Roy D. Chapin: The Man Behind the Hudson Motor Car Company

by J. C. Long, Charles K. Hyde (Introduction)

Overview

Now back in print, this is the only biography devoted to the life and career of Roy D. Chapin—one of the foremost figures in the history of Detroit's independent automotive industry.

"John Cuthbert Long’s Roy D. Chapin is a thorough and detailed biography of a remarkable, but little-known Detroit automobile industry pioneer. Historians should include Roy Dikeman Chapin (February 23, 1880–February 16, 1936) in any listing of significant American auto industry pioneers, along with the Duryea brothers, Ransom E. Olds, Henry Leland, Henry Ford, William C. Durant, and the Dodge brothers. Outside the cloister of automotive historians, Roy Chapin is an unknown. This is in part because no company or car bore his name. Unlike many contemporary auto pioneers, Roy Chapin was a modest man who did not promote himself. Even Long’s superb biography of Chapin is not well-known because it was privately printed in 1945 with a small press run. In reprinting this volume, Wayne State University Press is making an important contribution to automotive history."
—From the introduction by Charles K. Hyde, Department of History, Wayne State University

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814331842
Publisher:	Wayne State University Press
Publication date:	07/20/2004
Series:	Great Lakes Books Series
Pages:	360
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

J. C. Long published fourteen books between 1923 and 1968, nine of them biographies. Also during his lifetime, Long managed the education department of the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce, served on the editorial staff of the New Yorker, and was the manager of publications for Bethlehem Steel Company.

Table of Contents

	List of Illustrations	ix
	Foreword	xiii
	Introduction	xv
	Preface to the 1945 Edition	xix
I.	Blazing the Trails of Tomorrow	1
II.	A Grass-Roots Boyhood	9
III.	University Days	19
IV.	Detroit-to-New York Pioneer Tour	27
V.	Revolt at Oldsmobile	35
VI.	Launching His First Company	47
VII.	Out of Debt and on Their Way	59
VIII.	Chalmers-Detroit, and Beginnings of Hudson	67
IX.	Forecasting Future Trends	77
X.	On Their Own at Last	89
XI.	A Millionaire at Thirty	97
XII.	Wednesday in Georgia	117
XIII.	Hudson's Growing Pains	127
XIV.	With Pershing on the Border	139
XV.	Pioneer in Motor Transport	145
XVI.	Running America's Road Traffic	155
XVII.	Wartime Washington	167
XVIII.	Birth of the Essex	173
XIX.	America Welcomes the Closed Car	183
XX.	Financial Climax	191
XXI.	New Homes for Old	199
XXII.	Leader of the Automobile Industry	205
XXIII.	End of an Era	219
XXIV.	Secretary of Commerce	229
XXV.	Again at the Hudson Wheel	245
XXVI.	Building for Tomorrow	255

What People are Saying About This

a Publication of the Society of Automotive Histori Z Taylor Vinson of the Automotive History Review

A biography of Roy D. Chapin, one of the most significant figures in the first third-century of the American automobile, is long overdue. I salute the decision to publish Roy D. Chapin: The Man behind the Hudson Motor Car Company."

Editorial Reviews

Hudson Motor Company's talented and charismatic founder Roy D. Chapin died before his historical significance was recognized, relegating him to undeserved obscurity. Fortunately J. C. Long, who knew Chapin well, wrote a privately printed biography in 1945. The reissue of this long unavailable book is good news for automotive historians."

manager of DaimlerChrysler’s Walter P. Chrysler Museum - Barry Dressel

A biography of Roy D. Chapin, one of the most significant figures in the first third-century of the American automobile, is long overdue. I salute the decision to publish Roy D. Chapin: The Man behind the Hudson Motor Car Company."--Z Taylor Vinson "editor of the Automotive History Review, a publication of the Society of Automotive Historians "

Hudson Motor Company's talented and charismatic founder Roy D. Chapin died before his historical significance was recognized, relegating him to undeserved obscurity. Fortunately J. C. Long, who knew Chapin well, wrote a privately printed biography in 1945. The reissue of this long unavailable book is good news for automotive historians."--Barry Dressel "manager of DaimlerChrysler's Walter P. Chrysler Museum "

One of America's greatest auto pioneers is honored in this polished and ever so readable biography. This book is essential to automotive historians and Hudson lovers as food and shelter!"--Old Autos

Rated three (out of four stars): Worth reading. We believe Hudson fans will eagerly assign a fourth star [for an] Absolute Must rating."--Hemmings Classic Cars

Since 1945 J. C. Long's biography of Roy Chapin has been an undiscovered gem, known primarily to the few hundred people to whom Chapin's widow Inez distributed the original printing. Now this superb recounting of the story of a key auto pioneer is available to a wide audience. Anyone interested in the history of the twentieth century's most influential industry will be grateful."--Robert Casey "John and Horace Dodge Curator of Transportation at The Henry Ford "

This is an excellent book for amateurs, enthusiasts, or introductory students beginning their study of historical archaeology. This is the first introductory text that fully encapsulates the excitement and enthusiasm many feel in asking questions of the unknown, shedding light on the forgotten, and sharing histories with others to ignite the intrigue felt about the past."--Journal of the Society for Industrial Archeology

From the Publisher

A biography of Roy D. Chapin, one of the most significant figures in the first third-century of the American automobile, is long overdue. I salute the decision to publish Roy D. Chapin: The Man behind the Hudson Motor Car Company."

editor of the Automotive History Review, a publication of the Society of Automotive Historians - Z Taylor Vinson