Dodge Brothers Emblem
Dodge Brothers logo used from 1914 to 1927
The original Dodge was a circle, with two interlocking triangles forming a six-pointed star in the middle; an interlocked “DB” was at the center of the star, and the words “Dodge Brothers Motor Vehicles” encircled the outside edge. Although the “Brothers” was dropped from the name for trucks in 1929 and cars in 1930, the DB star remained in the cars until the 1939 models were introduced.
What’s the meaning behind the Dodge Brothers emblem?
Unfortunately, John and Horace Dodge died before they publicly told anyone how they arrived at this symbol. If any family members knew the reasons behind this, nothing was ever revealed or discovered. Apparently no one thought to ask them!
Among the possibilities:
1. These are two interlocking Greek letter “deltas” or “D s” for the two Dodge brothers
2. A medieval symbol of mysticism and the joining of mind and body, also possibly the joining of two brothers, who were known to be personally very close, in this business venture.
3. An abstraction of the square and compass of the Freemasons.
4. Nothing more or less than a badge with six pointed star similar to those used for law-enforcement officer’s badges, some outlined with triangles. Sheriff, Marshall, and police badges frequently were and are six pointed stars. The old-west Dodge City badge had six points. Horace Dodge was said to enjoy accompanying local law-enforcement officers on their runs.
5. There are other instances of a company ‘logo” selected for no particular deep meaning other than that it suited the fancy of those who selected it. The Chevrolet “bow-tie” is a classic example, as it was copied from the wall paper of a hotel room.
6. At the time the emblem was selected (most likely 1912-1914) it’s likely that the Dodge brothers were unaware of its use in Judaism. In fact, at this time, that symbol was not used universally in this context.
Rumors that are wrong include:
1. They chose the “Star of David” as a Jewish symbol to anger Henry Ford.
Fact: The brothers were actually friends with Ford at the time the emblem was selected. They were business partners with Ford and even were guests at Edsel Ford’s wedding.
2. They chose the “Star of David” as a Jewish symbol to appease Jewish bankers who financed the business.
Fact: There were no outside investors.
3. The Dodge Brothers were Jewish
Fact: They were not.
Vintage Newspaper Ads
These vintage newspaper ads from Lewis Reed’s Rockville Garage were found on NewspaperARCHIVE.com, the largest historical newspaper database online. Prior to the advent of television and radio advertising, print media was the most popular form of advertising and most car ads were black and white.
The very first advertisement below, distributed by the Oldsmobile Sales Company in the Sunday, June 29, 1919 edition of The Washington Post is the very first ad in which the Rockville Garage appeared. Dealers are listed in fine print at the bottom: note Rockville Garage, Rockville, Md, which is highlighted in yellow.
Initially, Reed Brothers sold Oldsmobile and Hudson, along with Dodge. (click on images to enlarge)
Rockville Garage – The Washington Post – Sunday, June 29, 1919, Washington, District Of Columbia
Rockville Garage – Washington Post, The – Sunday, July 11, 1920, Washington, District Of Columbia
Rockville Garage – The Washington Post, Sunday, July 04, 1920, Washington, District Of Columbia
Rockville Garage – The Washington Post Sunday, July 18, 1920, Washington, District Of Columbia
Rockville Garage – The Washington Post Sunday, August 08, 1920, Washington, District Of Columbia
Demolition Begins at Former Reed Brothers Dodge
Dealership Front
A long time landmark in Rockville is coming down. Two large backhoes started demolishing the car dealership building on Thursday, May 16, 2013 to make way for a mixed use development. When the state widened the roads in 1970, Reed Brothers Dodge relocated from its original facility at the intersection of Veirs Mill Road and Rockville Pike (now Veterans Park) to a new 26,000 square foot showroom and Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep service complex located at 15955 Frederick Road in Rockville, Maryland. (click on images to enlarge)
A business landmark in Rockville since 1915, Reed Brothers Dodge was one of the 15 dealerships in Maryland and 789 dealerships nationwide notified by Chrysler that their franchise agreement would not be renewed. During this time when many car dealers had to close their doors, Reed Brothers drew on its traditions, got creative, and managed to come up with the right stuff to survive. The signs that stood outside on Rockville Pike still said Reed Brothers Dodge, but inside, a new business was forming: Reed Brothers Automotive. Reed Brothers changed its name from Reed Brothers Dodge to Reed Brothers Automotive, and continued on as a used car dealer and repair shop until May 2012.
