The Dodge brothers, John and Horace Dodge, were main contributors to the automotive manufacturing process before Walter P. Chrysler’s heritage begun. The Dodge Brothers Motor Car Company plant was located between Joseph Campau Avenue and Conant Avenue, north of Dunn road, in Hamtramck, Michigan. In 1914, the Dodge Main plant opened its doors and during this time, hand-operated chain hoist mechanisms were used for its workers on the assembly line. The Dodge Main plant generated a positive growth of residents for the community of Hamtramck.
The Dodge Main plant was exclusively devoted to their production of only Dodge vehicles. Dodge trucks became a great leader in sales and during 1917, mass production started with the famous screen side Dodge business trucks. The total floor space of all buildings within the plant totaled about 4,584,953 feet or 105 1/4 acres. At the time, the Dodge Brothers Company remained an independent firm; however, by 1928, it became part of the Chrysler Corporation. On January 4, 1980, the Dodge Main plant ended its manufacturing process marking seventy years of memorable service.
Another very popular Chrysler manufacturing plant was the Plymouth-De Soto facility located at the corner of Mt. Elliott and Lynch road in Detroit, Michigan. This popular plant was home to Plymouth and De Soto automobiles and was recognized as one of the great manufacturing leaders within the automotive industry. The Plymouth-De Soto factory was known as the largest complete automobile assembly plant under one roof. It was the largest volume production plant of its kind and most efficient in the world. The plant offered its workers over twenty-eight acres of floor space, maintained two working assembly lines, and housed about 12,000 employees.
During World II, the Chrysler manufacturing plants employed numerous workers from all genders and cultures. Many men and women with talented backgrounds and diverse cultures came to work within the factories and most often in the foundries. Some of the cultures included were those within the Polish community, along with Italians, British and Irish immigrants, Appalachian migrants, and African Americans deep from the South.
During the early days within the Chrysler manufacturing plants, men and women on the assembly lines worked with various components which were built in different areas and then brought together for final assembly. Many parts were added as the vehicles traveled along in front of many teams of Chrysler workers. After the automobiles were assembled, seats were built up on a separate sub-assembly line and were installed as the vehicle nears completion. Hoods, batteries, windshield wipers along with side mirrors were added and lights and turn indicators were tested as the car approached the end of the assembly line. During its final completion, the inspector, would place a sticker on the windshield after carefully checking over the entire car. In the past, it was the hard working men and women, who helped put this country on wheels.
In conclusion, the early years of automotive manufacturing was made possible because of the many men and women putting the world on wheels, whereas today, many robotics and computers have taken the place of employees. Because of this new method, many of the famous automotive plants ended the manufacturing process after years of service. Today, the Dodge Main plant and many other Chrysler plants hold a special and memorable place in American families and automotive history.
A special thanks to Robert Tate, Automotive Historian and Researcher, for donating the story to the MotorCities Story of the Week program. Photographs courtesy of The National Automotive History Collection. (Bibliography: Davis W. R. Michael. Images Of Chrysler Heritage A Photographic History. Published by Arcadia Publishing,2001. Hyde K. Chariles. Factories- Dodge (Dodge Main) City of Detroit, Department of Community & Economic Development, 1980. Chrysler Corporation. A Visit to the Plymouth Motor Plant- The World's most modern automobile factory, 1953.)
Please do not republish the story and/or photographs without permission of MotorCities National Heritage Area. For further information contact Robert Tate at btate@motorcities.org. If you have a story that you would like to donate to be featured as a MotorCities Story of the Week, email Lisa Ambriez at lambriez@motorcities.org.