Ford Gets 'Dodge'd Ep285s

Dodge Brothers: Automotive Pioneers Nov 14, 1914

Born in Niles, Michigan, John and Horace Dodge blossomed into craftsmen renowned for their dedication to quality and excellence in the automotive realm.

In the early 1900s, the name Dodge seeped into American households like a sweet perfume. Born in Niles, Michigan, John and Horace Dodge were pioneers, setting America's wheels in motion during the dawn of automotive manufacturing. In 1900, Detroit bloomed like a mechanical rose as industries converged, and the brothers established a modest machine shop.

Soon their workshop expanded, bustling with 200 men, crafting the Evans and Dodge bicycle. These bicycles quenched the thirst for transportation for many. Yet the brothers' ambitions stretched further, to conquer the automobile industry.

In 1902, Olds Motor Works of Detroit entrusted them with an order for 3,000 transmissions. The brothers mingled with automotive giants like Henry Leland and W.C. Leland, crafting steering parts and axles. By 1903, they abandoned bicycles to focus on automobiles.

Henry Ford, tantalized by their skills, offered the brothers a 10% stake in his fledgling Ford Motor Company in exchange for their mechanical expertise. Thus, the Dodges found themselves forging the engines, transmissions, and other vital components of the quintessential all-American car—the Model T.

The Dodge brothers soared to new heights, owning 10% of Ford while running their own empire. They built a sprawling 24-acre plant in Hamtramck, Michigan. As Henry Ford expanded his reach, the brothers sought independence and envisioned their own car.

On July 17, 1914, they sold $5 million worth of public stock. The first Dodge model rolled off the assembly line on November 14 that year – a practical design selling for $785. These cars boasted a 110-inch wheelbase powered by a four-cylinder 35-horsepower engine.

In 1915, their touring car burgeoned in popularity, attracting 21,000 dealership applications. Bolstered by their stellar reputation, sales soared as the brand cemented its foundations on dependability. Within five short years, they produced 121,000 cars and amassed sales of $24 million. Tragedy struck in 1920 both siblings were swept away by the treacherous currents of the influenza pandemic. Yet their legacy of resilience persisted. In 1922, Dodge pioneered the first steel-bodied closed car—an innovation that would echo through history.

Their widows sold their interests in 1925, and three years later, Walter P. Chrysler acquired Dodge for $170 million, calling it "one of the soundest acts of my life." The Dodge brothers' legacy lives on, forever entwined with our automotive heritage.