Richard Arbib

Last updated


In the 1950s, Arbib painted two covers for Galaxy Science Fiction Galaxy 195110.jpg
In the 1950s, Arbib painted two covers for Galaxy Science Fiction
The second illustrated a novelette by Robert A. Heinlein Galaxy 195203.jpg
The second illustrated a novelette by Robert A. Heinlein

Richard Henry Arbib (September 1, 1917 in Gloversville, New York – February 22, 1995 in Manhattan, New York City [1] ) was an American industrial designer.

Contents

He was a design consultant known for working on many products and services. His focus was on automobiles. Arbib created a unique look for the Hudson line that was to share the senior 1955 Nash body as well as his vision of what an automobile would look like in the year 2000, the Astra-Gnome "Time and Space Car."

Family

Richard Henry Arbib was the son of Robert Simeon Arbib, Sr. (March 3, 1889, in Cairo, Egypt January 1969 in New York) and Edna Josephine Henry (November 3, 1889, in Richmond, Virginia July 17, 1975, in New York City). Robert Sr. arrived in the United States from Liverpool, England in May 1908. Siblings were Robert Arbib, Jr. (March 17, 1915, in New York July 1987 in New York) and John A. Arbib (born September 1924 in New York).

Richard Arbib was married to Audrey Schulz and they were divorced in 1952 in Volusia County, Florida. Audrey later married Associated Press photographer Baron Hans Ferdinand von Nolde (born Berlin, Germany, died November 9, 2002, at 77 years of age). Richard later married Helen W. He dated model Bettie Page in the 1950s.

Career

Arbib graduated from the Pratt Institute in New York City in 1939 after taking industrial-design courses and also serving as vice president of his graduating class. [2] His first job was working as a consultant to the General Motors Art and Color staff that was supervised Harley Earl. [2]

Arbib was an armament specialist during World War II working for Republic Aviation. [3] He returned to Detroit and worked for the Harley Earl Corporation on a variety of product and service designs that included tires, watches, cameras, and railroad car interiors. [3] Arbib moved to New York and started his independent design consultancy. [2]

Henney and Packard

His first contract was with the Henney Motor Company of Freeport, Illinois, the largest manufacturer of professional car bodies such as ambulances, hearses, and limousines in the United States. Henney was also Packard's sole professional body supplier. Arbib was responsible for the design of the commercial line of Packard built by Henney from 1951 until 1954. [2] His work for Henney included a custom-built Packard Super Station Wagon with seating for 12 passengers, air conditioning, a beverage cabinet, and distinctive curved rear windows. [4] Arbib also provided design consultancy for Packard. He crafted a pillarless Packard Monte Carlo design study, based on a Custom 8 chassis. Next came a more influential concept, the Packard Pan American, based on a Henney-modified Packard 250 convertible that was chopped, channeled, and smoothed into a two-seat luxury roadster.

Arbib designed the Packard show car Pan American for the International Motor Sports Show held in New York City at the Grand Central Palace on March 29, 1952. It was based upon a 1951 Packard 250 convertible and built by Henney. The Pan American won the first-place trophy for the most outstanding design at the show. [3] The sales decline at Packard affected Henney which had an exclusive contract with Packard since 1937. Packard discontinued chassis for the professional-car business and Henney closed the Freeport plant. [3] One of the last assignments for Arbib was for an ambulance based on the 1955 Ford Thunderbird. [3]

American Motors Corporation

1957 Hudson Hornet with Arbib's "V" form styling Hudson Hornet Series 80 4-Door Sedan 1957.jpg
1957 Hudson Hornet with Arbib's "V" form styling

In 1955, Arbib was hired by American Motors Corporation (AMC) to create a unique look for the Hudson line that was to share the senior 1955 Nash body. [5] The problem was the Nash's unibody meaning changes can only be done on the trim. [3] Arbib main design theme was to use a "V" form throughout the car, which he dubbed V-Line styling. [6] The design was to correspond with AMC starting to build its own V8 engines to replace the Packard V8 it was using in its Hudson and Nash models. [7] While Arbib was effective to "balance conflicting objectives and present an acceptable finish products," the production 1956 Hudson has been viewed as "badly-compromised styling." [8] [9]

