INTRODUCTION
When you think about Ford, an automobile will usually come to mind. Most people don’t think about the man behind that name, Henry Ford. Henry Ford was the man responsible for the Ford Motor Company (FMC). He was also the creator of the invention that changed the mass production industry, the assembly line. As you read on you will learn about Henry Ford’s life, the FMC, and the assembly line.
FORD’S LIFE
In Wayne County, Michigan on July 30, 1863, a pair of Irish immigrants, William and Mary Ford, gave birth to a boy who they named Henry. They owned a farm in Dearborn, Michigan where Henry helped his parents and attended a one-room schoolhouse.
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The automobile didn’t look like much with a carriage body and a lever for steering. This car was what got Ford started on the way toward the automotive industry.1
Ford only had one son, who was president for the Ford Company from 1819 to 1943 when Edsel, died. Henry had to take over presidency for two years until he gave his position to his grandson, Henry Ford the II. After living for 83 years Henry Ford passed away on April 7, 1947, at his home in Dearborn, Michigan.3
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
In 1903 the Ford Motor Company was incorporated after two unsuccessful attempts. Henry Ford was the vice-president and the chief engineer. The company started out only making a few cars a day at the Ford factory, with two or three men working on a car at a time and having to use parts made to order from other companies.2
Ford’s dream was to produce a moderate priced, reliable, and efficient automobile, which came with the Model T in 1908.3 A company that started out small, now had over half of the car owners in America driving the Model T.1 It was easy to operate and maintain, it also handled good on rough roads. It was the most popular automobile in history, and over fifteen million were sold. With the Model T, Ford achieved his goal to make reasonable priced cars for the average person. 2
The reason he could make cars for decent prices was that the FMC owned its own steel mill and iron mine, and could make its own parts.
Henry Ford, an American captain of Industry, the seventh-wealthiest figure of modern period, leading manufacturer of American automobiles in the early 1900’s, was the eldest child born to William and Mary Ford on July 30 1863 in Dearborn Michigan. In his younger days Ford became interested in machinery, starting by helping repair machines on his father's farm, then started fixing neighbors and classmates watches and clocks, having invented his first successful gasoline engine in 1893 and his first automobile in 1896. He is known for establishing the Ford Motor Company in 1903 with eleven investors, his company revolutionized the automobile industry with its assembly line method
Smith showed steel, and Mr. Ford thought it would be good for his car. Henry begins experimenting with home built gasoline internal combustion engines. Ford spent his irregular hours on his efforts to build a gasoline-powered horseless carriage, or automobile. Then, Henry started to think of good for his invention. Ford, driving his own car, beats Winton in an automobile race, attracts investors who form Henry Ford C.O. Ford overtakes Olds, Buick and Cadillac combined to become Number One automaker in U.S., a position it holds for 20 years; Henry Ford becomes company President and majority owner. Ford Motor C.O. founded by Malcolm’s son group, Model A produced in rented Mack Ave. plant. Ford incorporated the Ford
You might not know that Henry Ford did not start out as a successful producer of automobiles. After building his first car, the Quadricycle. “In 1899 he formed the Detroit Automobile Company, which quickly failed after only a few vehicles were produced.” (Stanford). Henry and some of his original investors regrouped and formed the Henry Ford Company which quickly ran into problems as well. In 1902 Henry was dismissed by his board of directors from the company that carried his name because of his inability to bring a car to production. The company was reorganized as the Cadillac Motor Car Company under the engineering leadership of Henry Leland. Henry and some of his original investors regrouped and formed the Henry Ford Company, which quickly ran into problems as well. Henry Ford was dismissed by his board of directors from the company that carried his name because of his inability to bring a car to production.
“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.(Cite quote). This philosophy is what made Henry Ford stand out compared to any other businessman. He had a great understanding of what circumstances were successful for the blue collar families across the United States. He worked many jobs when he was a child and grew up to a very successful captain of industry. He created massive factories and was the first person to use the assembly line.
The Ford Motor Company was founded by Henry Ford. It was incorporated on June 16, 1903, the company had twelve associate inventors including Ford, a few of the main inventors were John and Horace Dodge who later went on to create their own motor company. The first vehicle built and designed by Ford was created in his backyard with bicycle parts and a 4-horse
One of his first milestones of having a noteworthy company was being the number one automobile provider in not only the United States, but the world as well. After buying out his investors, “Henry Ford who was the sole owner of the world’s largest automobile company” (“The Innovator”). Since Henry Ford was in control of the whole company, he was at the top of his game and there was no stopping him. Also having the number one spot in best automobile companies made Ford Motor Company a major provider in World War II. “The factory in Dearborn produced an immense number of B-24 bombers for the United States military.
“The mass production techniques Henry Ford championed eventually allowed Ford Motor Company to turn out one Model T every 24 seconds (“Henry Ford”, History.com).” This is a remarkable accomplishment for that time period. This was all made possible by the company owner himself, Henry Ford. Ford revolutionized not only the automobile industry but also the manufacturing industry while contributing to society in countless ways.
