for anyone interested in the automotive industry there are stories you will never miss hearing about stories of Innovations resilience and success but few of those Tales are as captivating and ultimately tragic as that of JN and Horus Dodge the Dodge Brothers are legends who built one of the most successful automobile companies of their [Music] [Applause] era yet that Legacy was shadowed by an Abrupt and heartbreaking end what's the tragic story behind them and why is their story remembered to this [Music] day humble beginnings to understand the Dodge Brothers tragic ending we first need to take
a step back and look at the beginning every end has a beginning and this one takes us back to October 25th 1864 when John Francis Dodge the Elder Dodge brother was born 4 years later in 1868 on May 17th the younger Dodge Horus elen Dodge was born the two brothers came from a family of humble machinists based in Michigan this was an advantage to them as they both seemed to have inherited their father's Mechanical Aptitude and entrepreneurial spirit it's said that this Spirit was what paved the way for the brother's future success at such a
young age they were surrounded by Steel machine and their father a mentor who was willing to teach and help them innovate as long as they were willing to work hard in the burgeoning industrial environment of the Midwest in their teenage years they fabricated their own high wheeel bicycle just because they saw a wealthy guy in town riding such a beauty and got jealous they crafted it by hand with scrap making it as good as the one they could find at a store despite their four-year difference the brothers were inseparable sharing not only familial ties but
also a deep passion for mechanics after relocating to Detroit in 1886 the brothers worked for local machine shops before finding jobs at Murphy Ironworks as machinists honing their craft and building a reputation for Precision Engineering they later resigned and moved to Windsor onario they then found and took positions again at Dominion typograph which later became the Canadian typograph company through the hands-on experience they had acquired they felt that they had enough technical expertise and confidence to venture into business on their own their unique traits made it easier to collaborate with one another and form a
natural partnership Jon was the businessman of the duo his managerial mindset made him the one responsible for closing deals on the other hand Horus was the creative genius behind their success he was a habitual tinkerer and a very talented mechanic their first major foray into manufacturing came with bicycles and not Cars their partnership was evident when Horus created the first ever ball bearing that was dirtproof in 1897 shortly after JN took over and gave an investor Fred S Evans a plan he couldn't refuse this led to the opening of Evans and Dodge bicycle company for
2 years they leased a space at their former place of employment the Canadian typograph company so that they could have an opening to build their ball bearings and bicycles the company became successful and produced highquality products that quickly gained a reputation for durability however the lure of the automotive industry still in its infancy proved irresistible in 1900 the Dodges sold the company to Canada cycle and motor company for $7,500 and used the profits from the sale to open their own Machine Shop in Detroit it was here that they began to focus exclusively on making automobile
parts entering the automotive world the Dodge Brothers company initially focused on manufacturing Precision components for bicycles and Industrial Machinery their attention to detail and dedication to Quality quickly caught the attention of automakers they soon became Detroit's largest part supplier in one year Jon managed to secure a contract for the olds motor vehicle company to build Transmissions this contract helped them prove their commitment to providing a high level of service and quality to every transmission they manufactured their work was so admirable that the olds motor vehicle company which was now known as Oldsmobile offered them a
second contract however the Dodgers declined it as they had secured a lucrative contract with Henry Ford one of of the most influential figures in Automotive History to work with the Ford Motor Company the contract had come at the best time for both the Dodger brothers and Henry Ford Ford had been on his third attempt to launch an automobile Manufacturing Company he was desperate to make his newly formed Ford Motor Company a success and the Dodger Brothers needed to succeed in the automotive World their achievement with old's motor vehicle company is What attracted the attention of
the automotive giant he was to bring on a liable parts supplier and the Dodger brothers were available but knowing Ford's history then Horus and JN needed to ensure that they weren't risking their company if Henry failed yet again thus Jon thought of striking a deal in the contract the Dodge Brothers stated they would get paid $10,000 in cash within 5 days of a provided invoice in addition they would own 10% of the Ford company and in the event it declared bankruptcy the brothers would obtain All rights to it in exchange the Dodge boys would borrow
$75,000 for additional equipment to bolster production so they could accomplish Ford's task excepting Henry Ford's contract was a pivotal decision that shaped their legacy as for Ford the Dodge Brothers were a vital part of his success peak of success despite their success with Ford the Dodges were ambitious they were at the peak of their success and they felt they could do more in 1914 the Dodge Brothers decided that it was time to strike out on the deal with Ford and go their separate way they wanted to establish a company under their own name Dodge Brothers
company with the expertise they now had and the deep understanding of the industry the brothers were confident that they could produce vehicles that were more durable reliable and technologically advanced than anything on the market possible ones that would rival Fords launching a new Automotive brand was not the small feat they thought the brothers had to invest heavily in their company by pouring in funds and resources to ensure their cars would be reliable durable and affordable 4 months later they introduced their first car the Dodge Model 30 to the public and it became an instant hit
with a robust steel frame a 35 horsepower engine and an all steel body the model 30 was no doubt a significant upgrade over the wooden frame cars of the time it was reliable durable and affordable just what the brothers had been going for and what the average American needed they even made the cars traits their advertising phrase Dodge Brothers reliable dependable sound with their first car they immediately set new standards in the industry they were at the peak of their success and their reputation for Quality quickly spread by 1916 their company had gotten the other