He also designed, and Andrew Mazzara built, the Astra-Gnome "Time and Space Car" concept car that included a "celestial time-zone clock permitting actual flight-type navigation." [10] The design was influenced by space travel forms. [11] The vehicle was based on the Nash Metropolitan and was Arbib's vision of what an automobile would look like in the year 2000. [12] The Astra-Gnome attracted attention at the 1956 International Automobile Show in New York, and was also featured on the cover of Newsweek magazine's September 3, 1956 issue. [13]

Design works

He designed asymmetrical cases for the new Hamilton electric watches in the 1950s, including such notable models as the Ventura, Everest, and Pacer. He also designed watches for Tourneau, Benrus, Sheffield, and Gucci. He designed boats for the Century Boat Company in the 1950s, notably one of their most successful and expensive models, the Coronado, as well as the Arabian model.[ citation needed ]

Notes

  1. Elliott, Michael (March 3, 1995). "Richard H. Arbib, 77, Designer Of Array of Consumer Products". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Donnelly, Jim (February 2016). "Richard Arbib". Hemmings Classic Car. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Hamlin, George L. (October 1992). "Richard Arbib: Specialty Designer". Collectible Automobile: 41–45. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via undiscoveredclassics.com.
  4. Niedermeyer, Paul (February 12, 2021). "1954 Packard Super Station Wagon – Yes, I Do Want One". Curbside Classic. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  5. "Arbib Company". Modern Metals. 12: 49. 1956. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Google Books. The Arbib company is consultant to American Motors, though the firm engages in all types of product design work.
  6. Sharf, Frederic A. (2006). Richard H. Arbib: 1917-1995 Visionary American Designer. Newburyport Press. p. 30. ISBN   978-1-882266-16-6 . Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Google Books.
  7. Donovan, Leo (January 1956). "Detroit Listening Post". Popular Mechanics. Vol. 105, no. 1. p. 122. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Google Books.
  8. "Richard Arbib - Post-Henney and Packard Designwork". packardinfo.com. 2015. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  9. "Richard Arbib Hudson Styling". hetclub.org. February 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2022.
  10. "Astra-Gnome: $?". Popular Science. Vol. 169, no. 1. July 1956. p. 112. Retrieved July 27, 2022 via Google Books.
  11. "Arbib Company", p. 48.
  12. Hess, Jeffrey P. (March–April 2000). "An Interview with Richard Arbib". HR Watches. Archived from the original on July 18, 2010. Retrieved April 4, 2013.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  13. "Museum: 1955 Metropolitan Astra-Gnome". metpitstop.com. Retrieved July 27, 2022.

Related Research Articles

American Motors Corporation Defunct American automobile company

American Motors Corporation was an American automobile manufacturing company formed by the merger of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation and Hudson Motor Car Company on May 1, 1954. At the time, it was the largest corporate merger in U.S. history.

Rambler (automobile) Automobile brand name

Rambler is an automobile brand name that was first used by the Thomas B. Jeffery Company between 1900 and 1914.

Packard Defunct luxury automobile company from Detroit, Michigan

Packard or Packard Motor Car Company was an American luxury automobile company located in Detroit, Michigan. The first Packard automobiles were produced in 1899, and the last Packards were built in South Bend, Indiana in 1958.

Nash Motors Defunct American motor vehicle manufacturer

Nash Motors Company was an American automobile manufacturer based in Kenosha, Wisconsin from 1916 to 1937. From 1937 to 1954, Nash Motors was the automotive division of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation. Nash production continued from 1954 to 1957 after the creation of American Motors Corporation.

Hudson Motor Car Company Defunct US auto company

The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson and other branded automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., from 1909 until 1954. In 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator to form American Motors Corporation (AMC). The Hudson name was continued through the 1957 model year, after which it was discontinued.

Astra-Gnome Concept car by industrial designer Richard Arbib using a 1955 Nash Metropolitan chassis

The Astra-Gnome is a concept car by industrial designer Richard Arbib using a 1955 Nash Metropolitan chassis. Described as a "Time and Space Car", it features themes influenced by the space travel forms that were popular during the 1950s. The vehicle represented Arbib's vision of what an automobile would look like in the year 2000.

Nash Metropolitan Motor vehicle

The Nash Metropolitan is an American automobile that was assembled in England and marketed from 1953 until 1961.

