MENU The Dana History 1904 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1904 - 1909 1904 Clarence Spicer starts his company on April 1, based on his patented invention of the encased universal joint, in Plainfield, New Jersey. The first C.W. Spicer "U-joints" are shipped to Corbin Motor Company in Connecticut. 1906 Customer roster grows to include Buick Motor Co., Olds Motor Works, Mack Bros. Motor Co. (later Mack Trucks), Kelly-Springfield Motor Truck Co., and American Motors. 1909 Clarence Spicer's business changes its name to Spicer Manufacturing Company. In 1904, an engineering student named Clarence Spicer left Cornell University to launch a new business in the vacant corner of a New Jersey factory. While still a student, Spicer had earned a patent for his groundbreaking design of the first practical universal joint to power an automobile. Spicer’s innovation would quite literally unchain the automobile, which had previously relied on chain-and-sprocket drives to transmit power. But at its outset, his new venture was a decidedly bold step. A talented engineer and inventor, Spicer had neither business nor manufacturing experience. And although the automobile was destined to become a global institution, its future was still far from certain at the turn of the 20th century. It was from these uncertain beginnings that Dana Incorporated emerged as one of the world’s most influential automotive suppliers. Founded on Spicer’s designs, and fueled by the business acumen of attorney, politician, and financier Charles Dana, the company proceeded to expand its product array, technological expertise, and geographic scope throughout the century. Along the way, Dana Incorporated also fostered a progressive, people-oriented culture that has added a unique dimension to the products and services the company provides. Building on these strengths, Dana Incorporated products have helped to drive history’s greatest vehicles – from the Model T and the World War II-era Jeep®, to London taxicabs, 18-wheel rigs, giant earth-moving machines, and every car on the NASCAR® racing circuit. As Dana Incorporated embarks on its second century, it continues to build on this proud heritage. Dana people continue their passionate pursuit of innovation. And the company continues to deliver on its commitment to advancing the science of mobility for the benefit of its global customers. DANA INCORPORATED Light Vehicle Commercial Vehicle Off-Highway Industrial Aftermarket Brands Innovation and Technology DANA.COM Company Blog Careers Media Suppliers Terms of Use Privacy Notice Corporate Social Responsibility © 2017 Dana Limited. All Rights Reserved.