Service Dept being reduced to rubble
After almost a century of serving Rockville – and three years after Chrysler terminated the Reed Brothers Dodge franchise – the dealership property went to settlement on August 30, 2012. The site was sold to Bainbridge Shady Grove, LLC whose plans include constructing a $90M project to include a 6-story residential building with 417 multi-family units and a 517 space parking structure.
What’s remaining of the Showroom, Parts Dept and Body Shop
On the side looking back at the rear lot.
A couple of funny things happened to me while I was photographing the demolition… In order to get decent shots, I had to pull my car onto the neighboring CARMAX lot. Well, as soon as I got out of my car and pointed my camera at the work in progress, a CARMAX salesman approached and asked, “would you like me to appraise your car, ma’am?” When I told him who I was and what I was doing (and no, I did not wish to have my car appraised…haha!), he reached out, shook my hand and replied, “no problem ma’am, nice to meet you.” So, I went on about my business without being bugged by anymore car salesmen.
View from CARMAX lot of the Service Department being demolished
Next, I wanted to get some pictures from a different angle, so I decided to try to go (sneak?) through the front entrance — past the sign on the gate that said “NO TRESPASSING”. Eeek! I usually do not even THINK about doing those kinds of things, but I did anyway knowing it was going to be my only chance to get these photos. No sooner did I get out of my car and point my camera, a worker came over to inform me that I was on private property. That was the weirdest feeling of all. After yet another brief explanation of who I was and what I was doing he was very polite and warned me to stay clear of the heavy equipment. Yes sir!!
Front entrance “gate guards” and remains of street signage laying on the ground
Parts Department
Heavy equipment parked on side lot
It was a bittersweet moment for me to stand there and watch as workers tore down what had been my family’s livelihood for 97 years. As part of the third generation of the family, we leave behind us many good memories and a true legacy for the people in our company, the community, and our family.
It’s change.
It’s time for another chapter in Reed Brothers Dodge history.
Looking Back at 2007: Paul Green School of Rock Performs at Reed Brothers Dodge
On June 6, 2007, several hundred people were captivated as The Paul Green School of Rock performed on stage at Reed Brothers Dodge dealership in Rockville, Maryland. The the only way to describe the energy The Paul Green School of Rock brought to the stage was awesome. We couldn’t have asked for more beautiful weather or a more fun weekend to celebrate Reed Brothers Dodges’ Annual 81 Hour Memorial Weekend Summer Kickoff.
It was a great success with lively music from The Paul Green School of Rock keeping everyone on their toes and delicious barbecue courtesy of Reed Brothers feeding all the hungry visitors.
The school’s manifesto today identifies The Paul Green School of Rock Music as the “nation’s premier performance-based rock music program”. They accept students from ages 7-18 and turn them into genuine rock stars. Their goals are to help their students realize their potential as musicians, to put them on stage in front of as many people as possible, and to help foster a new generation of incredible musicians.
The band really knows how to rock, and put on a great show, and that’s what it’s all about.
One Year, 43 Posts & Thank You
Today marks the one-year anniversary of this blog. Thank you for your patronage, support, and comments over the past year. It’s been an honor to share the history of Reed Brothers Dodge – whether you’ve read our blog, followed us on Twitter, or “liked” us on Facebook. I would like to also thank those mentioned below, and many others, for their kind words and the visibility they have provided.
To help review the past year I thought I’d search around on the Internet and see what others have been saying about us.
Included among the posts on our Facebook page:
National Capital Trolley Museum shared a photo from Lewis Reed’s collection. August 6, 2012. “We’re delighted to see Reed Brothers Dodge History has become a fan of ours on Facebook. Here’s an image of the Reed Brothers themselves riding the trolley to Rockville, about the time the business was founded. Image in collection of, and hosted by, Peerless Rockville Historic Preservation Ltd.”
