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

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!