1939 NY World's Fair Masthead
BUDD Manufacturing

Transportation Zone

Architects: William Lescaze and J. Gordon Carr
top of page

"The Shotweld process is a Budd innovation developed by company's founder, Mr. Edward G. Budd, to weld stainless steel panels for the skin of the company's rail passenger cars. Many of those railcars, built from the 1930s through the 1980s, are still in service today. For example, Chicago, Miami, and Baltimore run Budd trains, as well as Amtrak. Edward G. Budd developed the all p-steel car body in 1912."( Paul Flancbaum of the Budd Co., Jan. 2002)

The Budd Company also did the great Lightning Bolt sculpture in front of the GE building.

Budd Manufacturing Process for rail cars
Budd Manufacturing Process for rail cars - photo MO96 - from the collection taken by John Ott courtesy of his grandson Michael Ott.

Budd Manufacturing Process for rail cars
Budd Manufacturing "truck" rail cars - photo MO91 - from the collection taken by John Ott courtesy of his grandson Michael Ott.

Demonstration of the "Shotweld" process

BUDD manufacturing
Courtesy World's Fair Historical Society - wf-021r

BUDD manufacturing
Photo 018 - BUDD
by Arie van Dort

BUDD manufacturing
The sign reads "How BUDD cars are built" -  photo MO101 - from the collection taken by John Ott courtesy of his grandson Michael Ott.
Return to:
Transportation