[PRCo] Re: Transfers // Strike // 1957

[Ken & Tracie]

In addition to the recession, which impacted the automakers in 1958, I do know that some automakers were pressured by the U.S. government to purchase steel from the fledgling Japanese steel makers. This was possible since some of the automakers had contracts with the military to build trucks and other defense machinery. The Japanese steel of this era was higher in iron content than U.S. and Canadian steel. It has been suggested by some automotive historians that this may be the reason some of the 1957-61 automobiles were so susceptible to corrosion due to moisture and salt spray. Some list members may have noticed that Chrysler built vehicles from 1957-59 rusted much more readily than their 1949-56 models. There were other factors, such as both Chrysler and GM rushing new platforms into production without working through all the structural bugs. I believe Ford was making most of their own steel during that era, though they were building rust buckets, too.

K.

-----Original Message-----
>From: John Swindler <j_swindler at hotmail.com>
>Sent: Sep 11, 2007 1:47 PM
>To: pittsburgh-railways at dementia.org
>Subject: [PRCo] Re: Transfers // Strike // 1957
>
>
>
>Wasn't there a downturn in the steel industry in 1958/59?????  Did it have 
>anything to do with auto production???
>
>Would have been in jr. high, so a bit before my time to have paid attention.
>
>John