In 1908, Ford introduced the successful Model T, which was manufactured for 19 years. However, Ford's successes were not without problems. Soon after the incorporation of the Ford Motor Company, Ford was threatened by the Association of Licensed Automobile Manufacturers. After years of legal battles, Ford won his case in 1911, which made it possible for more people to become automobile manufacturers.
Introduction One of America's foremost industrialists, Henry Ford revolutionized assembly-line modes of production for the automobile. Henry Ford would become the founder of Ford Motor Company and sell millions of cars. Ford developed an assembly line method that would lead to faster production at a lower cost. Henry Ford changed the ways that men build, and use cars. Henry Ford changed the automobile from a expensive curiosity to a everyday conveyance that middle class families could afford.
Henry Ford was born July 30, 1863 in Greenfield, Michigan. He is most famous for manufacturing the Ford Model-T, the first production car ever made. At a young age, Ford demonstrated his mechanical ability, facility for leadership and learning by trial and error, ultimately developing the foundation for his career.
He put the world on wheels and made it at a cheap rate. As the automobile was assembled he created an assembly line to produce the cars at a fast and easy pass. Mr. Ford established the car industry as well as the assembly line to make and sell the cars. These automobiles created industry that no one had foreseen. He thought that making products for average people was more profitable than making products for rich people.
Soon after, he left the Edison Electric Illuminating Company to launch his own automobile company, once with the Detroit Automobile Company in August 5, 1899, with the financial help of a couple of investors and the Henry Ford Corporation in November 3, 1901, but unfortunately both had failed and were shut down after a year. Later In 1901, Ford had tried to get his automobiles more publicity by attending races and showing off his vehicles to the public, this worked greatly but he soon realized that people of his generation did not need racecars. So he set his mind to build an automobile everyone would want. On July 15, 1903, again with the help of investors Henry Ford had founded the Ford Motor Company, this company soon became very successful and sold their very first automobile, the Model A. Furthermore, Ford introduced the Model T in 1908, an automobile that was far better than his previous and during the same year the Ford Motor Company became overseas. During 1913, Ford focused on finding a better way to manufacture the automobiles in a shorter period of time. It had taken around 12 hours to build the automobiles at first but with the new assembly lines, Ford had placed after, the time had been lowered down to around 2 hours and 30 minutes. And during the following year, Ford decided to help out his workers by raising their salary to $5 per day, so that they could all live an easier and happier life. Soon after, there was a
“Don't find fault, find a remedy” (“Henry Ford”). After the success Ford experienced with his first Model T, he began to start on his third invention but only the second Model T. While working on his second automobile in 1900, Ford finished it a year later in 1901. At the end of that year, it was done, and easy to drive and maintain (Greene). All that was left to do with the second automobile was finical backing and a sufficient capital to mass produce it (Greene). This would prove to be the toughest phase to get past for the still young and upcoming company. However, Ford found the perfect backer from him, William H. Murphy. Murphy was a very prominent businessmen in Detroit (Greene). The one thing that stood in Ford's way was that his automobile needed to be reworked because the parts he used came from different places and some were heavier than he needed them to be (Greene). The automobile needed to be easily serviced if it was going to be sold to paying customer and driven on public road. Henry was taking a long time to fix and rework his automobile, due to not being able to standardize all the parts, the board of directors soon lost faith in Henry Ford and dissolved the Ford Motor Company (Greene). Realizing that his car failed because he was trying to serve too many consumer needs at once, he would try a second time but this time with start with a lightweight and smaller
Henry Ford created the Model T with the goal of producing a car that could be marketed to the middle class. Up until this point the average car produced cost around $2,000, which exceeded the price range of most Americans. Ford saw the middle class as an economic opportunity, a chance to create more costumers while still manufacturing the same product. His decision was not based exclusively on the lucrative market of the middle class though, but also on his humanitarian belief that citizens deserved the opportunity to purchase a car, as it would allow them to “enjoy with his family the blessing of hours of pleasure in God's great open spaces." Not surprisingly, when Ford created the Model T the working class flooded factories with
Founded in 1903, Henry Ford managed to get investor support to open the first manufacturing automobile company in Detroit, Michigan. Ford Motor Company has been known for its mass production of vehicles using a perfected assembly line method and its innovations in the automobile industry. Ford’s famous Model-T was developed as an innovative automobile that could be produced quickly, while keeping the cost to a minimum. This allowed people with a lower income the opportunity to afford an automobile. One of the biggest changes in the automobile industry occurred in 1913 with the introduction of a perfected assembly line method. This assembly line method was the one of the main reasons Ford Motor Company was able to keep the cost of vehicles and the production time to a minimum. Ford also took the first step to increase wages of their employees above the industry standard. Although it was still a very low value, Ford offered $5 per day which was a huge improvement from the $2.34 per day that most companies offered.