companies out of the game and was the second largest car manufacturer in the United States second only to Ford what they had achieved with so little time was something many had only only dreamt of the Dodge Brothers company was on a meteoric rise with factories expanding and orders flooding in from across the country they were at the top of the automotive World by the time World War I was approaching the Dodge Brothers had many vehicles including ambulances and motor trucks because of their car's reputation toughness and dependability their vehicles were chosen by the US military
the brothers supplied thousands of cars and trucks to the military to support the war effort further cementing their reputation as producers of highquality durable vehicles and also proving their engineering prowess on the battlefield though they were successful Jon and Horus Dodge were humble and fiercely loyal to their employees they were famous for treating their workers well with the highest wages in the industry at the time it was this kind of loyalty that transferred over to their customers as they always sought to better their vehicles for the average American who just wanted a car but with
their growing company came new stresses in overseeing such a huge Empire the Dodge Brothers were Hands-On men with little time to rest or recreate their tireless work ethic though admirable eventually took a toll on their health tragedy strikes with little time to rest and have a social life the Dodge Brothers became hard drinkers not even the thought of their wives and children waiting for them at home was enough to convince them to quit their addiction was so bad that one time one brother was involved in a bar fight that made the local newspapers headlines enraged
and ashamed he even threatened to end the paper's owner for running the article the other brother pummeled a man into unconsciousness for making fun of him when he couldn't start his hand crank Detroit's High Society shunned them and the Gross Point Country Club refused them membership just as the Dodge Brothers were reaching the Pinnacle of their success tragedy struck the year 1920 was an awful one for the Dodge Brothers company it was the year that the influenza epidemic that swept across the globe claimed millions of lives and among its victims were JN and Horus Dodge
the epidemic had found their immune system not strong enough to fight through while attending the national automobile show in New York City Horus contracted it and soon became critically ill as loyal as they were to each other Jon stayed with him the entire time and as one might expect also became sick the illness took a toll on him and he contracted pneumonia at that time Horus was starting to get better after a brief struggle with it Jon passed away on January 14th 1920 at the age of 55 his death shocked the industry leaving many to
wonder how the Dodge Brothers company would continue without his leadership as he was the one who ran the company the loss was a devastating blow to Horus who was not only grieving his brother but also had to manage the weight of the business on his own something he had never imagined having to do on his own unfortunately Horus Dodge's Health also started deteriorating again weakened by the epidemic and the strain of losing his brother Horus succumbed to complications from the flu just several months later on December 10th 1920 he was 52 at that time the
brothers had proved to stick together not just until The Bitter End but past it both were buried in the Dodge melum at Detroit's woodw Cemetery the deaths of John and Horus Dodge sent shock waves through the automotive world the brothers who had built an Empire from the ground up were gone leaving behind a thriving company and an industry that would never forget their contributions but despite their untimely deaths the Dodge Brothers Motor Company continued to thrive it proved to be no orphan and in 1928 the company was acquired by Chrysler ensuring that the Dodge name
would remain on omous with quality and Innovation for decades to come the Dodge Legacy today today Dodge has lived on the pioneering Spirit carried by John and Horus Dodge with unparalleled Vision pursuing Perfection relentlessly etched into every model that has ever trotten the Earthly crust iconics like the Dodge Charger Dodge Challenger and Dodge Durango have achieved Benchmark status power prowess and form as models that were considered benchmarks for just about everything standing evidence of their commitments to building Hardy reliable transports to meet the daily challenges of human life while their lives were tragically cut short
the contribution of the Dodge Brothers to automobile manufacturing was immeasurably huge it created a platform for the modern world regarding mass production and Precision Engineering their Spirit of innovation would go forward in each car truck and suv carrying the family name from humble beginnings John and Horus Dodge personified the American dream parlaying hard hard work and bright ideas into one of the most successful companies of its time upon their deaths the Dodge brand continued to grow under new leadership until eventually being absorbed into Chrysler guaranteeing the brother's Legacy for decades to come Dodge remains a
symbol of American Ingenuity and Automotive Excellence A fitting Tribute to The Men Who helped shape the industry two brothers one story the story of JN and Horus Dodge is one of Brilliance Innovation and profound tragedy from humble beginnings as small town machinists the Dodge Brothers Rose to become towering figures in the automotive industry revolutionizing car manufacturing with their Visionary approach and groundbreaking Innovations it was Precision Engineering that put their stamp of difference on their company pioneering All Steel bodies and hydraulic brakes a standard that the entire world would emulate to achieve massive improvements in both
safety and performance for vehicles these were not not just means of Transport they stood as a Hallmark for dependability strength and the promise of innovation for an idea that has captured consumers and competitors alike while their lives were cut short leaving many to wonder what more they might have accomplished the legacy of Jon and Horus Dodge continues to thrive from a retrospective point of view their story is a forceful reminder of what the human Spirit Can Dream innovate and Inspire as the Dodge brand continues to thrive and succeed it truly remains a testimony to the
Monumental contributions these brothers made to the automotive industry so that their contribution is never left behind now that you know about the Dodge Brothers which Dodge vehicle holds a special place in your heart whether it's a classic or a modern model drop your favorites in the comments and let's celebrate the Dodge Legacy together thank you for watching the video see you in the next one
