Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Blaser, E. J. July 29, 1891 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com October 20, 2009, 3:40 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 21-22
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     The Factory Motor Car Company, of which E. J. Blaser is proprietor, is 
one of Portland's notable concerns, its plant being the largest and most 
complete of its kind west of the Missouri river. The company's specialty is 
the complete overhauling and rebuilding of automobile motors, besides which it 
does a general line of repair work and has built up a large and prosperous 
business.

     E. J. Blaser was born in Portland, Oregon, July 29, 1891, and is a son of 
Fred and Anna (Raze) Blaser, who came to Portland in 1881. His father was a 
machinist by trade and was employed by the Willamette Iron Works and in the 
shops of the Seattle, Portland & Spokane railroad. His death occurred in 1920 
and his widow still resides in this city.

     E. J. Blaser received a good public school training and took an extension 
course through the University of Oregon. He learned the machinist's trade and 
in 1907 went to work for the old White Steamer agency, later being with the 
White company as a mechanic. His next position was as supervisor of all 
automobile repair work for Fred Dundee, and in 1914 he and V. C. Unden engaged 
in the automobile repair business under the name of the Factory Motor Car 
Company. Their first location was at 690 Kearney street, where they remained 
until 1921, when, having outgrown those quarters, they came to their present 
location at 74 North Fourteenth street, where they occupy a one-story 
building, one hundred by one hundred feet. They have spared no expense in 
providing the best mechanical equipment that can be procured and now have the 
Wadkins National Rebabbiting service, have two Heald grinders, a Landis 
crankshaft grinder, five lathes and electric and acetylene welders. They 
employ twenty-four skilled workmen and turn out nothing but high grade work, 
conducting their business on the theory that satisfied customers are their 
best advertisers. They also have their own fender and body workshop, and are 
prepared to completely overhaul any machine in every respect excepting tops 
and painting. They have three traveling representatives, who cover all of the 
northwestern states and have a well merited reputation for honest and 
efficient work. The rebabbiting service is endorsed by all the leading motor 
manufacturers and has become an important phase of motor repair work. The 
company also keeps on hand a complete line of connecting rods for all makes of 
cars.

     In 1913 Mr. Blaser was united in marriage to Miss Nina Porter, of 
Portland, and they are the parents of two children, Eileen Ruth and Genevieve 
May. Mr. Blaser is a member of Hawthorne Lodge, No. 111, A. F. & A. M.; 
Portland Consistory, A. A. S. R.; Al Kader Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S.; Portland 
Lodge, No. 142, B. P. O. E.; the Woodmen of the World, and the Chamber of 
Commerce and is vice-president of the Automotive Trade Association, machine 
shop division. He gives his political support to the republican party and 
takes a proper interest in public affairs. He has prospered in his business 
and is also financially interested in a number of other Portland enterprises. 
A man of sound, practical judgment and sterling character, his record has 
gained for him the sincere respect of all who have had business dealings with 
him and he has shown himself worthy of the success which has come to him.

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