Laurence Hartnett: Difference between revisions
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==Childhood== |
==Childhood== |
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Hartnett was born into a middle class family in [[Woking]], [[England]]. His mother, Katherine Jane Taplin, daughter of George and Kate Taplin was from a middle class Wiltshire farming family. <ref> Remembrance of Kate Taplin, wife of George Taplin, born 21 May 1839 died 19 September 1876 Hartnett Papers, Melbourne University Archives</ref> His father, Irish born John Joseph Hartnett, was a doctor and inventor of patent medicines<ref>; Advertisement for ‘Borreno’ Hartnett Papers, Melbourne University Archives</ref> from Clonakilty, County Cork, who had an M.D. from Dublin and in 1892 had published a pamphlet on the treatment of tuberculosis. <ref> J.J. Hartnett Antiseptic Treatment of Pulmonary Consumption London: Henry Renshaw, 1892</ref> In addition he had invented an inhaling machine by means of which tubercular patients could breathe fresh, dry, medicated air. <ref> r.y.Keers Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A journey Down the Centuries London:Ballière Tindall, 1978 pp. 68, 70, 112</ref>John Hartnett and Katherine Taplin married in Portsmouth on 1 May 1897 and went to live in Woking where in March of the following year their only child, Laurence (known as Larry) was born. <Hartnett to Gina Hartnett 23 February 1982, 23 March 1982; John Hartnett to florence [sic] 16 July 1897 Hartnett Papers, Melbourne University Archives</ref> The latter, however, was to retain no memory of his father who died nine months later.<ref> K. Hartnett to D.J. McCarthy 6 July 1899 </ref> Shortly afterwards, mother and son went to live with Katherine’s childless sister and brother-in-law for whom Katherine acted as housekeeper, initially in Southsea and then in Kingston-upon-Thames.<ref> Joe Rich Hartnett: Portrait of a Technocratic Brigand Sydney: Turton & Armstrong, 1996 p.2</ref> Larry began his schooling in 1903 in the home of a pair of middle-aged spinsters who taught him and some eight or nine other children in their dining room. From there he graduated two years later to Kingston Grammar School and from 1909 he attended Epsom College, which specialised in educating the sons of doctors who were, themselves, generally destined to enter that profession. Larry had obtained a foundation scholarship offered to those doctors’ sons whose families could not afford the fees.<ref> C.J. Swete A Handbook of Epsom East Ardsley, Wakefield: E.P. Publishing Ltd, 1973 p. 63; G. Home Epsom: Its History and its Surroundings London: The Home land Association, 1901 p.42; Epsom college School List 1910 p. 5-6 in Epsom College archives</ref> In his first year, the school’s Natural History Society created an Aeroplane Section in which he took a close interest, pasting photos of aircraft and newspaper cuttings about aviation into an exercise book as well as making detailed drawings of their parts and participating in the construction of a full-sized glider which the Section launched on a five hundred metre flight in 1912. Epsom was the first school in England to include aeronautical training as an optional extra subject. <ref> Epsomian 30 October 1909 pp. 1, 10, 13, 7 December 1910, 22 January 1911, 26 October 1911, 1 November 1913; L.J. Hartnett to A.C. Scadding 16 September 1984, Exercise Books headed ‘Aeronautics’ 1912 in Hartnett Paper, Melbourne University Archives </ref> While College records show that Hartnett did not on the whole shine academically, in 1914 an essay he wrote on China won the Epsom college geography prize for which he received a book called Engineering Today by Thomas Corbin. <ref> Epsom College School Lists, in Epsom College Archives; Epsomian 28 February 1914</ref> |
Hartnett was born into a middle class family in [[Woking]], [[England]]. His mother, Katherine Jane Taplin, daughter of George and Kate Taplin was from a middle class Wiltshire farming family. <ref> Remembrance of Kate Taplin, wife of George Taplin, born 21 May 1839 died 19 September 1876 Hartnett Papers, Melbourne University Archives</ref> His father, Irish born John Joseph Hartnett, was a doctor and inventor of patent medicines<ref>; Advertisement for ‘Borreno’ Hartnett Papers, Melbourne University Archives</ref> from Clonakilty, County Cork, who had an M.D. from Dublin and in 1892 had published a pamphlet on the treatment of tuberculosis. <ref> J.J. Hartnett Antiseptic Treatment of Pulmonary Consumption London: Henry Renshaw, 1892</ref> In addition he had invented an inhaling machine by means of which tubercular patients could breathe fresh, dry, medicated air. <ref> r.y.Keers Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A journey Down the Centuries London:Ballière Tindall, 1978 pp. 68, 70, 112</ref>John Hartnett and Katherine Taplin married in Portsmouth on 1 May 1897 and went to live in Woking where in March of the following year their only child, Laurence (known as Larry) was born. <ref>Hartnett to Gina Hartnett 23 February 1982, 23 March 1982; John Hartnett to florence [sic] 16 July 1897 Hartnett Papers, Melbourne University Archives</ref> The latter, however, was to retain no memory of his father who died nine months later.<ref> K. Hartnett to D.J. McCarthy 6 July 1899 </ref> Shortly afterwards, mother and son went to live with Katherine’s childless sister and brother-in-law for whom Katherine acted as housekeeper, initially in Southsea and then in Kingston-upon-Thames.