Joseph Washington Frazer (March 4, 1892 – August 7, 1971) was a mid-20th century American automobile company
executive
Executive ( exe., exec., execu.) may refer to:
Role or title
* Executive, a senior management role in an organization
** Chief executive officer (CEO), one of the highest-ranking corporate officers (executives) or administrators
** Executive d ...
. Over the course of his life, Joe Frazer was employed in half a dozen different companies as a mechanic, instructor, financier, salesman, president and board chairman. He held down top executive positions in
Chrysler
Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automotiv ...
,
Willys-Overland
Willys (pronounced , "Willis" )
was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II era and later military jeeps (M ...
, and
Graham-Paige
Graham-Paige was an American automobile manufacturer founded by brothers Joseph B. Graham (1882-1970), Robert C. Graham (1885-1967), and Ray A. Graham (1887-1932) in 1927. Automobile production ceased in 1940, and its automotive assets were acq ...
, before partnering with Henry J. Kaiser to form the
Kaiser-Frazer
The Kaiser-Frazer Corporation (1947–1953 as Kaiser-Frazer) was the result of a partnership between industrialist Henry J. Kaiser and automobile executive Joseph W. Frazer.Corporation. He was an important figure in the classic era of American car building.
Early life
Frazer was born March 4, 1892, in Nashville, Tennessee. He was the son of James Stokes Frazer, an attorney and judge, and Mary Washington. Frazer's mother traced her lineage to an uncle of
George Washington
George Washington (February 22, 1732, 1799) was an American military officer, statesman, and Founding Father who served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797. Appointed by the Continental Congress as commander of th ...
.
Education
Frazer graduated from
The Hotchkiss School
The Hotchkiss School is a coeducational preparatory school in Lakeville, Connecticut, United States. Hotchkiss is a member of the Eight Schools Association and Ten Schools Admissions Organization. It is also a former member of the G30 Schools g ...
Yale University
Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the worl ...
Sheffield Scientific School
Sheffield Scientific School was founded in 1847 as a school of Yale College in New Haven, Connecticut, for instruction in science and engineering. Originally named the Yale Scientific School, it was renamed in 1861 in honor of Joseph E. Sheffield, ...
in
New Haven
New Haven is a city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It is located on New Haven Harbor on the northern shore of Long Island Sound in New Haven County, Connecticut and is part of the New York City metropolitan area. With a population of 134,023 ...
, Connecticut, and graduated with a science degree in 1911.
Early career
Frazer joined his brother's
Packard
Packard or Packard Motor Car Company was an American luxury automobile company located in Detroit, Michigan. The first Packard automobiles were produced in 1899, and the last Packards were built in South Bend, Indiana in 1958.
One of the "Thr ...
dealership in Nashville as a mechanic's assistant. He then changed his focus to selling and marketing new cars at the dealership and subsequently at another Packard franchise in New York City. He then moved to Cleveland and operated a sales office for the Michigan-built
Saxon
The Saxons ( la, Saxones, german: Sachsen, ang, Seaxan, osx, Sahson, nds, Sassen, nl, Saksen) were a group of Germanic
*
*
*
*
peoples whose name was given in the early Middle Ages to a large country (Old Saxony, la, Saxonia) near the Nor ...
. Frazer was then hired by
General Motors
The General Motors Company (GM) is an American multinational automotive manufacturing company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the largest automaker in the United States and was the largest in the world for 77 years bef ...
, where his understanding of purchase loans made him a key early organizer of GMAC. On loan from GM's executive staff, he set up a similar lending arm for
Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company
The Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company was an American motor vehicle manufacturer based in Buffalo, New York, which was active from 1901 to 1938. Although best known for its expensive luxury cars, Pierce-Arrow also manufactured commercial truck ...
.
