Page 32 - Sample pages "Raymond Henri Dietrich" by Necah S. Furman

Also designed by Dietrich was this 1931 Speedster owned by Tom Hubbard.
H. H. Franklin had Dietrich design cars for his personal use
as well as for clients. (Bourke Runton)
317 STEPPING ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS
Automobile Quarterly: “His was an age of grace, of elegant automobiles that were made of wood, bronze, alloy, steel and tender loving care.”44
Powell, in his good history of the Franklin Automobile Company, also records that in mid-September 1928, Franklin announced that Raymond Dietrich “renowned as a custom automobile body designer in both Europe and America, had become associated with the Syracuse firm as a design consultant. Attractive styling and brisk performance would receive close attention in Franklin cars of the future.”45
This public announcement was actually “after the fact” as Dietrich had met with Franklin not long after parting company with Erskine of Studebaker. Thus, Dietrich’s consulting arrangement with Franklin began in 1927. Introduced in October 1927, the Airman line would be ready in time for the 1928 New York Auto Show. The public announcement of Dietrich’s consulting arrange- ment likely had been postponed in deference to de Causse and his illness. De Causse designed for Franklin as long as his health permitted; and when that was no longer possible, he championed Dietrich as his successor.46
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