San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1355-1356
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 10/14/2009
R.C. BRIDGE
On January 1, 1920, R.C. Bridge took over the Chevrolet agency for Stockton, and the business is now located in the new, modern garage built expressly for the company at 815 East Weber Avenue. A native of Wisconsin, Mr. Bridge has been connected with the automobile industry since 1904, an early date in the history of this great business. For seven years he was traveling agent for the Studebaker, traveling west from Chicago, and later he was district manager for the company at Salt Lake City. For three years before coming to Stockton he was Pacific Coast manager for the Willard Battery Company, with headquarters at San Francisco. Since locating at Stockton, Mr. Bridge has firmly established himself among the representative business men there, and is popular in the ranks of the Elks and of the Rotary Club of Stockton. He is also prominent in Masonic circles, belonging to all the branches, including the Shrine and Knights Templar. An enthusiast over the line he is handling, Mr. Bridge contributes the following:
Chevrolet began in July, 1921, to build a better product and every part of the car that had given trouble was re-designed. The total number of changes between July 1, 1921, and July 1, 1922, was sixty-eight, and twenty-six additional changes were made in the 1923 model.
Three men stand out prominently in the Chevrolet resuscitation, though each denies his part. They are Pierre S. du Pont, Colin Campbell and W.S. Knudsen. Mr. du Pont, though not generally known, has been and is the acting head of Chevrolet. Mr. Campbell, vice-president, in charge of sales, began July 1, 1921, one of the most intensive campaigns in the history of merchandising. He traveled over forty-eight states, holding meetings, appointing distributors and agents. In the sixteen months between July 1, 1921, and November 1, 1922, the number of Chevrolet dealers and parts depots increased from 3,200 to 12,080 and sales jumped 250 per cent. When Mr. Knudsen, vice-president in charge of production, was asked about his part in reviving Chevrolet, he said: "The public is quick to recognize a good car now-a-days. All I did was jump in here and say, 'Come on, boys!'"
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
Copyright © 1996-2011; This Web page is sponsored by Supporters on behalf of the California portion of The USGenWeb Project by The Administrative Team of the CAGW. Although believed to be correct as presented, if you note any corrections, changes, additions, or find that any links provided on this page are not functioning properly please contact the Archive Coordinator for prompt attention to the matter.