by Charles K. Hyde

This book is the first scholarly study of the Dodge Brothers and their company, chronicling their lives -- from their childhood in Niles, Michigan, to their long years of learning the machinist's trade in Battle Creek, Port Huron, Detroit, and Windsor, Ontario -- and examining their influence on automotive manufacturing and marketing trends in the early part of the 20th century.  Hyde details the brother's civic contributions to Detroit, their hiring of minorities and women, and their often anonymous charitable contributions to local organizations.  Hyde puts the Dodge brother's lives and accomplishments in perspective by demonstrating that their influence continues to this day.  The most complete and accurate resource on John and Horace Dodge available, "The Dodge Brothers" uses sources that have never before been examined.  Its scholarly approach and personal tone make this book appealing for automotive historians as well as car enthusiasts and those interested in Detroit's early development.