The Detroit Shipbuilding Co. claimed to have been established in 1852; in fact, it was created In 1899 with the acquisition and merger of Detroit companies the Dry Dock Engine Works, the Detroit Dry Dock Co., and the Detroit Sheet Metal and Brass Works. The acquisitions were by the American Shipbuilding Company of Cleveland, Ohio; it operated Detroit Shipbuilding Co. as a subsidiary.

Our interest in Detroit Shipbuilding Co. is in their steam engines, which came from the former Dry Dock Engine Works. By 1920 the steam engine business was dying off and the company never made the transition to internal combustion engines. In 1924 they made their last two steam ships, and in 1929 the company went out of business..

Information Sources

• Wikipedia has pages on American Ship Building Co. and Detroit's Dry Dock Complex, the latter including some history of the Detroit Shipbuilding Co.
• 1909 Hendrick's Commercial Registry lists Detroit Shipbuilding Co., Detroit, as suppliers of Boilers (Marine); Castings (Aluminum); Dry Dock Services; Electro Plating; Engines (Steam); Hardware (Marine) ("Kirby" brand brass hardware); Hinges (Brass); Life Rafts; Brass Padlocks; Lubricators (Air Compressors); Machinery; Machinist and Foundry services; Pipe Bends & Coils; Rails (Hand & Foot); Whistles (Steam).