ASME Recognizes Duesenberg Hydraulic Braking System as an Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark

Date Published:

Mar 25, 2025

AUBURN, Ind. (March 25, 2025) —The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has designated the Duesenberg 4-Wheel Hydraulic Braking System for automotive vehicles as an ASME Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. Frederick S. Duesenberg’s 1921 Model A was the first production automobile to use four-wheel hydraulic brakes. Duesenberg Automobile and Motors Company of Indianapolis (est. 1920) was also the first to invent and employ internal, expanding-shoe hydraulic brakes. Equipping all four wheels of an automobile with hydraulic brakes significantly reduced braking distances, which became increasingly important as vehicle speeds increased. All automobile companies eventually adopted four-wheel hydraulic brakes due to the safety they provided, although some more than a decade after Duesenberg’s pioneering work.

The Duesenberg Model A vehicle chassis is exhibited permanently at the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, where visitors can see the mechanical parts including the hydraulic braking system.

Photo courtesy of the museum

Nicole Kaufman Dyess, a member of the ASME Board of Governors, and Joseph Radisek of the ASME History and Heritage Committee will present a plaque to Sam Grate, curator of the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum commemorating the landmark designation at a ceremony on Thursday, March 27, at 5 p.m. at the museum, 1600 South Wayne Street, Auburn, Ind. A historical brochure will be presented to attendees. A guided tour of the museum will take place from 3-5 p.m.

"Indiana was, and is, deeply involved in the aerospace and automotive industries," says Mark Oehler, section leader for the Central Indiana Section of ASME. "We are honored to have Fred Duesenberg's innovation recognized as an ASME
History and Heritage site."

The ASME History and Heritage Committee selects landmark artifacts based on their engineering attributes, role in the evolution of the mechanical engineering profession, and significance to society in general.

About ASME
ASME helps the global engineering community develop solutions to real world challenges. Founded in 1880 as the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, ASME is a not-for-profit professional organization that enables collaboration, knowledge sharing, and skill development across all engineering disciplines, while promoting the vital role of the engineer in society. ASME codes and standards, publications, conferences, continuing education, and professional development programs provide a foundation for advancing technical knowledge and a safer world. In 2020, ASME formed the International Society of Interdisciplinary Engineers (ISIE) II & III LLC, a new for-profit subsidiary to house business ventures that will bring new and innovative products, services, and technologies to the engineering community. For more information, visit www.asme.org.

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Media Contacts:
Monica Shovlin
MCShovlin Communications LLC (for ASME)
monica@mcshovlin.com
+1 541-554-3796

Jonah Crismore
Director of Marketing & Communications Auburn Cord Duesenberg Automobile Museum
jcrismore@automobilemuseum.org
+1 260-925-1444, ext. 42