The Coach that Frank Built

Everyone will see and appreciate the result of the time and talent of 16 year old Frank H. Olson of New London when, in 1936 he entered the Fisher Craftsman’s Guild contest by building a miniature model of the Napoleonic Coach, the trade mark of Fisher Body of General Motors.

Plans were provided by the GM company for the 1/18 scale model coach. Each piece had to be crafted, assembled, painted and decorated by the entrant. From 1930–1948, this contest was open to boys 11-20 for a chance to earn college scholarships, trips to Detroit, and other prizes. In 1936, Frank’s coach entry was awarded Second Place in Iowa.

At one time, the popular Guild ranked second, only to Boy Scouts in membership.

The Dover Museum is fortunate to have Frank’s exquisite coach entry along with the large plaque with which he was presented and a photo of Frank holding his model.

Following graduation from New London High School, Frank worked at the Wells Lamont Glove Factory and the Stout Recorder Co. both in New London. During WW II he worked at the J.I. Case plant in Burlington and helped build the site for the production of the B 24 bombers. In the 1950’s he had moved on to having a radio repair shop. Later he moved to Illinois for a job with the Iowa Illinois Telephone Company and other telephone companies that bought out the Iowa Illinois Telephone Company.

From 1937 to 1968, Fisher Craftsman’s Body Guild also had a competition for teen aged boys to compete for four -year college scholarships, a trip to Detroit, and other valuable prizes, by designing and building a scale model of their “dream car”.

See Frank’s Coach Sundays 1-4 p.m. along with many exhibits at the Dover Museum in New London through October.

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