Becoming the Motor City: a Timeline of Detroit's Auto Industry PDF Download

Author: Paul Vachon
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781681063232
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description
Well over a century ago, a cadre of self-trained mechanics, machinists, and other tradesmen started tinkering in the small, cramped machine shops near downtown Detroit. Despite their varied technical ideas, professional ambitions, and personal temperaments, they worked towards a common goal: to revolutionize personal transportation by capitalizing on the recently developed internal combustion engine.The intercession of Providence determined that the likes of Henry Ford, Ransom Olds, John and Horace Dodge, and others called the same city home. None of them "invented" the automobile, but their shared imagination, grit, and persistence were responsible for giving birth to an industry arguably responsible for the most profound changes in Twentieth Century American life.Their descendants maintained their legacy, and in so doing created the middle class, equipped the Arsenal of Democracy with the hardware needed for the Allied victory over the Axis, and set in motion the postwar suburban boom.Modern day Detroit is inseparable from its signature industry and still today continues to lead the world in charting the future of mobility. Detroit Automotive History: An Illustrated Timeline shares insights about how the industry and the city grew, prospered, and ultimately suffered together. Detroit author and historian Paul Vachon revisits the timeline format in this new exploration into the depths of Detroit's automotive history. Through photos, stories, and history, he paints a vivid picture of the city's past.

Author: Alan Naldrett
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN: 9781099418075
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 127

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Book Description
Detroit had a lot of competition to become THE Motor City. Ten years prior, Cleveland would undoubtedly have won the crown, with its many car and car parts makers in the city.Even before then, the East Coast of the U.S. were the first states with car companies--including steam and electric cars. Detroit had the first auto show and many other factors-Ransom Olds, Henry Ford, and the Milwaukee Junction-that helped it become the Motor City.

Author: Robert Tata
Publisher: Author House
ISBN: 148177073X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 80

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Book Description
The author, a licensed Professional Engineer, has family roots in the Detroit area and has also been employed in an engineering capacity by all Big Three automakers; GM, Ford, & Chrysler. He has often wondered how the auto industry got its beginning in such a place as Detroit, Michigan, way off the beaten path, in an isolated glove-shaped piece of land thrust up between two lakes, where weather can be severe. Ohio and Indiana, who were also very active in the creation of the auto industry, are in the same general area of the country as Michigan and share the same climate. Why would anyone favor this three state area? One would think that other parts of the country would be more conducive to the formation of such an important part of the history of this nation. After all, Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana were not members of the original 13 states and therefore have to be considered less developed territories than the original thirteen states around the turn of the 19th century when the American Gasoline-powered automobile was invented. Read how the author has searched for the answers to these somewhat perplexing questions on why Detroit became the Motor City.

Author: Robert G. Szudarek
Publisher: Frost Lake Press
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 392

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Book Description
This book traces the history of the automobile industry through profiles of over 125 automobile manufacturers from Detroit and surrounding suburbs. Information on company founders, key personnel, car specifications, and more, help tell the story of the American automobile industry. Over 500 photographs of automobiles, factories, company logos, and personnel, offer readers further insight into the industry's evolution over the last 100 years. Interesting anecdotes on the first gasoline stations, selling cars, roads, steering wheel placement, and more are also included.

Author: Etienne Psaila
Publisher: Independently Published
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Discover the captivating story of Detroit, the city that revolutionized the automotive world and became the beating heart of the global car industry. "Motor City Magic: Detroit's Automotive Legacy" takes you on an extraordinary journey through the rise, challenges, and triumphs of the Motor City and its iconic automakers. From the pioneering innovations of Henry Ford and the Dodge brothers to the bold designs of the 1950s and the resilience shown during the economic struggles of the 21st century, this book chronicles the rich history and enduring spirit of Detroit. Explore the tales behind legendary brands like Cadillac and Buick, and delve into the modern era of electric vehicles and cutting-edge technology. Featuring stunning photographs and insightful narratives, "Motor City Magic" captures the essence of Detroit's impact on car culture and its unyielding drive for innovation. Whether you're an automotive enthusiast, a history buff, or simply curious about the city that put the world on wheels, this book is a must-read. Join us as we celebrate the legacy of Detroit, where the hum of engines echoes with the promise of progress and the magic of motorcars continues to inspire.

