Reed Brothers Memorabilia

Dealers have always produced a wide array of promotional giveaways. These items are rare finds, because most get thrown away when the doors are closed. Some of the more difficult collectibles to obtain are awards given to the salespeople for outstanding sales performance, including neckties, cuff links, pen and pencil sets, and award plaques. Unique items were often given to salesmen to promote a new model being released that year. Each year at new car introduction, dealers created an entirely new set of collectibles. A few items were provided by the factory to promote a theme for the new models, but most of the others were created uniquely by the dealer.

Most of the memorabilia in this special post belonged to Marvin Shultz, Reed Brothers longest tenured employee. Marvin worked for 43 of the company’s 97 years of existence before retiring in 1984 as a new car salesman. A few others are from my own personal collection.

I would like to express my thanks to the Shultz family for sending me these mementos!

Dodge emblem neckties

1970s Dodge emblem neckties. Courtesy the Shultz family

Reed Brothers Salesmen Meeting 1970

Sales Meeting left to right: Dorsey Howes (Sales Manager), Dale Reed (Salesman), Marvin Shultz (Salesman), Lee Gartner (President). In the 1970s, the sales staff wore red blazers with the Dodge emblem on the pocket. Note the neckties.

Reed Brothers Quaker State pen

1970s Reed Brothers Dodge Service Department Pen – Quaker State Motor Oil. Courtesy the Shultz family.

Reed Brothers Dodge license plate

Reed Brothers Dodge license plate. J. Gartner collection

Reed Brothers Dodge license plate

Reed Brothers Dodge license plate. J. Gartner collection

Reed Brothers Automotive license plate

Reed Brothers Automotive license plate. J. Gartner collection

Reed Brothers license plate frame

Reed Brothers license plate frame. J. Gartner collection

Reed Brothers Dodge Polo Shirt

Reed Brothers Dodge Polo Shirt with original logo. J. Gartner collection

Reed Brothers Dodge Hat

Reed Brothers Dodge Hat. J. Gartner collection

Reed Brothers Memorabilia

Reed Brothers Dodge T-Shirt. J. Gartner collection

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About Reed Brothers

I am a co-owner of the former Reed Brothers Dodge in Rockville, Maryland. Lewis Reed, the founder of Reed Brothers Dodge was my grandfather. We were a family-owned and operated car dealership in Rockville for almost a century. I served in the United States Air Force for 30 years before retiring in the top enlisted grade of Chief Master Sergeant in July 2006. In 2016, I received the Arthur M. Wagman Award for Historic Preservation Communication from Peerless Rockville for documenting the history of Reed Brothers Dodge in both blog and book format. This distinguished honor recognizes outstanding achievement by writers, educators, and historians whose work has heightened public awareness of Rockville’s architectural and cultural heritage, growth and development.

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