<ref> Joe Rich Hartnett: Portrait of a Technocratic Brigand Sydney: Turton & Armstrong, 1996 p.2</ref> Larry began his schooling in 1903 in the home of a pair of middle-aged spinsters who taught him and some eight or nine other children in their dining room. From there he graduated two years later to Kingston Grammar School and from 1909 he attended Epsom College, which specialised in educating the sons of doctors who were, themselves, generally destined to enter that profession. Larry had obtained a foundation scholarship offered to those doctors’ sons whose families could not afford the fees.<ref> C.J. Swete A Handbook of Epsom East Ardsley, Wakefield: E.P. Publishing Ltd, 1973 p. 63; G. Home Epsom: Its History and its Surroundings London: The Home land Association, 1901 p.42; Epsom college School List 1910 p. 5-6 in Epsom College archives</ref> In his first year, the school’s Natural History Society created an Aeroplane Section in which he took a close interest, pasting photos of aircraft and newspaper cuttings about aviation into an exercise book as well as making detailed drawings of their parts and participating in the construction of a full-sized glider which the Section launched on a five hundred metre flight in 1912. Epsom was the first school in England to include aeronautical training as an optional extra subject. <ref> Epsomian 30 October 1909 pp. 1, 10, 13, 7 December 1910, 22 January 1911, 26 October 1911, 1 November 1913; L.J. Hartnett to A.C. Scadding 16 September 1984, Exercise Books headed ‘Aeronautics’ 1912 in Hartnett Paper, Melbourne University Archives </ref> While College records show that Hartnett did not on the whole shine academically, in 1914 an essay he wrote on China won the Epsom college geography prize for which he received a book called Engineering Today by Thomas Corbin. <ref> Epsom College School Lists, in Epsom College Archives; Epsomian 28 February 1914</ref> |
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Revision as of 23:49, 13 September 2011
Sir Laurence John Hartnett CBE (26 May 1898–4 April 1986) was an engineer who made several important contributions to the Australian automotive industry, and is often called "The Father of the Holden".
Childhood
Hartnett was born into a middle class family in Woking, England. His mother, Katherine Jane Taplin, daughter of George and Kate Taplin was from a middle class Wiltshire farming family. [1] His father, Irish born John Joseph Hartnett, was a doctor and inventor of patent medicines[2] from Clonakilty, County Cork, who had an M.D. from Dublin and in 1892 had published a pamphlet on the treatment of tuberculosis. [3] In addition he had invented an inhaling machine by means of which tubercular patients could breathe fresh, dry, medicated air. [4]John Hartnett and Katherine Taplin married in Portsmouth on 1 May 1897 and went to live in Woking where in March of the following year their only child, Laurence (known as Larry) was born. [5] The latter, however, was to retain no memory of his father who died nine months later.[6] Shortly afterwards, mother and son went to live with Katherine’s childless sister and brother-in-law for whom Katherine acted as housekeeper, initially in Southsea and then in Kingston-upon-Thames.[7] Larry began his schooling in 1903 in the home of a pair of middle-aged spinsters who taught him and some eight or nine other children in their dining room. From there he graduated two years later to Kingston Grammar School and from 1909 he attended Epsom College, which specialised in educating the sons of doctors who were, themselves, generally destined to enter that profession. Larry had obtained a foundation scholarship offered to those doctors’ sons whose families could not afford the fees.[8] In his first year, the school’s Natural History Society created an Aeroplane Section in which he took a close interest, pasting photos of aircraft and newspaper cuttings about aviation into an exercise book as well as making detailed drawings of their parts and participating in the construction of a full-sized glider which the Section launched on a five hundred metre flight in 1912. Epsom was the first school in England to include aeronautical training as an optional extra subject. [9] While College records show that Hartnett did not on the whole shine academically, in 1914 an essay he wrote on China won the Epsom college geography prize for which he received a book called Engineering Today by Thomas Corbin. [10]
General Motors-Holden
He was brought to Australia in 1934 by General Motors to head up its Australian subsidiary General Motors Holden (GMH), which it had acquired in 1931. At the time of his appointment as Managing Director, GMH was performing poorly, and Hartnett's brief was to either turn around the floundering business or close it down.
Hartnett made a personal effort to do this by improving relations with General Motors in the US, as well as local car dealers and company employees.[11] Between the world wars the number of cars on Australian roads increased nearly five-fold from 116,658 in 1922 to 562,271 in 1938.[11] Hartnett capitalised on this growth an successfully turned around the fortunes of the local subsidiary to the extent that in 1935, the company increased production to over 23,000 bodies, and declared a profit of 650,000 pounds.
In 1936, Hartnett instigated plans for production of an Australian car- these plans finally came to fruition in 1948, with the introduction of the Holden.
Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation
Hartnett was instrumental in GMH becoming a founding shareholder of the Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) in 1936, together with several other major Australian companies.
Contribution to Australia's war effort
During World War II, Hartnett was appointed as Director of Ordnance Production by the Australian Government, and he made an important contribution to Australia's war effort.
CAC also made significant contributions, including design and production of the CAC Boomerang- the only fighter plane designed in Australia.
Father of the Holden
After the War, Hartnett returned to GMH and continued to pursue the goal of producing an Australian car. This brought Hartnett into conflict with General Motors in Detroit, as Hartnett favoured development of a local design, while Detroit preferred to see a US design as the basis for "Australia's Own Car". Ultimately this led to Hartnett resigning from his position as Managing Director of GMH, shortly before the launch of the Holden in 1948.
Life after GMH
Hartnett continued to make important contributions to Australian motoring after he left GMH. He instigated an ambitious venture to build a uniquely Australian car, the Hartnett, based on a design by Frenchman, Jean Gregoire.[12] The Hartnett was a front wheel drive design, with an air cooled, 600cc, horizontally opposed twin-cylinder engine.[12] The venture failed, after problems with the supplier of the aluminium body panels. Approximately 120 cars were produced between 1949 and 1955,[12] and few of these survive today.
Then, in 1957, he was involved in production of the Lloyd-Hartnett car, based on a German design. This venture also experienced misfortune, as Borgward, the German supplier of parts for the car, suffered financial problems.
Promotion of Nissan
Hartnett's luck changed in 1960, when he saw a new Japanese car - the Datsun Bluebird - on display at the Melbourne Motor Show. Hartnett commenced importing the Datsun to Australia, pioneering the importation of Japanese cars to Australia. This became a successful venture, and Hartnett was responsible for popularising the Nissan/Datsun brand in Australia.
In 1966, Hartnett sought to establish local production of Nissan cars, but this was not successful. Nissan went on to assemble cars from CKD kits at the Pressed Metal Corporation plant in Sydney, followed in 1976 by assembly at the Melbourne factory where Volkswagen cars were once produced. Eventually, Nissan did commence full production of cars in Australia. This arrangement continued until 1992, when the Melbourne plant was closed in favour of importing cars direct from Japan.
Honours
On New year's Day 1945 Hartnett was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).[13]
In 1965, in honour of Sir Laurence Hartnett, the Society of Automotive Engineers Australasia established the annual Hartnett Award as an award for an outstanding original contribution to automotive or aeronautical engineering knowledge or practice.
He was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours of June 1967.[14]
Hartnett's legacy
Hartnett has left a legacy of playing a crucial role in the introduction of two of Australia's best selling brands of cars - Holden and Nissan.
See also
References
- ^ Remembrance of Kate Taplin, wife of George Taplin, born 21 May 1839 died 19 September 1876 Hartnett Papers, Melbourne University Archives
- ^ ; Advertisement for ‘Borreno’ Hartnett Papers, Melbourne University Archives
- ^ J.J. Hartnett Antiseptic Treatment of Pulmonary Consumption London: Henry Renshaw, 1892
- ^ r.y.Keers Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A journey Down the Centuries London:Ballière Tindall, 1978 pp. 68, 70, 112
- ^ Hartnett to Gina Hartnett 23 February 1982, 23 March 1982; John Hartnett to florence [sic] 16 July 1897 Hartnett Papers, Melbourne University Archives
- ^ K. Hartnett to D.J. McCarthy 6 July 1899
- ^ Joe Rich Hartnett: Portrait of a Technocratic Brigand Sydney: Turton & Armstrong, 1996 p.2
- ^ C.J. Swete A Handbook of Epsom East Ardsley, Wakefield: E.P. Publishing Ltd, 1973 p. 63; G. Home Epsom: Its History and its Surroundings London: The Home land Association, 1901 p.42; Epsom college School List 1910 p. 5-6 in Epsom College archives
- ^ Epsomian 30 October 1909 pp. 1, 10, 13, 7 December 1910, 22 January 1911, 26 October 1911, 1 November 1913; L.J. Hartnett to A.C. Scadding 16 September 1984, Exercise Books headed ‘Aeronautics’ 1912 in Hartnett Paper, Melbourne University Archives
- ^ Epsom College School Lists, in Epsom College Archives; Epsomian 28 February 1914
- ^ a b Sadauskas, Andrew, "The Battle to Build-the First Holden", in Australian Stamps Professional, online at http://australianstampspro.com/the-battle-to-build-the-first-holden/ Accessed 5/12/2010.
- ^ a b c 'Aussie Cars' by Tony Davis, 1987, page 65
- ^ It's an Honour: CBE
- ^ It's an Honour: Knight Bachelor
Autobiography: Big Wheels and Little Wheels.Lansdowne Melbourne. 1964
Joe Rich, Hartnett: Portrait of a Technocratic Brigand Sydney: Turton and Armstrong, 1986 Joe Rich, 'Profiting from the Pitfalls of Oral History: the Case of Sir Laurence Hartnett', in Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society Vol. 80 Parts 1 and 2, June 1994