The Hermitage “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to see a photo of the Pigeon Bridge on Veirs Mill! My dad used to give his parents a heart attack by walking atop the span when he was a kid (he always loved heights). Thank you so much for posting! Keep ’em coming!”
Other mentions online and in print:
- Blog Search Engine posted the following review:
“Reed Brothers Dodge History 1915 – 2012 is a blog dedicated to the family who founded and continue to run the Reed Brothers Dodge, a car dealership in Rockville, Maryland.
This family-run business has been in operation for almost a century, a feat that certainly is not common in the world of business today. More than talking about cars, dealership, and business, this blog also brings history alive. The blog is run by Jeanne Gartner, the granddaughter of Lewis Reed, the founder of the business.
She continues to keep the memory of her predecessors alive by documenting the past. Reading the blog is like taking a walk down history. Not only do you get to learn about firsts in the business, but you also get to take a peek into the lives of those who have gone before us.
It’s a family memoir of sorts, but you also see a story that is worth to be read by everyone.”
- The Montgomery County Historical Society (Maryland) listed our blog under the History & Resources section of their website, entitled “Other Local History on the Web“.
- Joanna Church, Director of Collections and author of “A Fine Collection”, the official blog of the Montgomery County Historical Society (Maryland), credited an historic photo by Lewis Reed on her post Railroad “Quarterly Commutation Ticket,” 1915
- At the Beall-Dawson House February 2 – May 5, 2013, The Montgomery County Historical Society presented an exhibit, “History, Memory, Artifact, Art: Photographs of Everyday Life” which included many of Lewis Reed’s photos and original negatives.
- Maryland Automobile Dealers Association: A photograph of Lewis Reed and his Rockville Garage has been printed on page 4 of the FALL 2010 edition of MADAs “In Gear“ publication. The photo was taken in 1916 showing two of the original owners of the Rockville Garage — Lewis Reed and Griffith Warfield. The full photograph is shown again at the top of page 14 with all three of the original owners. The photo is also displayed at the top of Maryland Automobile Dealers Association’s home page.
- The website Gaithersburg: Then & Now authored by local historian Shaun Curtis placed a link to “Reed Brothers Dodge History 1915-2012″ blog under the Local Historic Sites & Information section of their website.
- Peerless Rockville has placed a link to “Reed Brothers Dodge History 1915-2012” blog under the Resources section of their website.
- Blog Catalog Review: “Interesting blog with wonderful historic photos and a well-written chronicle of a successful automotive franchise that began in Maryland in the early 20th-century and continues today. Even if you’ve never been to Rockville or Maryland, you can appreciate the photos and history, a snapshot of America.”
- The following is an excerpt taken from the Summer 2011 edition, page 6 of the Montgomery County Historical Society Newsletter. “The Sween Library was recently given a collection of 280 glass plate negatives, showing Montgomery County in the early 20th century. Lewis Reed was a well-known photographer in the county as well as owner (along with his brother Edgar) of Reed Brothers, the Rockville automobile dealership. The collection was donated to the Society by Mr. Reed’s daughter, Mary Jane Reed Gartner. There are scenes of different areas of the county, buildings, events such as the county fair, and local people. These are a welcomed addition to our growing graphics collection.”
And then there’s Twitter…
Reed Brothers received numerous re-tweets and mentions on Twitter, the most notable from the official Twitter feed of the Montgomery County Police Department on a photo of the first known picture of the entire MCPD at a Celebration on July 4, 1922 in front of Reed Brothers Dodge.
@mcpnews – We love this photo! Thank You for sharing!
@Tri-Auto – Big shoutout to @reedbrothers for posting so many cool historical things.
@BoundaryStones, WETA’s Local History Blog – Nice snippet of early auto history in #MoCo, . Like many dealerships, @reedbrothers grew out of existing garage.
@BoundaryStones, WETA’s Local History Blog – @reedbrothers Nice local history blog!
A heartfelt note to all those who have stopped in for a look and a read.
Books
Related Resources
Copyright Notice
Reed Brothers Dodge History (1915-2012) by Jeanne Gartner is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.
Reed Brothers Dodge History 1915 – 2012 
Recent Comments