Dedication of the Duesenberg Motor Company Sign

By George Maley

Originally published in the July-August 2014 Hoosier Horn

On April 23, 2014, a brilliant sunny day, members of the newly-formed Indiana Automotive Historical Society (IAHS) helped dedicate the newly restored Duesenberg Motors Company sign on the original factory building that made Duesenberg automobiles from 1921 to 1937. Built in 1920 on seventeen acres of land in the 1500 block of West Washington Street in Indianapolis, the structure is presently owned by IndyGo,the local bus company.

The first Duesenberg automobile designed by Fred Duesenberg, the Model A, had a high performance engine that developed ninety horsepower and was made from 1921 through 1926. A transitional model, called the Model X, was made just for one year before the mighty Duesenberg J debuted at the Automobile Salon at the Commodore Hotel in October 1928 in New York City. All of these models in chassis form were built in this factory. In August 1937 of the AVCO Corporation, the holding company for all of E.L. Cord’s interests, including the Duesenberg Company, ceased operations. The factory building was closed and then sold in October 1937 to the Marmon Harrington Company. Specializing in manufacturing four wheel drive truck components, the company built trucks for the military during World War II, at its peak employing nearly 500 people.

Andy Wolf, President of the Indiana Automotive Historical Society, as well as the Indiana Region of the CCCA, spearheaded the effort to have the Duesenberg sign restored to its original appearance. Working with IndyGo President Mike Terry, this was completed in late 2013. The formal dedication was postponed until the weather was cooperative. Three Duesenbergs graced the grassy area in front of the building. The first was a 1925 Model A four- door phaeton graciously offered by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum. The second was a beautifully restored 1933 Model J-399 convertible sedan by Murphy, driven to the event by Charles Ming, its proud owner. The third example was a very original 1932 Model J 498X Beverley sedan by Murphy owned by Chris MacAllister.

The Indiana Automotive Historical Society is an affinity group of Indiana Landmarks, of which Marsh Davis is the President. At 12:00 pm with Channel 8 TV on hand, Andy Wolf and Mike Terry opened the dedication by thanking Indiana Landmarks for its efforts in the initiation of the revitalized sign. Marsh Davis then told the group of 100 bystanders about Indiana Landmarks and the efforts to preserve historical buildings for the next generation. Davis then introduced George Maley, a board member of IAHS who offered a short history of the building and the Duesenberg brothers, Fred and August. The legacy of these men will be known for many years to come thanks to the work of Indiana Landmarks and the IAHS.

Captions

1. Opposite page: IAHS President Andy Wolf addresses the crowd on a sunny April day.

2. George Maley tells the group the thrilling life stories of the Duesenberg Brothers.

3. The IAHS posing at the Duesenberg plant.

4. A pair of Murphy-bodied Duesenbergs.

5. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum’s 1925 Duesenberg Model A four-door phaeton.