San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1070
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 12/15/2009
FRED N. FOSTER
A pioneer in the field of auto painting, Fred N. Foster was the first man to commercialize this work successfully in Stockton, and now this line of activity has so increased that a dozen or more firms are profitably engaged in it. A native of New York state, where he was born October 1, 1864, Mr. Foster at the youthful age of fourteen started to learn the trade of coach painter with the firm of Harvey & Wallace of Buffalo, N.Y., one of the largest and best known firms in the East in the days of coach making. In those times, Mr. Foster relates, it took from a year to fifteen months to complete the painting of a coach, and to show the improvements that have been made in this line, he now turns out a complete and satisfactory job of auto painting in four weeks.
Mr. Foster was with Harvey & Wallace for five years and at the end of that time he was an expert and finished workman. He then became associated with some of the leading firms in Buffalo as superintendent of their painting departments, among them the Pierce-Arrow Automobile Company, the Thomas Flyer Automobile Company, and the Babcock Electric Company. He next located in Chicago, where he followed this line of work until he came to the Pacific Coast. He spent a short time in Seattle before settling in Portland, Ore., where he was engaged for three years. In 1907 he gained such a reputation as an expert that he was called to Stockton to take the superintendency of the painting department of the Sunset Carriage Factory, a position he held most efficiently for three years.
Recognizing his ability and the fine quality of his work, Mr. Foster's friends induced him to go into business for himself, and he opened up an auto painting shop at 105 West Channel Street in a building erected for him by Andrew Simpson. The day he started business he found three cars ready for him to work on, and he has had a prosperous and thriving trade ever since, both in painting and lettering and monogram work, in which he is expert. Mr. Foster has four grades of work, A, B, C and D, and the first of these receives his absolute guarantee that the job will be even more satisfactory and durable than when the car came from the factory, all the original paint being removed. The water in Stockton being alkali, provision is made for that condition by using the hardest drying varnish known, this serving to resist alkali, oil and water. He employs from five to sixteen men in his business.
While living at Buffalo, N.Y., Mr. Foster was united in marriage with Miss Mary Albert of that city, and they make their home in the beautiful residence erected by Mr. Foster on Yosemite Terrace. He is a member of the California Auto Trades Association, the San Joaquin County Auto Trades Association, being a member of the executive board of the latter for four years, the Merchants and Manufacturers Association, the Progressive Business Men's Club, and in fraternal circles belongs to the Elks, Odd Fellows and Eagles. Enthusiastic over the business possibilities of Stockton, where he has made such a success, Mr. Foster is public spirited in all his views and takes an active interest in civic affairs.
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
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