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Do any of the P-A historians know the name of the employee with P-A who was in charge of the P-A’s used by presidents and the white house? Thanks, Jim
Years ago I had a list and a bunch of photos of the 1932 cars delivered to the White House . There were five or six if I remember correctly . Does anybody have the list in Photos still ?
“Mr. George H Robinson, a civilian employee in the Quartermaster Corps,
was selected to become the personal chauffeur of President Taft and the
first presidential chauffeur in American History.” Robinson’s first
assignment was to assemble a White House fleet; $12,000 had been
appropriated to purchase four cars.” Mr. Taft gave no instructions
regarding automobile styles or brands.” “Fortunately, General Bell
willingly advised the new chauffeur, and budget-wise Robinson sought
the best deals available.” He first bought a big steamer from the
White Sewing Machine Company in Cleveland.” “Next Mr. Robinson bought
two Pierce-Arrows in Buffalo, New York, and finally a Baker Electric
runabout in Cleveland.” The President on Wheels is where I got the
information( Herbert Ridgeway Collins). I believe the Baker was for
The First Ladies use. The list unadorned price for the White was $4,000
and the Baker was $1.850. Closed Pierce-Arrows in the smaller models
ranged in the $4,700 range. Somebody, somewhere was discounting their
price to make a sale to the White House. The White came with a winter
top that could be removed for open car use. The White is still in
existence and were magnificent cars that had reliable performance and
would fire up in no time due to their advanced boiler system. Driving
it was like having an automatic transmission.
A book could be written on Robinson, who started driving in 1899.
Taft would direct him to drive fast, leaving the secret service far
behind and frustrated.