NorthBay biz November 2019

The auto body repair business has history that extends back more than a century. Horseless carriages were initially reserved for the wealthy, and chauffeurs doubled as mechanics. After the introduction of the Ford Model-T in 1913, parts became accessible, and car owners started to perform repairs themselves. Eventually, auto centers opened in blacksmith shops and liveries. In the 1920s, trade schools formed to educate workers, and independent shops became more common. The rise of the middle class in the 1950s prompted an increase in demand for automobiles, and a greater need for all kinds of service followed. READ MORE