoor space

01:22:42.666 --> 01:22:46.066 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
to house business startups,
education partners,

01:22:46.066 --> 01:22:48.433 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
medical facilities, offices,

01:22:48.433 --> 01:22:51.733 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
and retail businesses that
would be an economic engine

01:22:51.733 --> 01:22:53.666 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75%
for the surrounding area.

01:22:53.666 --> 01:22:55.733 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
The plan also calls
for converting

01:22:55.733 --> 01:22:58.800 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
some of the floor space
into loft-style apartments

01:22:58.800 --> 01:23:01.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
with views of
downtown Fort Wayne.

01:23:01.700 --> 01:23:04.766 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
- I was super excited to hear

01:23:04.766 --> 01:23:08.300 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
about Electric Works
because it was like a part

01:23:08.300 --> 01:23:09.700 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
of our history was gonna stay.

01:23:09.700 --> 01:23:11.966 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
These buildings are beautiful.

01:23:11.966 --> 01:23:16.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- All of us never
dreamed that we'd be

01:23:16.166 --> 01:23:17.933 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
at this point at this time.

01:23:17.933 --> 01:23:22.266 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
- They wanna see this thing
come to life once again

01:23:22.266 --> 01:23:25.066 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
and be able to bring their
kids and grandkids through

01:23:25.066 --> 01:23:28.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and show 'em, well, I
worked right over there.

01:23:28.100 --> 01:23:31.566 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- It is important that
we recognize our past,

01:23:31.566 --> 01:23:34.366 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
try to preserve as
much of it as we can,

01:23:34.366 --> 01:23:36.766 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and take those relics
to build the future.

01:23:36.766 --> 01:23:38.966 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
- That was a great place for me

01:23:38.966 --> 01:23:41.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and it was the greatest
places I ever had.

01:23:41.800 --> 01:23:43.100 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
- GE's been good to me

01:23:43.100 --> 01:23:46.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
and I really appreciate
the time I had here.

01:23:46.466 --> 01:23:49.566 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- I still appreciate
what GE did for me

01:23:50.766 --> 01:23:52.000 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
to this day.

01:23:52.000 --> 01:23:55.800 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- I'm very thankful
that I've worked here

01:23:55.800 --> 01:23:59.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
because there were
blessings that came

01:23:59.433 --> 01:24:01.466 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
from me working here

01:24:02.566 --> 01:24:04.600 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
and are still
coming to this day.

01:24:04.600 --> 01:24:06.533 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
- A piece of me
will always be here

01:24:07.366 --> 01:24:08.866 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
with GE in Fort Wayne.

01:24:08.866 --> 01:24:11.566 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- We've thought about all
the good times we'd had.

01:24:11.566 --> 01:24:14.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70%
We enjoyed our jobs, we
enjoyed working there,

01:24:14.033 --> 01:24:15.600 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
we enjoyed the friendships,

01:24:15.600 --> 01:24:18.033 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
we just enjoyed being there.

01:24:18.033 --> 01:24:22.433 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75%
- If you've got a job that
you like to go into work,

01:24:23.766 --> 01:24:25.166 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60%
you got it made
(gentle music)

01:24:25.166 --> 01:24:27.900 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
if you love your job and I did.

01:24:32.766 --> 01:24:36.000 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
Some of my cohorts
said at the time,

01:24:36.000 --> 01:24:38.566 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
"Kevin will be the
last one here."

01:24:39.500 --> 01:24:41.400 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5%
And they were right.

01:24:41.400 --> 01:24:44.166 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60%
(Kevin laughing)

01:24:45.166 --> 01:24:46.400 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70%
- [Narrator] The hope is

01:24:46.400 --> 01:24:48.133 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65%
that these dead,
lifeless buildings

01:24:48.133 --> 01:24:50.833 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80%
will once again teem with life.

01:24:50.833 --> 01:24:54.700 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
And that the legacy of R.T.
McDonald, James Jenney,

01:24:54.700 --> 01:24:57.433 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5%
James J. Wood, and
thousands of others

01:24:57.433 --> 01:24:59.466 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5%
who have worked and lived here

01:24:59.466 --> 01:25:03.600 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5%
will be felt by future
generations for years to come.

01:25:04.600 --> 01:25:07.200 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
(upbeat music)

01:25:23.800 --> 01:25:26.400 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
(lively music)

01:26:13.100 --> 01:26:15.766 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5%
(gentle music)