Chrysler
Frazer first met Walter P. Chrysler in 1923 at Maxwell Chalmers. Chrysler was aware of Frazer's growing reputation in the business as a thinker who made large-scale sales a possibility. Frazer joined Chrysler and, with him on board, Maxwell tripled its annual sales, helping Chrysler obtain the resources build his own car. In 1925 Chrysler founded the
Chrysler Corporation
Stellantis North America (officially FCA US and formerly Chrysler ()) is one of the " Big Three" automobile manufacturers in the United States, headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is the American subsidiary of the multinational automotiv ...
. Frazer suggested to Chrysler that the company build a low-priced car that would directly challenge Ford and GM. Frazer suggested calling the car "Plymouth". "Why not call it Plymouth? That's a good old American name. Ever hear of Plymouth Binder Twine?" While others were unimpressed by Frazer's proposition, Chrysler (himself once a farmer) replied, "Every farmer in America knows about Plymouth Binder Twine. Let's give them a name they're familiar with." On January 11, 1928, the first car was produced and by 1931 the car was ranked third in automobile sales in the U.S.
Willys-Overland
In 1939, Frazer moved to
Willys-Overland
Willys (pronounced , "Willis" )
was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II era and later military jeeps (M ...
which was in dire financial straits with sales stalled at 16,000 units annually. During his time at
Willys
Willys (pronounced , "Willis" )
was a brand name used by Willys–Overland Motors, an American automobile company, founded by John North Willys. It was best known for its design and production of World War II era and later military jeeps (M ...
the company built and unveiled its new military vehicle, where Frazer approved trademark filings to make "Jeep" an automotive nameplate. Frazer claimed to have coined the word "jeep" by slurring the initials G.P. but this is disputed. Willys won the
U.S. Government
The federal government of the United States (U.S. federal government or U.S. government) is the national government of the United States, a federal republic located primarily in North America, composed of 50 states, a city within a feder ...
contract to build the
Jeep
Jeep is an American automobile marque, now owned by multi-national corporation Stellantis. Jeep has been part of Chrysler since 1987, when Chrysler acquired the Jeep brand, along with remaining assets, from its previous owner American Motors ...
General Purpose" - ("G.P.") military utility vehicle Jeep began production in 1940–1941. Frazer also directed the development of a low-priced car called the Willys Americar which was a sales success. By the time he left in 1944 Willys-Overland had rung up yearly sales of $212 million.
Graham-Paige Motors
In August 1944 Frazer took control of Graham-Paige Motors Corporation and became president.Odin, L.C. ''A concise guide to Graham-Paige''. Belvedere Publishing, 2016. ASIN: B01G8X5Z34. He announced that the company would resume manufacturing automobiles after the war with a completely new car to be called the Frazer. While looking for financial backing for this venture, he met California industrialist Henry J. Kaiser, who also had plans for a postwar automobile. The two agreed to work together and formed the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation on July 25, 1945. Henry Kaiser became the chairman of Kaiser-Frazer, and Frazer became president. Kaiser-Frazer Corporation and Graham-Paige became equal partners. Kaiser-Frazer would make the Kaiser car, Graham-Paige would build the Frazer and agricultural machinery.
By the end of 1946, Graham-Paige was losing money, and was unable to meet its financial obligations to Kaiser-Frazer and in 1947, Frazer sold Graham-Paige's automobile operation to Kaiser. He retained the farm equipment division which he moved to a plant in York, Pennsylvania.
Personal life
Joseph married Lucille Frost (born January 3, 1896, in
Chicago, Illinois
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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– ?) on November 18, 1914. They had one daughter Arielle (born August 23, 1917 – died February 7, 2006, in
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is an American seaside city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island. It is located in Narragansett Bay, approximately southeast of Providence, south of Fall River, Massachusetts, south of Boston, and northeast of New Y ...
).
In April 2012, Frazer was inducted into the Automobile Hall of Fame.
He died of cancer at his home in Newport on August 7, 1971.
References
* He was featured in a ''"Time"'' Magazine article in April, 1945 in an article entitled "From Riches to Riches. * Don Sherman. "A Few who Failed - unsuccessful automakers." ''Automotive Industries,'' September 2000.