Exner and Loewy controlling Clay Models
The young Virgil M. Exner (mid left) and Raymond Loewy (mid right, with cigarette) making an inspection round at the Studebaker South Bend design department. The photo must be taken around 1946 when the new post-war Studebaker body style was developed and introduced.
Exner (1909-1973) had left Pontiac before he became employee at Loewy Studios in 1938.
What is so interesting about this photo is that Exner, who is partly responsible for this revolutionary post-war design which gave Studebaker a world famous reputation (although Exner based his ideas on designs Loewy had already made earlier), but wasn't working for Loewy anymore at the time this picture was made.
Exner wasn't satisfied with his dominant employer. He believed he wasn't much taken serious by Loewy. Gradually they didn't get along with each other so well, and Loewy fired Exner.
Virgil Exner was immediately hired by the Studebaker design department as a free-lancer to continue the development of the new cars, which were started by the Loewy Studios.
So the strange situation was there that the two ex-partners became colleagues again in this project.
Shortly before introduction of the new Studebaker models Exner left to join the Chrysler Corporation. For merchandize reasons Loewy was given full recognition because he had a better reputation.
Picture was taken from:
Paul Jodard, Raymond Loewy, Series: Design Heroes, HarperCollins Publishers, London, 1994.
Original photographer, exact place and date unknown.
Book collection Sander Toonen (2021).
Halfweg, June 15, 2024.
© 2024 Sander Toonen, Halfweg | All Rights Reserved
Exner and Loewy controlling Clay Models
The young Virgil M. Exner (mid left) and Raymond Loewy (mid right, with cigarette) making an inspection round at the Studebaker South Bend design department. The photo must be taken around 1946 when the new post-war Studebaker body style was developed and introduced.
Exner (1909-1973) had left Pontiac before he became employee at Loewy Studios in 1938.
What is so interesting about this photo is that Exner, who is partly responsible for this revolutionary post-war design which gave Studebaker a world famous reputation (although Exner based his ideas on designs Loewy had already made earlier), but wasn't working for Loewy anymore at the time this picture was made.
Exner wasn't satisfied with his dominant employer. He believed he wasn't much taken serious by Loewy. Gradually they didn't get along with each other so well, and Loewy fired Exner.
Virgil Exner was immediately hired by the Studebaker design department as a free-lancer to continue the development of the new cars, which were started by the Loewy Studios.
So the strange situation was there that the two ex-partners became colleagues again in this project.
Shortly before introduction of the new Studebaker models Exner left to join the Chrysler Corporation. For merchandize reasons Loewy was given full recognition because he had a better reputation.
Picture was taken from:
Paul Jodard, Raymond Loewy, Series: Design Heroes, HarperCollins Publishers, London, 1994.
Original photographer, exact place and date unknown.
Book collection Sander Toonen (2021).
Halfweg, June 15, 2024.
© 2024 Sander Toonen, Halfweg | All Rights Reserved