Edward S. (Spider) Huff Records
Edward S. "Spider" Huff helped Henry Ford design electrical and ignition systems for his earliest racing vehicles and achieved racing immortality by riding with Ford during a race against Alexander Winton in October 1901. The records consist of one bound volume of automotive electrical wiring designs, sketches, and radio schematics by Huff, along with a single rough sketch.
Biographical / Historical Note
Edward S. "Spider" Huff helped Henry Ford design electrical and ignition systems for his earliest racing vehicles. He achieved racing immortality by riding on the running board of Henry Ford's race car during an event against the leading automobile manufacturer...
MoreEdward S. "Spider" Huff helped Henry Ford design electrical and ignition systems for his earliest racing vehicles. He achieved racing immortality by riding on the running board of Henry Ford's race car during an event against the leading automobile manufacturer of the day, Alexander Winton, at the Detroit Driving Club's race track in Grosse Pointe, Michigan in October, 1901. Huff also rode into the record books helping to design and run Henry Ford's car that set the world land speed record on the ice of Lake St. Clair in January, 1904. Huff was instrumental in the concept, design and development of the flywheel magneto and insulated spark plug that made the Model T a highly reliable vehicle and helped spark the success of the company. Huff was an electrical engineer of uncommon abilities and played an important role in developing Ford ignitions and other electrical systems.
LessScope and Content Note
The Edward S. Huff Records Subseries consists of one bound volume of automotive electrical wiring designs, sketches, and radio schematics by Huff, as well as a rough sketch which is labeled "the last sketch of E. S. Huff - 1933."
Collection Details
Object ID: 64.167.799.0
Creator: Huff, Edward S., 1879-1933
Inclusive Dates: 1906-1933
Bulk Dates: 1906-1927
Size: 0.4 cubic ft. (1 box)
Language: English
Collection Access & Use
Item Location: Not Currently On Exhibit
Access Restrictions: The records are open for research.
Credit: From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.
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Notebook, Electrical Schematics and Drawings, 1906-1927
Artifact
Notebook
Summary
Ed Huff was a self-taught electrical engineer of uncommon abilities. He worked with Henry Ford on the design and building of Ford's earliest cars including the Quadricycle and the race car Sweepstakes. Huff was instrumental in designing the electrical system of the Model T as well as other electrical components of Ford cars and trucks. This notebook is a collection of electrical component schematics and concept drawings by Huff that he collected and used for reference purposes until his death in 1933.
Creators
Keywords
Object ID
64.167.799.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.
Location
By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center
Get more details in Digital Collections at:
Notebook, Electrical Schematics and Drawings, 1906-1927
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