Flints accociation with Henry Ford came about due to another money making venture he was trying to start. In 1904 while riding on a train to from Chicago, where he had been trying to pomote a method of reproduing a photograph on metal, he picked up a magazine carrying advertisment for Ford's newly formed motor car firm. On his way home he stopped in Detroit and met with Ford and his bookkeeper and secretary James Couzens. He was told he could sell cars but he would need money to finance car purchases. He telephoned his wealthy grandfather, Dutee Wilcox, who was a realtor and diamond merchant, and secured a $10,000 loan. ³

Mercury Newport March 9, 1917

Sales of cars was slow at first with only wealthy men able to buy them. This all changed when Ford came out with the Model T. The business grew, with mass production in Detroit, creating a parallel growth in Flint's dealership. In a few years he had over a score of agencies. He becaome the largest auto dealer in the world. He had 25 agencies in southern New England, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersy and Ohio. His friendship with Mr. Ford ripened over a 1/4 Century and it extended to their famalies. ³

Newport Mercury July 31, 1920

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Motor Boating
June 1912

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The Automobile Journal
October 1918

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Providence Journal May 15, 1921

In 1923 Flint Purchased the Steamship Transford. It was the only boat in the world that was used for the transportation of automobiles. Flint kept the steamer until 1929 when he sold it to the New England Steamship Company. After the sale the company continued to transport automobiles to long island sound and possibly Providence.

Newport Mercury March 15, 1929

The Bridgeport Telegram
September 1st 1923

In 1927, Ford moved production of the Thin Lizzie and started on the Model A. This shut down production for over a year. Flint's vertually one man managment operation and high life style could not handle the wait for new automobiles and he found himself $1,000,000 in debt. He also had plundged heavily into the stock market as well a operating an oil company. This all put him under close scrutiny of Ford officials who didn't share in Henry Ford's affection for Dutee. They forced him to liquidate everything he owned, surrender his Ford stock and the cash value of a $2,000,000 life insurance policy. Even after being drug through the ringer, Dutee never blamed Ford. Ford himself had to personally tell Flint the rutless steps needed. In the end Flint blamed it all on the Ford executives. ³

The Dutee W Flint oil company was not included in the liquidations. So later in 1928 he sold the company to The Standard Oil Company of New York. In exchnage he took $1,000,000 in stock as payment. Then in 1929 the stock market crashed. Flint ended up using this stock as colateral on two seperate loans with both the Providence firm of Mandeville, Brooks & Chafee and the Industrial Trust Company who's chairman was Colonel Nicholson. He claimed it was an honest mistake and later took full responsibility for the accounts. ³

In 1940, Flint sued Colonel Nicholson in a spectacular civil trial for $1,000,000 against the estate of Nicholson. Nicholson had promised the money to Flint after his death. It was finally settled for a fractional sum. ³

Special note: Dutee Wilcox Flint was also somewhat of an inventor and held or colborated on 9 Patents. ¹⁵

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