Stories
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Mr. Miller and Fritz drove twin '59 Cadillacs, like in the movie 'Tin Men', which they parked in the first two slots street-side office front, but just to the left of the loading dock. There were about six guys out there one time smoking, and Fritz came out to have a cigarette. Someone rushed over to light his cigarette with a lighter, and someone else yelled that's a Japanese lighter, whereupon Fritz through the cigarette on the ground stamping and started cursing the Japanese who were his competitors. "Cheap God-damned Jap crap". In those days Japanese products were cheaply made, because only second-rate crap was allowed to be imported into the US, thus sheltering US industry from imports, therein the negative reputation.
This minor panoply seemed a little too well scripted to me, but everyone thought it was funny and Fritz was a hit with the gang. He never was friendly enough with me to ever have had a conversation. Don't know if I was too insignificant, but certainly it was a consideration.
Mr. Miller was another story. Almost the only time you saw him was for inspections. It was quite a dog and pony show. Fritz and Mr. Miller the owners were brothers, but it was said that Mr. Miller was the actual owner. He always wore a suit and tie. He often was accompanied by Fritz, never talked to anyone directly except maybe higher ups like the Foreman, and we lowly ones were instructed never to speak to him unless spoken to. He never talked to any underlings personally, although he seemed like genuinely nice guy. He was about five foot eight, thin, white straight hair, about sixty-five years old. He was the showman.
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