The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-28

Dodge Brothers began making cars
OF their own design two years ago.
At that time tie plant comprised
twenty acres of floor space, but since
then constant additions of new build
ings have provided total OF seventy
acres, including buildings now under
construction and nearing completion.
One OF the new structures now in
process is an eight-story building. 10
feet long and 1875 feet wide, to be
nsed exclusively for the storage of
rough and finished stock.
The company employs 10000 men
and is producing $50 cars day. More
than $4,000 cars have been built and
sold in the first two years. This re-
markable record is due to the manu-
featuring efficiency brought about by
the use of the very latest methods and
the best equipment it is possible to
obtain.
The factory Is so laid out that the
main assembly building. which is l.
100 feet long. sixty feet wide. four
stories high. and runs from east to
west, is fed with parts and units from
the other buildings and wings which
run from north to 3outh Every de-
partment Is so placed that its product
will travel to the assembly floors by
the shortest possible routes.
The chassis and Anal assembly de-
partments are confined to one floor,
however in the main assembly build
ing, while the floor Immediately be-
low is occupied by storerooms. The
one Immediately above contains the
trim and top depa rtments. where the
body is completely upholstered and
the tops and curtains are manufac G
tured complete. The top floor of this
building is given over exclusively to
enameling
On account OF it's recent construc-
ton, the plant emhodies practically
every known modern device for eff
ficient production of automobiles in
quantities In addition to this much
original equipment in the way of con-
veyors and machining processes has
heen constructed. An elaborate sys-
! tenn Of enameling ovens for imparting
high grade finish to bodies. Tenders
and small parts, Is In operation, the
only equipment Of its kind. In this
conveyor. bodies are lifted in a cradle
attached to an endless belt at the
/ front end o fthe system. and carried
through four distinct coats OF enamel,
with necessary rubbing and iRtermedi-
ate operations and dropped off at the
end of the conveyor 500 feet away
with beautiful and durable finish.
thoroughly cleaned, to the experts,
who immerse them with enamel in a
brush-like stream, quickly and uni
forniy. During this operation the
bodies are travelling continuously.
passing upward through an opening
the ceiling TO the first oven housed on
tho roof. they make complete loop
of several hundred feet. Returning
they are sanded. rubbed and given the
& 49,
the second series of ovens. This pro-
cess is continued through the four
coats OF enamel The ovens are heat
ed by electric coils, by means of
which the temperature may. he regu-
lated absolutely from a control tower.
The enamel is thoroughly Clarified
in the basement OF this building ana
is carried TO the fourth floor through
circulating system, and there applied
by flooding. as stated, behind a glass
screen which excludes all dust
The capacity Of the present body
enameling plant is 400 cars a day.
Other conveyers of equal interest are
! in use throughout the shop for the as
sembly OF the motors assembly OF
transmiasions and rear axles. enamel
ing and baking of frames. asse bly,
of WHEELS. rims and tires. and for the
chassis and final assembly. All of
these conveyers are motor driven and
may be regulated to give an output of
800 TO 500 cars per day. Motive
! power is furnished by mounting one
Of the standard automobile motors on
a suitable frame.
An industrial railway completely
| encircles the plant and enters every
department on the ground floor.
I The forge plant contains more than
/ fifty steam hammers ranging In capa =
! city from 400 to 1900 pounds each.
and producing ls5.0o0 lbs. of steel
I forging daily.