Otto Aves discusses his career at REO Motor Car Company and Diamond REO Trucks, Inc

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Description:

Otto Aves talks about his career at REO Motor Car Company/Diamond-Reo Trucks, Inc., in Lansing, MI, from 1944 to 1972. Aves describes growing up on a Delta Township farm and following both of his parents into the plant. He also talks about building military vehicles without heaters and defrosters, trying to run the family farm while working double shifts, a wildcat strike over piece rate pay, conditions on the shop floor, building custom trucks for celebrities, and the tremendous influence of the UAW. He says that REO was much like a family and reminisces about REO picnics, outings at Lake Lansing, the REO Clubhouse, movies, bowling, and the ball teams. As in any family, he says, there were problems and he describes filing a shop grievance against his real-life father-in-law who also worked at REO. The interviewers are Shirley Bradley and Lisa Fine. Recorded as part of the REO Memories oral history project.

Date Issued:

1993-01-04T00:00:00Z

Data Provider:

Michigan State University. Libraries

Collection:

G. Robert Vincent Voice Library Collection

Place:

Michigan, Lansing, Michigan, Lansing, Michigan, Lansing, Michigan, Lansing, Michigan, and Lansing

Subject Topic:

Career in automobile industry and trade, Childhood and youth, Family, Influence, Buildings, Automobile industry workers, Vehicles, Military, Design and construction, Work and family, Work environment, Corporate culture, Industrial recreation, and Interpersonal relations

Subject Name:

Aves, Otto, Aves, Otto, Aves, Otto, Aves, Otto, Reo Motor Car Company, Diamond REO Trucks, Inc, International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America, and Reo Motor Car Company

Subject Genre:

Interviews, Interviews, Interviews, and Interviews

Language:

English

Rights:

In Copyright

URL:

https://n2t.net/ark:/85335/m5bg2hb09