John and Horace Dodge, inseparable brothers who were born four years apart, founded the Dodge Brothers Machine Shop in Detroit in 1901. By 1903, they were supplying engines to Henry Ford and before long they were making transmissions and axles for him as well.
The Dodge brothers began producing cars in 1914. Their Dodge Four has been described as “a grown-up version of Ford’s Model T.” It had a larger engine and a three-speed transmission. The Dodge brothers did not understand wood, and their car’s all-steel welded body was a radical feature at the time.
The Dodge Four Tour sold for $785 and in 1914, a total of 248 were made. The following year, production jumped to 45,000. By 1916 the Dodge Brothers was the fourth largest automobile manufacturer in the U.S. The brothers died in 1920—John of pneumonia and Horace of cirrhosis of the liver—and in 1928 the company was purchased by Chrysler.
Shown below are some Dodge vehicles from 1916 to 1928.
1916 Dodge Brothers Roadster
This vehicle is on display in the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM) in Hood River, Oregon.
1916 Dodge Brothers Touring Car
This vehicle was on display in the Montana Auto Museum in Deer Lodge, Montana.
1923 Dodge Brothers Delivery Van
This vehicle was on display in the LeMay Family Collection in Tacoma, Washington.
1926 Dodge Brothers Coupe
This vehicle is on display in the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM) in Hood River, Oregon.
1928 Dodge Brothers Victory 6 Deluxe Sedan
This vehicle is on display in the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM) in Hood River, Oregon.
More automobile photo tours
Museums 201: Cars and trucks of a century ago, 1921 (photo diary)
Museums 201: Station Wagons (Photo Diary)
Museums 201: 1941 Automobiles (Photo Diary)
Museums 201: Early Steam and Electric Cars (Photo Diary)
Museums 201: Luxury Cars of the 1930s
Museums 201: The Corvette, 1953 to 1978 (Photo Diary)
Museums 201: Ford automobiles before 1920 (photo diary)
Museums 201: The Ford Model T Speedster (photo diary)