Charles Warren Nash

For other people of the same name, see Charles Nash (disambiguation).

Charles W. Nash

Charles Warren Nash (January 28, 1864 — June 6, 1948) was a United States automobile entrepreneur and served as an executive in the automotive industry.

Early life

Nash was born to a farming family in Cortland, Illinois on what is now Route 38 — Lincoln Highway. His mother was Anna E. "Annie" Cadwell (b. 1829 NY - d. 1909 MI) who married David L. Nash. Other Nash siblings included Mazovia (b. 1862), George C. (b. 1866) and Laura W. (b. 1868). After Charles' parent's separation, at age 6, Charles worked as a farm-hand in Michigan as an indentured servant. He later became a shepherd to the owner of hay-bailing machinery. He then moved to Flint, Michigan where he was noticed by William C. Durant of The Flint Road Cart Company. Durant hired him in 1890, and Nash became a supervisor.

In 1897, Nash had a chance to drive an early automobile, and became very interested in the commercial potential of this newly developed contraption.

Automobile industry

Nash co-founded Buick Motor Company with David D. Buick and William C. Durant, and in 1908 became Buick's president and general manager.

In 1910, he was hired as general manager of General Motors (GM). He took over a debt-ridden company suffering losses and increased profits to US$800,000 as early as 1911 to over $12 million by 1914, as well as secured the firms financial footing.^[1] However, his reluctance to pay dividends to shareholders resulted in Nash being voted out of his position in 1915.

Nash, who took control of General Motors in 1910 from William Durant, was now fired by him when Durant regained control in 1916.

Nash then resolved never again to work for someone else. He bought out the Jeffery Motor Company in August 1916. In 1917, re-named it as Nash Motors. The 1917 Nash Model 671 was the first vehicle produced to bear the name of the new company's founder.^[2] The new company was successful, with sales totaling 31,008 trucks and cars by 1919.^[1]

In addition to running Nash Motors, Charles Nash was also president of the luxury car company LaFayette Motors until that company was bought out by Nash Motors in 1924.

Retirement

Charles W. Nash retired in 1936. His successor at the company was George W. Mason, who was recommended by Walter Chrysler.

He lived in retirement for twelve years later and died at the age of 84 in Beverly Hills, California. His health failed at the death of his wife in 1947.^[3] He died in 1948, and was interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Glendale.

Legacy

Nash is best known for responding to public demand by building a smaller, more economical and affordable cars.^[4] Nash Motors was very successful marketing cars to North America's middle class. He is also recognized for lean operations in business that included scheduling production and material orders closely, carrying a small inventory, and having flexibility in meeting the changing market needs during the economic turmoil of the 1920s and 1930s.^[4] Nash, is also credited with developing the straight-line conveyor belt assembly system that he first introduced at the Durant-Dort Carriage Company factory.^[5]

Charles W. Nash's achievements have been summarized in the word "success":^[6]

A man who, in the short space of nine years, has built up a business on which there is not a dollar of bonded indebtedness, whose stocks have a market value approximating $137,000,000, whose profits have exceeded $56,000,000, and whose bank balance tops $30,000,000, surely must be regarded as a very practical authority on what makes for success.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Overview: Charles Warren Nash". Motorbase. http://www.motorbase.com/manufacturer/by-id/1420049980. Retrieved 18 June 2010. 
2. ^ Lewis, Albert L.; Musciano, Walter A. (1977). Automobiles of the World. Simon and Schuster. p. 280. ISBN 9780671224851. 
3. ^ "C.W. Nash Near Death As His Wife Succumbs". The New York Times. 20 August 1947. p. 25. http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0E10FE3E5E17738DDDA90A94D0405B8788F1D3&scp=3&sq=%22Charles+W.+Nash%22&st=p. Retrieved 18 June 2010. "Charles W. Nash, one of the nation's pioneer auto makers, took a turn for the worse and was near death himself today after he was told that the wife he had married sixty-three years ago had died last night." 
4. ^ ^{a b} "Charles W. Nash - 1975 Inductee". Automobile Hall of Fame. http://www.automotivehalloffame.org/honors/index.php?cmd=view&id=102&type=inductees. Retrieved 18 June 2010. 
5. ^ Lewis, Albert L.; Musciano, Walter A. (1977). Automobiles of the World. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 9780671224851. 
6. ^ Forbes, B.C.; Foster, O.D. (1926). Automotive Giants of America: Men Who Are Making Our Motor Industry. Forbes Publishing (Kessinger Publishing, 2003). p. 224. ISBN 9780766161771. http://www.pnwnash.org/nashbio.htm. Retrieved 18 June 2010. 

External links

• Nash biography at kenoshacounty.com
• Nash biography at the Pacific Northwest Region of the Nash Car Club of America
• Reproduction of Nash's obituary from Nash Motors in house newspaper

Timeline

• 1910 — Charles Nash takes control of General Motors from William Durant.
• 1916 — William Durant re-gains control of General Motors and fires Charles Nash.
• 1916 — Charles Nash buys the Thomas B. Jeffery Company.
• 1917 — Thomas B. Jeffery Company is re-named Nash Motors.

Business positions
Preceded by Thomas Neal	President General Motors 1912 – 1916	Succeeded by William C. Durant
Preceded by Thomas B. Jeffery Company	Chairman and CEO of Nash Motors 1916 – 1936	Succeeded by George W. Mason

Persondata
Name	Nash, Charles W.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1864
Place of birth
Date of death	1948
Place of death