Engineers M. S. Loomis and C. Wilson in Curved-Dash Oldsmobile outside Olds Motor Works Factory, Detroit, Michigan, 1901

Summary

Shortly after the company moved to Detroit, a fire destroyed the Olds Motor Works factory in 1901. Several prototype automobiles were lost and only the Curved Dash survived. Left with no other options, Olds put the small, inexpensive car into production. The little runabout became the bestselling car in the United States, and that fire became the happiest of accidents.

Shortly after the company moved to Detroit, a fire destroyed the Olds Motor Works factory in 1901. Several prototype automobiles were lost and only the Curved Dash survived. Left with no other options, Olds put the small, inexpensive car into production. The little runabout became the bestselling car in the United States, and that fire became the happiest of accidents.

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

1901

 On Exhibit

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

84.1.1671.P.B.13064

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8.25 in

Width: 10 in

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