Harrison Radiator Corporation
Encyclopedia
Harrison Radiator Corporation was an early manufacturer of automotive radiators that became a division of General Motors
in 1918. Today its business is a part of General Motors's Automotive Components Group. Based in Lockport, NY
, the company was founded by Herbert C. Harrison
, an inventor and entrepreneur. Harrison's technical background was in metallurgy and the "Harrison Hexagon" honeycomb radiator had advantages in design (hexagon cellular efficient heat distribution) and manufacturing so that leakages became rare.
The company was founded in 1910 as the Harrison Radiator Company. The first hand-built radiator was sold in 1911 to the Remington Standard Motor Company of New York. The company was sold to William C. Durant
's United Motors Company
in 1916: "The company has large contracts with the Mitchell
, Hupp
, and Chandler
, among other motor companies, and the increased facilities will enable it to accept contracts with the Olds, the Oakland and the Chevrolet motor companies.
Durant, the founder of General Motors, created United Motors in order to begin to vertically integrate the automobile industry. United Motors was run by Alfred P. Sloan
. Durant had lost control of General Motors in 1910 and set up Chevrolet as his principal manufacturing company. He regained control of General Motors in 1916 through a merger with Chevrolet and in 1918 he sold United Motors to General Motors. Other divisions of United Motors included the Hyatt Roller Bearing Company (antifriction roller bearings), New Departure Manufacturing Company (ball bearings), Remy Electric Company (electrical starting, lighting, and ignition equipment), Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company, later known as Delco Electronics Corporation (electrical equipment), the Perlman Rim Corporation and Klaxon Horn.
Herbert Harrison remained President of Harrison Radiator until his death in 1927.
By 1929, the company was manufacturing 2.3 million radiators annually. It later became the division of GM responsible for manufacturing air-conditioning units as well as radiators. In 1995, General Motors spun off its components' makers as Delphi Automotive Systems (later Delphi Corporation) and the Harrison Radiator business was renamed Delphi Harrison Thermal Systems. Delphi filed for bankruptcy in 2005 and emerged in 2009. The Harrison business and the Lockport manufacturing plant were repurchased by General Motors as part of its Automotive Components Group in October 2009.
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
in 1918. Today its business is a part of General Motors's Automotive Components Group. Based in Lockport, NY
Lockport (city), New York
Lockport is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 21,165 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a set of Erie canal locks within the city. Lockport is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the town of Lockport...
, the company was founded by Herbert C. Harrison
Herbert C. Harrison
Herbert Champion Harrison , is credited with the invention and development of the modern hexagon cellular "honeycomb" automotive radiator and was the founder of the Harrison Radiator Company in 1910. Born in Calcutta India to British parents, his father was the Controller General of the Indian...
, an inventor and entrepreneur. Harrison's technical background was in metallurgy and the "Harrison Hexagon" honeycomb radiator had advantages in design (hexagon cellular efficient heat distribution) and manufacturing so that leakages became rare.
The company was founded in 1910 as the Harrison Radiator Company. The first hand-built radiator was sold in 1911 to the Remington Standard Motor Company of New York. The company was sold to William C. Durant
William C. Durant
William Crapo "Billy" Durant was a leading pioneer of the United States automobile industry, the founder of General Motors and Chevrolet who created the system of multi-brand holding companies with different lines of cars....
's United Motors Company
United Motors Company
ACDelco is an American automotive parts company. Over its long history it has been known by various names such as United Motors Corporation, United Motors Service, United Delco, merged with AC Spark Plug and known as AC-Delco....
in 1916: "The company has large contracts with the Mitchell
Mitchell (automobile)
The Mitchell was a United States automobile manufactured by the Racine, Wisconsin based Mitchell Motor Car Company which produced automobiles from 1903 to 1923. Originally a carriage builder, the company's first model was a 7hp runabout. Later, four, six, and eight cylinder models were built....
, Hupp
Hupmobile
The Hupmobile was an automobile built from 1909 through 1940 by the Hupp Motor Company, which was located at 345 Bellevue Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. Its first car, the Model 20, was introduced to the public at the Detroit Auto Show in February 1909...
, and Chandler
Chandler Motor Car
The Chandler Motor Company produced automobiles in the United States of America during the 1910s and 1920s.-Corporate strategy:It was incorporated in 1913, with Frederick C. Chandler as President, headquartered and with its factory in Cleveland, Ohio. Chandler was a former designer for the Lozier...
, among other motor companies, and the increased facilities will enable it to accept contracts with the Olds, the Oakland and the Chevrolet motor companies.
Durant, the founder of General Motors, created United Motors in order to begin to vertically integrate the automobile industry. United Motors was run by Alfred P. Sloan
Alfred P. Sloan
Alfred Pritchard Sloan, Jr. was an American business executive in the automotive industry. He was a long-time president, chairman, and CEO of General Motors Corporation...
. Durant had lost control of General Motors in 1910 and set up Chevrolet as his principal manufacturing company. He regained control of General Motors in 1916 through a merger with Chevrolet and in 1918 he sold United Motors to General Motors. Other divisions of United Motors included the Hyatt Roller Bearing Company (antifriction roller bearings), New Departure Manufacturing Company (ball bearings), Remy Electric Company (electrical starting, lighting, and ignition equipment), Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company, later known as Delco Electronics Corporation (electrical equipment), the Perlman Rim Corporation and Klaxon Horn.
Herbert Harrison remained President of Harrison Radiator until his death in 1927.
By 1929, the company was manufacturing 2.3 million radiators annually. It later became the division of GM responsible for manufacturing air-conditioning units as well as radiators. In 1995, General Motors spun off its components' makers as Delphi Automotive Systems (later Delphi Corporation) and the Harrison Radiator business was renamed Delphi Harrison Thermal Systems. Delphi filed for bankruptcy in 2005 and emerged in 2009. The Harrison business and the Lockport manufacturing plant were repurchased by General Motors as part of its Automotive Components Group in October 2009.