Author: Robert Szudarek
Publisher: SAE International
ISBN: 0768071666
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 292

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Book Description
This book looks at the first century of the Detroit Auto Show, the largest auto show in the world for many years. From the first show at the Detroit Light Guard Armory in 1899 to the January 1999 show at Cobo Hall, this fascinating book details the show's evolution over 100 years, and how it became the industry's most prominent event. The First Century of the Detroit Auto Show introduces pioneers such as William Metzger, who was instrumental in organizing the first show and played a prominent role in many shows of the early 1900s. Each year's show is covered in a chapter which includes information on the major players of the show, products featured, size, exhibitors, decor, opening ceremonies, admission fares, and entertainment. The book features over 100 historical and nostalgic photos to bring the reader in touch with the culture of the automotive industry and society at the time. A captivating account of the history of the industry's showcase event, this book belongs on the bookshelves of every automotive historian, enthusiast, and engineer.

Author: Martin Derrick
Publisher: PRC Publishing
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 452

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Book Description
The best American dream-mobiles came from Detroit, "Motor City," USA. As you pore through superb illustrations of the greatest autos that ever rolled off the production line, from the Model-T to today's icons, you'll also get an overview of the industry's history, birth, growth, and present-day position. A chapter on each decade, starting at day one and projecting into a fantastic future, shows the changing design and magnificence of these classic autos. "Portrays the full breadth of the auto industry.""--Publishers Weekly."

Author: David Lee Poremba
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 9780738524351
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 164

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Book Description
On July 24, 1701, Antoine de La Mothe Cadillac stood in the heart of the wilderness on a bluff overlooking the Detroit River and claimed this frontier in the name of Louis XIV; thus began the story of Detroit, a city marked by pioneering spirits, industrial acumen, and uncommon durability. Over the course of its 300-year history, Detroit has been sculpted into a city unique in the American experience by its extraordinary mixture of diverse cultures: American Indian, French, British, American colonial, and a variety of immigrant newcomers. Detroit: A Motor City History documents the major events that shaped this once-small French fur-trading outpost across three centuries of conflict and prosperity. Through informative text and a variety of imagery, readers experience firsthand the struggles of the nascent village against raiding Indian tribes and the incessant political and military tug of war between the colonial French and English, and then American interests. Like many other major cities across the United States, Detroit played a pivotal role in establishing the country's economic and industrial power in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, serving as a center for its well-known civilian and military mass-production resources. This visual history provides insight into Detroit's rapid evolution from a hamlet into a metropolis against a backdrop of important community and national affairs: the decimating fire of 1805, the War of 1812, the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, and both world wars.

Author: Darwyn H. Lumley
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 0786454148
Category : Transportation
Languages : en
Pages : 203

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Book Description
This history tells the relatively unknown story of how the Detroit automobile industry played a major role in the 1933 banking crisis and the subsequent New Deal reforms that drastically changed the financial industry. Spurred by failed decision making and conflicts of interest by automobile industry leaders, Detroit banks experienced a critical emergency, precipitating the federal closure of banks on March 4, 1933, the first in a series of actions by which the federal government acquired power over economics previously held by states and private industrial and financial interests.

Author: Alan Naldrett
Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
ISBN: 1625856490
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 144

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Book Description
Among more than two hundred auto companies that tried their luck in the Motor City, just three remain: Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. But many of those lost to history have colorful stories worth telling. For instance, J.J. Cole forgot to put brakes in his new auto, so on the first test run, he had to drive it in circles until it ran out of gas. Brothers John and Horace Dodge often trashed saloons during wild evenings but used their great personal wealth to pay for the damage the next day (if they could remember where they had been). David D. Buick went from being the founder of his own leading auto company to working the information desk at the Detroit Board of Trade. Author Alan Naldrett explores these and more tales of automakers who ultimately failed but shaped the industry and designs putting wheels on the road today.