Ford Charcoal Briquets

34 artifacts in this set

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Ford Motor Company manufactured charcoal from wood scraps produced by its lumber operations in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The scraps were burned, mixed with starch and compressed into compact briquettes. Ford sold the charcoal to the public through its network of auto dealerships, as well as through conventional hardware, sporting goods and department stores. It was a prominent example of Henry Ford’s commitment to reducing and reusing waste.

Detailed Description

E. G. Kingsford, Ford Dealer, Iron Mountain, Michigan, circa 1918

Photographic print

Edward G. Kingsford was operating a Ford dealership in Iron Mountain, Michigan, when his cousin-in-law, Henry Ford, contacted him about acquiring timberland in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Kingsford arranged the purchase of some 313,000 acres on behalf of Ford Motor Company. He then became vice president of Ford's Upper Peninsula operations, which included sawmills, factories, and a wood chemical plant.