Ultramatic was the trademarked name of the Packard Motor Car Company's automatic transmission introduced in 1949 and produced until 1954, at Packard's Detroit, Michigan East Grand Boulevard factory. It was produced thereafter from late 1954, thru 1956 at the new Packard "Utica" Utica, Michigan facility.

The Studebaker-Packard Corporation was the entity created in 1954 by the purchase of the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana, by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan. While Studebaker was the larger of the two companies, Packard's balance sheet and executive team were stronger than that of the South Bend company.

Packard Clipper Motor vehicle

The Packard Clipper is an automobile which was built by the Packard Motor Car Company for model years 1941–1942, 1946–1947 and 1953–1957. For 1956 only, Clipper was classified as a stand-alone marque. The Clipper was introduced in April, 1941, as a mid-model year entry. It was available only as a four-door sedan. The Clipper name was reintroduced in 1953, for the automaker's lowest-priced lineup. By 1955, the Clipper models were seen as diluting Packard's marketing as a luxury automobile marque. It was named for a type of sailing ship, called a clipper.

Hamilton Watch Company Swiss watch manufacturer

The Hamilton Watch Company is a Swiss manufacturer of wristwatches based in Bienne, Switzerland. Founded in 1892 as an American firm, the Hamilton Watch Company ended American manufacture in 1969. Through a series of mergers and acquisitions, the Hamilton Watch Company eventually became integrated into the Swatch Group, the world's largest watch manufacturing and marketing conglomerate.

Dick Teague American automotive designer

Richard Arthur Teague was an American industrial designer in the North American automotive industry. He held automotive design positions at General Motors, Packard, and Chrysler before becoming Vice President of Design for American Motors Corporation (AMC), and designed several notable show cars and production vehicles including AMC's Pacer, Gremlin, and Hornet models, as well as the Jeep Cherokee XJ and either designed or assisted in the designing of later cars for Chrysler such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Neon after American Motors' buyout.

Nash Ambassador Large-sized cars produced by Nash Motors Corporation

The Nash Ambassador is a luxury automobile that was produced by Nash Motors from 1927 until 1957. For the first five years it was a top trim level, then from 1932 on a standalone model. Ambassadors were lavishly equipped and beautifully constructed, earning them the nickname “the Kenosha Duesenberg".

Nash Rambler Compact-sized cars produced by Nash Motors

The Nash Rambler is a North American automobile that was produced by the Nash Motors division of Nash-Kelvinator Corporation from 1950 to 1954 in sedan, wagon, and fixed-profile convertible body styles.

The Packard Patrician is an automobile which was built by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, from model years 1951 through the 1956. During its six years in production, the Patrician was built in Packard's Detroit facilities on East Grand Boulevard. The word "patrician" is Latin for a ruling class in Ancient Rome. It was the last "senior level" Packard until production ended in 1958.

Hudson Hornet Full-sized automobile produced by Hudson and American Motors

The Hudson Hornet is a full-sized automobile that was manufactured by Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan from 1951 until 1954, when Nash-Kelvinator and Hudson merged to form American Motors Corporation (AMC). Hudson automobiles continued to be marketed under the Hudson brand name through the 1957 model year.

Hudson Jet Compact car produced by Hudson Motor Car Company

The Hudson Jet is a compact automobile that was produced by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, during the 1953 and 1954 model years. The Jet was the automaker's response to the popular Nash Rambler and the costs of developing and marketing the Jet ultimately led to Hudson's merger with Nash.

Hudson Wasp Motor vehicle

The Hudson Wasp is an automobile that was built and marketed by the Hudson Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, from the 1952 through the 1956 model years. After Hudson merged with Nash Motors, the Wasp was then built by American Motors Corporation in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and marketed under its Hudson marque for model years 1955 and 1956.

George W. Mason

George Walter Mason was an American industrialist. During his career Mason served as the Chairman and CEO of the Kelvinator Corporation (1928-1937), Chairman and CEO of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation (1937-1954), and Chairman and CEO of American Motors Corporation (1954).

Edmund E. Anderson was an automotive designer in the North American automotive industry at General Motors and notably as the lead designer for American Motors Corporation (AMC) from 1950 to 1961.

References