Fisk Tire Dealer

Reed Brothers was founded and franchised as a Dodge dealership in 1915, less than a year after the very first Dodge automobile was produced. In its early days, the dealership sold not only Dodge vehicles but also Oldsmobile, Essex, and Hudson. Beyond new car sales, Reed Brothers built a reputation as a full-service company, offering a combination of auto accessories, repairs, and maintenance. Among its many ventures, Reed Brothers also served as a distributor of Fisk Tires, manufactured in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts.

After noticing the Fisk Tire signs in several of the dealership’s old photographs, I wanted to learn more about the company behind the brand. The history of the Fisk Tire Company is somewhat obscure. It began in 1898 when Noyes W. Fisk purchased a struggling rubber manufacturing business and reestablished it under his own name, expanding into the growing automobile tire industry. By 1904, Fisk Tires were being used by most of the country’s major automobile manufacturers.

Like many companies, Fisk faced financial challenges during the Great Depression. Yet, despite those difficult times, the company persevered. In 1930, Fisk introduced the Safti-Flight tire, a product that earned widespread acclaim and became one of its most successful innovations.

This photo was taken by Lewis Reed across from Reed Brothers Dodge, circa 1915. Old St Mary’s Church is in the background.

Original 1915 Rockville Garage located at the intersection of Veirs Mill Road and Rockville Pike. The small sign on the right side of the Garage advertises Gasoline, Fisk Tires and Supplies.

1918 two story addition to the original shop and the signage for Firestone Tires that replaced the Fisk brand that was sold there from circa 1915-1918.

Below is an ad from the September 18, 1915 edition of Automobile Topics that gives you an idea of the cost of tires at the time, which was considerable.