Old car factories revisited

[Framebuilder Steve]

Hi all.
I am trying to research a couple of Forge foundries that I think forged components for Harley Davidson in the 1930's, 40's, 50's, and 60's.
One of the foundries that I am researching had a foundrymark of DIF.
I started researching the Detroit area because I supposed that the D in the Hallmark might have denoted Detroit.
I know that Harley forged some of thier own small components but think that they subbed out the larger parts.
I reasoned that they would use Detroit because of the large infrastucture of the car industry, already set up.

Another foundry has a foundrymark / Hallmark of MF which may have been Michigan .... but I am only guessing there.

I was reading an old thread "Old Car Factories" and a member "Livernoisyard" may know a cruicial part of the information that I am trying to clarify. If anyone is in contact with this member can thay let them know I would like to talk to them.
Any help or ideas is appreciated.
Regards Steve Little
Australia

[CountrySquire]

Sounds like you should get in touch with the Automotive History Department at the Detroit Public Library's main branch:

Contact Information
Location:
Skillman Branch Library121 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: [[313) 628-2851
Fax: [[313) 962-1222
Hours: Monday - Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Coordinator for Special Collections: John Gibson
E-mail: nahc@detroitpubliclibrary.org

[Framebuilder Steve]

Livernoisyard
Member
Username: Livernoisyard

Post Number: 127
Registered: 10-2004
Posted From: 69.242.223.42
Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 12:56 am: That de Soto was probably the former MacGraw Glass plant. I forgot what they made during WWII before doing de Sotos in 1947 or so.

.I have a relative on my father's side who was the chief tool-and-die maker and head of the stamping plant during his 50+-year tenure at Harley-Davidson in my hometown. HD started the war building a 1942 motorcycle with a shaft-drive [[chainless). The Jeeps put that model out of business, and HD made propellors for the rest of WWII
Hi Country Squire

I have copied and pasted the above post from the old Detroit forum.
I would like to talk to this person if they are still on the forum as this is right in line with the information I am trying to verify.
Regards Steve

[MikeM]

Livernoisyard grew up in Milwaukee, hence the reference to his relative working at H-D.

I could be wrong, but I doubt any Harley forgings were made in Detroit when the Milwaukee-Chicago area had plenty of shops that could do the same work.

[Framebuilder Steve]

Hi Mike.
Thanks for your post.
Is Livernoisyard still connected to the forum. I dont know how to use this forum to send a personal message, but would like to contact him. His post "that I attached" is from the old site. It is very close to the information I am trying to research.
Regards Steve

[MikeM]

I don't think he is here any longer, or if he is, he is posting under a different name. You could try contacting the moderators of the forum; they might be able to forward a message to him.