The Dodge Brothers: The Men, the Motor Cars, and the Legacy

Great Lakes Books Series

by Charles K. Hyde

At the start of the Ford Motor Company in 1903, the Dodge Brothers supplied nearly every car part needed by the up-and-coming auto giant. After fifteen years of operating a successful automotive supplier company, John and Horace Dodge again changed the face of the automotive market in 1914 by introducing their own car. The Dodge Brothers automobile carried on their names even after their untimely deaths in 1920, which led to its sale in 1925 to New York bankers and subsequent purchase in 1928 by Walter Chrysler. Hyde not only details the brothers' lives and influence on automotive manufacturing and marketing trends in the early part of the twentieth century but also their civic contributions to Detroit, their hiring of African Americans and women, and their often anonymous charitable contributions to local organizations. Despite their achievements and their critical role in the early success of Henry Ford, John and Horace Dodge are usually overlooked in histories of the early automotive industry, but Hyde has put them front and center again to appropriately credit their lasting legacy.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 8, 2005

Reviews

[Dori Sabourin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very few books have been written on the Dodge Brothers. Still they were instrumental in bringing civic and cultural as well as charitable contributions to Detroit in the early twentieth century. They began as mechanics, making parts for Ford except for bodies, wheels and tires. At one point, they went into business with Fred Evans, a manufacturer of bicycles, improving on the bicycle bearing, making it "absolutely dust proof.". A business person endeavoring to go into business would do well to read up on the Dodge Brothers fair and honest business practices, making them well loved by the majority of employees and people with whom they came into contact.

[Graham Bradley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about my favorite car company.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Often dry but very much a story that should be told - they were two very amazing men.

[jimtown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I couldnt find any of the books on my list at the library, so when I noticed The Dodge Brothers in the Michigan History section, I decided to give it a try. Its about time I learned a little more about the origins of Dodge.

John and Horace Dodge were very talented machinists with exacting standards and a good work and business ethic. They got a good start from the cash earned by working for Henry Ford and the stock they bought in his company. That said, it sounds like Henry Ford may have not had the early success he did without the Dodge Brothers. The Dodges manufactured every part of the early Fordmobiles except tires, wheels and body. They did the whole drive train, engine, transmission, gears and chassis and had them delivered to Henry Ford. At the Ford factory, the cars were only assembled at first.

Over time both car companies expanded and the Dodge brothers produced a mid-priced car on their own for six years before their untimely deaths in 1920. Due to them their product survives to this day.

This is an amazing, well documented tale of early American entrepreneurship. There were parts of the book I skimmed over as my interest waned, such as the politics and later years of the Dodge factory, but a true car enthusiast would want to know. Interesting!

[George Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one of a very few books available on the history of the Dodge brothers and the Dodge Brothers company. As with all of the automotive histories published by Wayne State University, it is well written, printed on quality paper, with a premium binding. The Dodge brothers are little known outside of the antique automobile fraternity, but they were very important to the early success of GM and the Ford Motor Company. The Dodge brothers produced engines, transmissions, and other mechanical parts for Oldsmobile, allowing it to dominate the horseless carriage era. Dodge Brothers made almost all of the mechanical parts for Ford Motor until 1914. The Dodge brothers owned 10% of Ford Motor, and used the fortune they earned at Ford to start the Dodge Brothers automobile line. The early Dodge Brothers cars were in effect mid priced Model T's, technically sophisticated with continuous improvements but few styling changes until after the Dodge brothers deaths in 1920. Dodge Brothers produced the first all steel automotive bodies, and the first all steel closed cars. After the Dodge Brothers' deaths, Chrysler's purchase of Dodge Brothers allowed Chrysler to challenge Ford for 2nd place in auto production until 1950 when Ford pushed Chrysler into permanent 3rd place among US manufacturers.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a bit more difficult of a read. The best part of reading a History book however, is that it always leaves me with feeling as if I've gained more knowledge. The only parts I could really read through with ease were the parts that talked about the Dodge Brother's growing up and who they were as people. The parts about the actual Industry bored me to no end, but at the same time I feel as if I've gained new knowledge that I some what like talking about. One of those reads that just makes a person feel really accomplished after they're through reading it.

I wouldn't recommend it to anyone that has a hard time reading text book type reading and feels no gain after reading text books. If you're not much for learning or into Automobiles and the Industry this book isn't for you. If you're like me and can see the good in learning about History and can grit your teeth through some boring reading to gain more knowledge this book is for you. Now if you REALLY enjoy the automobile industry, the dodge brothers, and numbers and statistics this book would be for you!

I've certainly read worse...and I've certainly read better so 3/5 got to be a little easier on these text book type readings after all as you can only do so much to make fact based books interesting.

[Mike Wright]

I found it interesting.

[TIMOTHY LAKE · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heavily contrasts research with that of other Dodge Brothers authors but overall a good read.