GTXperience
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Brothers John (1864-1920) and Horace (1868-1920) Dodge were born in Niles, Mich., and learned the machinist trade in their father's shop. They moved to Canada in 1899 and went to work for an industrial company.
The brothers developed the Evans and Dodge (E and D) bicycle and began their manufacture. They also began production of automobile parts for pioneer automobile manufactures. They sold many parts to R. E. Olds for his Oldsmobile cars.
In 1901, they moved to Detroit and opened a bicycle shop and automotive parts business. They began the manufacture of larger automobile parts including transmissions, steering parts, crankcases and axles.
Henry Ford offered the two brothers one-tenth interest in the newly formed Ford Motor Co. for building Ford car engines, which they improved. Both Ford and the Dodges prospered with the production and sale of the Ford car.
In a few years, the Dodge brothers headed the largest automotive parts organization in the world. A new plant for manufacturing was built in Detroit suburbs covering 24 acres. The Dodge Brothers continued to build engines for Ford vehicles and served on the Ford board of directors.
In 1914, Henry Ford announced plans to expand the Rouge automobile manufacturing plant near Detroit using all Ford company profits. The Dodge brothers rebelled, wanting their share of the profits. They sued Henry Ford, got their profits and left the Ford Motor Co.
That same year, they organized their own automobile firm, and with the Dodge brothers reputation, 22,000 firms applied for dealerships before the first Dodge car was ever built.
The first Dodge Brothers car rolled out of their plant in November 1914. The first cars were plain in appearance compared with other makes. Despite their conservative lines, the response to the car was immediate, highly favorable and overwhelming.
The Dodge Brothers car became a spectacular success because it combined sensible and practical design with the Dodge stamp of quality manufacturing that people trusted. It also sold for a moderately low price of $785, which fostered sales.
During 1914, a total of 249 cars were built. They were all touring cars painted black with dark blue wooden spoke wheels. These first cars had leather upholstery, folding top, electric lighting and electric self starters. They also had a speedometer, windshield and demountable wheel rims. The cars were powered by a four-cylinder, 35-horsepower engine with a three-speed transmission. All Dodge Brothers cars had the Star of David as the identifying emblem at the top of the radiator.
The Dodge brothers introduced a two passenger roadster in 1915 to accompany the touring car model. It utilized the same power train as the touring car and sold for the same price of $785. The Dodge Brothers car was number three in 1915 production of all automobile makes.
The year of 1920 was the best and worst for Dodge Brothers Motor Car Co. Dodge Brothers was the second selling car in the U.S, however, both Dodge Brothers died from illness. The company continued car production until 1925 when it was sold to New York banking firms.
In 1928, Walter P. Chrysler, president of Chrysler Corp., bought Dodge Brothers firm. The Dodge Brothers car was renamed Dodge and became Dodge Division of Chrysler. The Dodge car make still survives today as part of Chrysler.
The brothers developed the Evans and Dodge (E and D) bicycle and began their manufacture. They also began production of automobile parts for pioneer automobile manufactures. They sold many parts to R. E. Olds for his Oldsmobile cars.
In 1901, they moved to Detroit and opened a bicycle shop and automotive parts business. They began the manufacture of larger automobile parts including transmissions, steering parts, crankcases and axles.
Henry Ford offered the two brothers one-tenth interest in the newly formed Ford Motor Co. for building Ford car engines, which they improved. Both Ford and the Dodges prospered with the production and sale of the Ford car.
In a few years, the Dodge brothers headed the largest automotive parts organization in the world. A new plant for manufacturing was built in Detroit suburbs covering 24 acres. The Dodge Brothers continued to build engines for Ford vehicles and served on the Ford board of directors.
In 1914, Henry Ford announced plans to expand the Rouge automobile manufacturing plant near Detroit using all Ford company profits. The Dodge brothers rebelled, wanting their share of the profits. They sued Henry Ford, got their profits and left the Ford Motor Co.
That same year, they organized their own automobile firm, and with the Dodge brothers reputation, 22,000 firms applied for dealerships before the first Dodge car was ever built.
The first Dodge Brothers car rolled out of their plant in November 1914. The first cars were plain in appearance compared with other makes. Despite their conservative lines, the response to the car was immediate, highly favorable and overwhelming.
The Dodge Brothers car became a spectacular success because it combined sensible and practical design with the Dodge stamp of quality manufacturing that people trusted. It also sold for a moderately low price of $785, which fostered sales.
During 1914, a total of 249 cars were built. They were all touring cars painted black with dark blue wooden spoke wheels. These first cars had leather upholstery, folding top, electric lighting and electric self starters. They also had a speedometer, windshield and demountable wheel rims. The cars were powered by a four-cylinder, 35-horsepower engine with a three-speed transmission. All Dodge Brothers cars had the Star of David as the identifying emblem at the top of the radiator.
The Dodge brothers introduced a two passenger roadster in 1915 to accompany the touring car model. It utilized the same power train as the touring car and sold for the same price of $785. The Dodge Brothers car was number three in 1915 production of all automobile makes.
The year of 1920 was the best and worst for Dodge Brothers Motor Car Co. Dodge Brothers was the second selling car in the U.S, however, both Dodge Brothers died from illness. The company continued car production until 1925 when it was sold to New York banking firms.
In 1928, Walter P. Chrysler, president of Chrysler Corp., bought Dodge Brothers firm. The Dodge Brothers car was renamed Dodge and became Dodge Division of Chrysler. The Dodge car make still survives today as part of Chrysler.
