1905
May 20: Spicer Universal Joint Manufacturing Company is incorporated in the state of New Jersey. 

1908
The Thomas Flyer wins the “Round the World Race.” The Flyer is manufactured with parts whose companies would eventually join the Dana family: Salisbury, Brown-Lipe, Parish and the General Drop Forge company.

1909
November 30: Spicer Universal Joint Manufacturing Company changes its name to Spicer Manufacturing Company.

1911
December 11: Mechanical expert Charles E. Johnson and sales administrator Paul R. Beardsley each deposited $1,000 in the National Lumberman's Bank of Muskegon, Michigan as the initial working capital for their new firm, the Piston Ring Company - later renamed Sealed Power Corporation (In 1997 Dana Holding Corporation acquired the Sealed Power Division of SPX Corporation; presently known as Perfect Circle).

1914
Charles Dana, a 33-year old attorney from New York City, NY,  joins Spicer  Manufacturing Company.

1915
All Spicer Manufacturing Company operations move to a new complex located in South Plainfield, N.J.

1916
Charles Dana becomes president and treasurer.

1917
Clarence Spicer joins a group of engineers and industry leaders summoned to Washington D.C. to design the Class B or “Liberty” Truck. The Liberty Truck was a rugged, World War I military truck that used standardized, interchangeable components.

1919
Spicer Manufacturing Company acquires Parish Pressed Steel Company and Salisbury Axle Company. Two key components are added to Spicer’s product mix due to the acquisitions: automobile frames are added as a result of the Parish acquisition, and axles as a result of the Salisbury acquisition.

1920
February 3: Spicer Manufacturing Company offers workers the opportunity to purchase preferred stock.

1922
April 27: Spicer Manufacturing Company is first listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

1924
Clarence Spicer establishes a student engineering training course to provide practical shop training to new hires. 

Echlin, Inc. is founded in San Francisco, Calif., by Jack and Earl Echlin.  (In 1998, Echlin is acquired by Dana Holding Corporation – the largest-ever merger of automotive suppliers.)

1925
In February, Spicer Manufacturing Company begins giving cash awards to workers whose suggestions are implemented.

1927
May 20: Charles Lindbergh crosses the Atlantic in the Spirit of St. Louis, a monoplane equipped with Victor gaskets.  (In 1966 Victor Gasket Manufacturing Company is acquired by Dana Holding Corporation.)

1928
Reinz patents a new cylinder head gasket called the Reinz Special IT. (In 1993 the Reinz-Dichtungs GmbH and Hugo Reinz GmbH are acquired by Dana Corporation.)

Spicer Manufacturing Company relocates its headquarters to Toledo, Ohio.

1929
Spicer Manufacturing Company expands into Canada, acquiring part of Hayes Wheels and Forgings, Ltd. of Canada, and adding transmissions and clutches to its product mix with the acquisition of the Brown-Lipe Gear Company, Syracuse, N.Y.

Click here to continue reading the timeline from 1930 through early '70s.

Click here to return to the Timeline Page.

Click here to return to the Centennial Home Page.