Vintage automobile factories

The last thing I'd be doing is to smile. If someone isn't pointing a gun at them, it doesen't make sense for them to smile before going home and telling their wives that they're out of a job. Shame on them, for cucking for the cameraman

 

Well they didn't have a Chrystal Ball, that was not the Last Packard Built in Detroit, they moved production of the new 55 models to a more modern but small ex Chrysler plant on Conner Ave. Several things did not go as planned during the Move, but moving the assembly line went well.
For all the workers knew they were moving into a Modern Assembly plant less than 10 miles away from the 50 year old plant they were working in. It was all supposed to be a great move for everyone. We know now it was probably the final few nails to be driven home on the coffin. 1955 & 1956 production was horrible both in terms of quantity and quality. The dealers could not get enough cars to fill even the small demand they had.
So the smiles do not surprise me. I agree if the picture was taken 2 years later at the Conner Plant, when the last car built in Detroit came off the line a smile would surprise me.

I just noticed that 54 Packard has A/C installed, one of the early versions with 1/2 the system mounted in the trunk. I never noticed that before.

 

I never did

 

And this photo is a prime example of why William H. Massey is the perfect man for any movie based in the 1950's