Take a Ride through America’s Past –
the LeMay Collection

Harold E. Lemay amassed the largest privately owned collection of automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, and other vehicles and related memorabilia in the world. At its peak, the LeMay Collection numbered in excess of 3,000 vehicles and thousands of artifacts. Mr. LeMay died at 81 in November 2000.

Since that time, his heirs have committed themselves to carry on the dreams of Harold.

Eric LeMay, grandson of Harold, is the director of the Harold E. LeMay Museum in Tacoma. Eric brought an animated talk to the BBRC Friday.

The LeMay collection is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Harold began his remarkable career by purchasing his first garbage route in the early 1940’s. He also spent time in the Navy from 1944-46. With his mustering out pay, Harold bought a 1941 Mack truck. He installed removable bench seats and started a bus route, taking dock workers to the Tacoma shipyards. Then, he would take the benches out and spent the balance of the day collecting metal. At the end of the day, he would put the benches back on the truck and take the workers back home. When he could see the shipyard work would trail off, he traded the rights for the bus route for a garbage route. When it was all over, he had built the10th largest private hauling business by 2000.

Harold’s signature vehicle was a roll-back truck, which was used in his funeral procession. By the mid-80’s he had acquired about 250 cars. He also bought a lot of real estate, which he parlayed into acquiring more automobiles. As Eric explained, this was “much more than a hobby. His car collecting was an excuse to get 10,000 people together and have fun. He was always about people more than cars. Additionally, he had over 300,000 other artifacts in his estate, including the world’s largest collection of meat grinders!

One of his purchases was the entire inventory, counters and shelving of the 1932 General Store once doing business in Brewster, Washington. The Great Depression forced the store out of business and Mr. LeMay later bought “the store.” It came complete with letters that weren’t delivered since the general store was also Brewster’s post office!

1914 Detroit Electric Priscilla

So, how did the automobile become such a huge part of the world’s preoccupation? As Eric explained it, it was a fascination for design and technology, while it became a part of American culture. “The Great Depression ironically was the height of the rise of the classic car. Many people who had money were not impacted by the depression. So, the design and manufacture of classic cars continued in the 1930’s.”

Eric singled out three different cars to show how design, technology and culture affected the growth of the automobile and its place in the life of the American public.

Taking the design category, he selected the 1930 Duesenberg, made by racing car designers. Only 400 cars were made of this model.

Getting the Technological Award was the 1914 Detroit Electric. This car could go 35-40 MPH. It was powered by 24 batteries connected in groups of six. What killed the electric car was the inability of the car industry to decide on AC or DC; or 110 or 220; or the Westinghouse or Edison plan. That’s what killed the electric car. They couldn’t decide what the standards for electric autos should be. The competing technology was its undoing.

For a car representing the culture of America, Eric nominated the 1948 Tucker. The LeMay collection has acquired the eleventh car built. “We’ve got the nicest original Tucker I’ve ever seen, but as it was described by a noted car fancier, it was ‘the crappiest car in the world!’”

For several years, the Museum Board of Directors has engaged in various studies to build a first-class facility in Tacoma. Next for the Museum is the release of the preliminary design for the site, which is an area on nine acres adjacent to the Tacoma Dome. The land was a gift to the museum from the City of Tacoma. “We’ll be launching a campaign to build the facility shortly after the first of year,” said Eric.

More information about the LeMay Museum at www.lemaymuseum.org.

Thanks to Bob Vallat for his introduction.

President Evison presented Eric LeMay with the certificate showing a book has been donated in his name by the BBRC to the Bellevue Public Schools.