Detroit History Mavens - HELP!!

[Loren L.]

I'm looking at the back of a 1955 Corvette speedometer. On the back is written "Rich"; under that "11-25-64' (date of servicing?); and under that "69417" (mileage?) and the term "Woodward".
My take on this is that the shop was located on Woodword Avenue. The internet seems to be, at best, garbled.
Anybody close to a Detroit Library that can explore an old "Kohl's" directory from 1964 and find a speedo shop on Woodward"? Don't care about the work done, just want to find the name of the then owner.
Anybody? Thanks in advance.
LL

[Rick S.]

Re: Detroit History Mavens - HELP!!

Loren,
Woodward Ave runs thru the following cities: Detroit, Ferndale, Pleasant Ridge, Huntington Woods, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Twp, Bloomfield Hills and Pontiac. I know for a fact that no "speedo" shops were in Birmingham, Bloomfield Twp or Bloomfield Hills during that era. There was a well known speedometer shop that did a lot of GM vehicle work on the east side of Woodward between 12 & 13 Mile Rd in Royal Oak. The business closed about 3-5 years ago and for the life of me, I can't recall the name of the business. When I regain my senses, I will post the business name. Today, Detroit and Pontiac are hell holes and decay ridden and trying to find a business or someone who worked at one would be a one in a trillion shot.

Rick

[Rick S.]

Re: Detroit History Mavens - HELP!!

I know John Hinckley is a former "Woodward" guy and hopefully he will chime in with additional info.Plus, he is an older guy than me and would remember the shops better than me. Heck, in 1964 I was a freshman in college.

Rick

[James G.]

Re: Detroit History Mavens - HELP!!

Loren, what bag of bones are you working on now?

[David T.]

Re: Detroit History Mavens - HELP!!

The only speedometer shop in Detroit that I knew of back in the '70's was Bob's Speedometer. I dealt with the shop on the west side of Detroit around Grand River and Greenfield, I believe. If I remember he also had another location in Detroit, but I don't remember where. The last I heard the business had relocated to Farmington. If they didn't do the work, they may know the name of their competition. I've attached a web link.

http://www.bobsspeedometer.com/

[Loren L.]

Re: Detroit History Mavens - HELP!!

Kindof a combo - little bit '54, little bit '55, little bit '56 and THEN it beomes a mystery.......

Loren, what bag of bones are you working on now?

[Loren L.]

Re: Detroit History Mavens - HELP!!

David, Thank You.
Message sent.

[John H.]

Re: Detroit History Mavens - HELP!!

I know John Hinckley is a former "Woodward" guy and hopefully he will chime in with additional info.Plus, he is an older guy than me and would remember the shops better than me. Heck, in 1964 I was a freshman in college.

Rick

That speedometer shop was "Specmo Enterprises"; they closed their retail location there a couple of years ago, and are now primarily a wholesale, engineering, and Delphi/AC-Delco factory service operation in Madison Heights.

https://www.specmo.com

[Eric J.]

Re: Detroit History Mavens - HELP!!

Kindof a combo - little bit '54, little bit '55, little bit '56 and THEN it beomes a mystery.......

Sounds like you are restoring EX122!!

[Rick S.]

Re: Detroit History Mavens - HELP!!

The only speedometer shop in Detroit that I knew of back in the '70's was Bob's Speedometer. I dealt with the shop on the west side of Detroit around Grand River and Greenfield, I believe. If I remember he also had another location in Detroit, but I don't remember where. The last I heard the business had relocated to Farmington. If they didn't do the work, they may know the name of their competition. I've attached a web link.

http://www.bobsspeedometer.com/

Bob's was never on Woodward.

John,
Thanks, I had a bad case of CRS and for the life of me couldn't remember Specmo.
Loren,
Other than Pontiac or Detroit, Specmo was the only speedo shop on Woodward and I can't recall any in Pontiac. I would put my money on Specmo as they focused on the GM line.

[Loren L.]

Re: Detroit History Mavens - HELP!!

Just looking for credible information.....and it's EARLIER than that. Fortunately, the owners of this one have rejected any thoughts of changing their one-of-one car into an advertising campaign.
That reminds me - I still have not heard from Kerbeck in response to my offer to buy the V8 in their "Motorama" car. Perhaps instead of Mr Kerbeck, I should have made the offer to the "Used Car Manager". Poor planning......

Sounds like you are restoring EX122!!

[Loren L.]

Re: Detroit History Mavens - HELP!!

Thanks John - and all others. Inquiry will go out today.

That speedometer shop was "Specmo Enterprises"; they closed their retail location there a couple of years ago, and are now primarily a wholesale, engineering, and Delphi/AC-Delco factory service operation in Madison Heights.

www.specmo.com

[George J.]

Re: Detroit History Mavens - HELP!!

Today, Detroit and Pontiac are hell holes and decay ridden...

Rick



Rick,
Was this really necessary? Notwithstanding a couple of bad eggs in the govt., the city of Detroit is in better shape now than at any other time in my life. I was born soon after the riots in '67. The amount of development and rebuilding continues to increase every year and the only significant housing my business is involved with in the metro area is in the Cass Corridor. I have many friends that would love to move back to the Detroit area to raise their families (from places like Chicago and Seattle). The job market is the only thing holding them back.

George