Letterhead of the Detroit Automobile Company, 1899-1901

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Artifact Overview

Henry Ford's first company, the Detroit Automobile Company, was formed in July 1899. Aside from a few photographs, newspaper clippings, and letterhead paper, nothing remains of it. Henry served as Mechanical Superintendent and Clarence A. Black was president. The company's vehicles were of marginal quality, and it built no more than 20 trucks and cars before dissolving in January 1901.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

1899-1901

Creators

Collection Title

Sidney Olson Papers

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

P.D.354.A

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8.125 in
Width: 10 in

Inscriptions

Text reads from top down: DETROIT AUTOMOBILE COMPANY / OFFICERS: / PRESIDENT, CLARENCE A. BLACK. TREASURER, WILLIAM H. MURPHY. / VICE-PRESIDENT, ALBERT E.F. WHITE. SECRETARY, FRANK R. ALDERMAN. / MECHANICAL SUPERINTENTENT, HENRY FORD. / DIRECTORS: / ACLARENCE A. BLACK. WILLIAM H. MURPHY. FRANK W. EDDY. / ALBERT E.F. WHITE. FRANK R. ALDERMAN. LEM. W. BOWEN. / HENRY FORD. / COR. CASS AVENUE AND M.C.R.R., / DETROIT, MICHIGAN, U.S.A.
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