by "Kiltedpadre" (kiltedpadre)
Published 04/14/2017 at 12:50

Tags: Old dealer memorabilia
STARS: 7

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

This is a printing block that was used in print advertisements for a dealership that my great grandfather started. I believe this is meant to represent a 1924 Dodge Brother’s touring car. Though it could be anywhere between 1923-1926. It’s a bit old for even my grandfather to remember and it has just been sitting in a box with a bunch of other old items he has from the dealership.

I already have several other items: pens, thermometers, little paper fans they used to give out at local parades, and a few license plate frames. Now all I need is the proper car to put the license plate onto. Well, that’ll have to wait until I actually have a garage long enough to fit a car from the 50's or early 60's since that’s what I’m most interested in owning.

A little history. The business actually started in the late 1800's as a blacksmith’s shop and became Fox Motor and Machine in 1910. It started as a Dodge Brother’s dealership and later expanded into Desoto and Chrysler.

This is the dealership itself as it stood in the late 1960's according to my grandfather. The dealership itself is still there after 117 years doing used car sales and service.

Replies (5)

"facw" (facw)
04/14/2017 at 13:01, STARS: 1

The dealership story reminds me a bit of Ithaca’s Pritchard Dodge, which started as a horse drawn carriage seller in the 19th century, became an early Dodge dealer and lived until Chrysler’s 2011 bankruptcy when their franchise was cancelled. They became a used car dealer, and also tried, without much success as far as I can tell, to sell the G-Wiz.

"AfromanGTO" (afromangto)
04/14/2017 at 13:43, STARS: 2

Could you use that printing block to make new prints? It would be kind of cool to use it for a few more times.

"Kiltedpadre" (kiltedpadre)
04/14/2017 at 13:43, STARS: 0

Fairly similar, the death of this dealership as a new car dealer came about because of the interstate highway system. The original location is on what used to be one of the major north/south state routes in this area. When the interstate was built nearby Chrysler offered to pay for the construction of a new dealership if they purchased a parcel of land closer to the proposed route of the new highway. My great grandfather hated the idea of leaving his location downtown. The parcel of land that they suggested he buy is still home to a Chevy dealer to this day.

"Kiltedpadre" (kiltedpadre)
04/14/2017 at 13:55, STARS: 2

I actually suggested something like trying that to my grandfather. He also has one from later that was from an ad for the Desoto Airflow. He was the “technical expert” on record for the National Desoto Club for prewar Desoto’s and specialized in the Airflow line. He had some manuals that he was going to send to the person that was going to take over the position from him, and I suggested we try and use his plate to print a picture of the airflow on the letter he is going to write to go with it. If we try it I’ll update how it goes.

"AfromanGTO" (afromangto)
04/14/2017 at 14:24, STARS: 0

Yes, please do!