The Detroit times., 1912-10-03
DODGE BROS.' MONSTER PLANT
GREW FROM SMALL. BEGINNING


There is no more inspiring example
OF the opportunities for success In
Detroit than that represented In the
plant of Dodge Bros. manufacturers
of automobile parts. This month
marks the twelfth anniversary OF the
establishment OF the business by
John f., and Horace f. Dodge. In IL
years the business has grown from a
small machine shop, with its little
lathe and forge. to one OF the largest
OF its kind In the country. requiring
the services of more than 1000
skilled workmen. II has kept pace
with the phenomenal growth of the
automobile industry that has made
Detroit famous the world over, and II
is still progressing, as is very evident
from the fact that the Dodge brothers
are increasing the size and capacity
of their present plant, built only two
years ago.
The history OF the business. though
brief. has been one OF steady expan-
sion, and II there is one word which
explains the reason for this. II Is
efficiency" The business world is
efficiency engineers and experts and
how they are revolutionizing factory
methods. 1t Is this principle con-
stantly applied by men who, at the
same time, are practical machinists,
that has insured the success OF the
Dodge brothers, made their business
one OF the foremost in petroit.
How They Began.
II is always interesting To read OF
success, and how Il vas attained,
especially after one sees every day
those articles, the manufacture OF
which meant prosperity and riches
for the men who were bright enough
to see the opportunities away ahead
of the crowd. The Dodge brothers
plant Is devoted exclusively now to
the manufacture OF parts for the Ia
nous Ford Model T. Back in 1900
when John +. and Horace e Dodge
had their little machine shop In the
Boydell building. doing odd jobs for
living, the automobile business
loomed up big on the horizon. Others
may have hesitated, hung back, or
scoffed, but the Dodge boys saw In
this the dawn of opportunity-their
dinky machine shop was soon hum
ming with the grinding out of auto
mobile parts in quantities. They
made the first curved dash for the
Oldsmobile and the parts for num-
be of other machines. The auto manu-
faetuers found they could get this
work done more cheaply and expedi-
tiously than II they attempted to
manufacture all the parts. The au'
tomobile business grew greater month
by month and with II grew the bust
ness OF the Dodge brothers. II was
the tide in their affairs, taken at It's
full, and il swept them on to success
and prosperity.
Constantly Expanding.
The Dodge brothers started the
machine shop in the Boydell building
cept the tools and limited equipment
OF the shop. After two years the little
shop became too cramped for the bus.
mess. They, therefore, bought prop
erty at Monroe-ave. and Isastings-st
and erected three-story fiilding, Sc
by 1873 feet. They built II out OF brick
and 1t looked big and imposing at the
time, but the business kept crowdins
for more room and so they added two
more good sized buildings to the
plant, and thought they had ma
cnine shop that would take care OF
the business for many more years
But still the business grew. They
couldn't keep up with the demand
their own enterprise created. Three
years ago the Dodges began to look
elsewhere for more room and then
bought the site OF the present plant
on JOS. Campau-ave., near Bismarck
ave- They broke ground for the nam
moth new plant June |. 1910, and In
December began TO move In. The
greater portion of the plant was built
at that time, but since then they have
added a blacksmith shop. 60 by 45O
feet. And they now find Ii necessary
to build a new heat treating plant for
metal, which is to be 20 by $50 feet
and a new brass foundry, 140 feet
wide and 220 feet long There are q
acres Of land to the property and
Judging the future by the past, 1t is
entirely probable that almost the en-