OT - Following an early Ford Dealership

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2014: OT - Following an early Ford Dealership
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen on Monday, November 17, 2014 - 10:54 pm:

We've followed individual early Ford owners through newspaper clips, now, an early Ford dealer.

Otto and Edward Conrad became a large Ford dealer by the time the Model T was introduced. However, Conrad Brothers sold other products at the turn of the last century.

In 1900, Conrad Brothers of Scranton PA sold, among other things, Pierce bicycles:



1903, Conrad Brothers are now handling Pierce Automobiles:


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen on Monday, November 17, 2014 - 11:25 pm:

Another Conrad Bros. Pierce Arrow ad claims the "largest shipment of high-grade automobiles ever received" in Scranton:


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen on Monday, November 17, 2014 - 11:46 pm:

Between 1904 and 1906 I find no other mention of Conrad Bros. selling automobiles. Then, in April, 1906:



A few days later, a Ford Model K demonstration car arrives at Conrad Bros:





Conrad Brothers-Ford advertisement:


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - 09:14 am:

Finishing out 1906.

The first Ford Runabout (Model N) arrives at the dealership, August 1906:



By early September, another carload of Fords, and two new owners, one six cylinder and one four cylinder (K and N). The Model N demonstrator has over 1,000 miles on:



A week later, another train car load of Fords and a Model K sale:



And by year end it sounds as though the factory is catching up with the demand for cars. A December ad announces the new (improved) models for 1907:



Next up, 1907, a big year for Ford Motor Company and it's agents.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - 10:15 am:

I just happened to search "Conrad Brothers" and found a 2013 thread started by Jay showing a 1915 photo of the dealership along with additional info:

http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/331880/377456.html?1375147356



William V. Added additional info about Conrad Bros. on the thread.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - 04:22 pm:

Back to 1907.......

The dealership announces the largest automobile order ever placed for Scranton PA, and a sizable order for any dealer at the time, in my opinion.



Below, a chart showing the gross commission the dealership would receive from the sale of this order based on the Ford board of directors approved commission schedule for 1907:


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rob Heyen on Tuesday, November 18, 2014 - 08:29 pm:

Conrad Brothers begin to move a lot of Fords. I wish I had a photo of the next scene:





Arrivals of Fords become more frequent. Conrad Bros. also pick up the Reo dealership:


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