Businessman of the 20th Century
13 artifacts in this set
Henry Ford Driving the Sweepstakes Racer Against Alexander Winton, Grosse Pointe, Michigan, October 10, 1901
Photographic print
This photograph shows Henry Ford in his race car, "Sweepstakes," as he begins to pass Alexander Winton during a 10-mile race at Grosse Pointe, Michigan, in 1901. Winton's car was faster, and his experience greater, but he had engine problems and lost to the upstart Ford. With the win and backing of new investors, Ford began his second automobile company.
Henry Ford and Barney Oldfield with the "999" Race Car, 1902-1903
Photographic print
After building this massive racing car in 1902, Henry Ford was reluctant to drive it. He hired a bicycle racer named Barney Oldfield, who would win many races at the controls of the Ford "999." Both men built careers on the car's success--Oldfield became America's first nationally famous race driver and Ford gained support for his next venture: Ford Motor Company.
Henry Ford and Spider Huff Driving Arrow Racer on Lake Saint Clair, 1904
Photographic print
On January 12, 1904, Henry Ford and his riding mechanic Ed "Spider" Huff set a world speed record of 91.37 miles per hour on a frozen Lake St. Clair, northeast of Detroit. The feat raised Ford Motor Company's profile, and the "Arrow" racer -- though referred to as the Ford "999" -- became a common subject in Ford advertisements.
1903 Catalog, "Ford-- High Grade on Any Grade"
Trade catalog
Henry Ford wanted to create a light-weight, low-priced vehicle. His automobile would be uncomplicated, able to traverse American roads, and affordable to average Americans. The Ford Motor Company's first vehicle -- simple and inexpensive -- is seen headed to the moon on the cover of this 1903 catalog. Ford, however, was not satisfied and continued to improve and innovate.
Ford Motor Company, Mack Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1904
Photographic print
Henry Ford's third automobile company, formed in 1903, set up shop in a former wagon factory on Detroit's Mack Avenue. Ford's small crew assembled Model As from components made elsewhere. As sales increased, the original building was enlarged to two stories. By 1905, Ford Motor Company had moved to a larger facility on Piquette Avenue.
Clara Ford and Myrle Clarkson driving a Ford Model N at the Piquette Avenue Plant, 1905
Photographic print
Clara Ford, wife of Henry Ford, and Myrle Clarkson, a secretary at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant, drive a Model N past the plant. The Model N was the low-priced but smaller predecessor to the Model T. The Model T was designed and first built in this building, at the corner of Piquette Avenue and Beaubien Street in Detroit.
Ford Model N Chassis in Assembly Room at the Piquette Avenue Plant, 1906
Photographic print
In 1906 Ford Model Ns were assembled on the third floor of Ford Motor Company's Piquette Avenue factory in Detroit. Cars were put together by crews moving from vehicle to vehicle. No one had yet conceived of the moving assembly line. Behind the rows of cars are engines, stored on their noses to conserve space.
1924 Ford Model T Cars on Assembly Line at the Highland Park Plant, October 1923
Photographic print
Henry Ford and his engineers constantly searched for ways to speed up car production and hold down costs. The integration of a moving assembly line in the Highland Park plant allowed Ford's company to do just that. From 1908-1927, Ford Motor Company produced over 15 million Model T cars and the price dropped from $850 to as little as $260.
Crowd of Applicants outside Highland Park Plant after Five Dollar Day Announcement, January 1914
Photographic print
Ford workers disliked the new assembly line methods so much that by late 1913, labor turnover was 380 percent. The company's announcement to pay five dollars for an eight-hour day compared to the previous rate of $2.34 for a nine-hour day made many workers willing to submit to the relentless discipline of the line in return for such high wages.
1927 Cadillac LaSalle Advertisement, "Cadillac Welcomes LaSalle, A New Car for Cadillac Homes"
Advertisement
This 1927 LaSalle ad highlighted its relationship with the established Cadillac brand. The automobile's success led General Motors to create its first Art and Colour Section (later called Styling), appointing LaSalle stylist Harley Earl as director.
Henry Ford and Edsel Ford Introducing the 1928 Ford Model A at the Ford Industrial Exposition in New York City
Photographic print
Henry Ford and Edsel Ford introduced the Model A on December 2, 1927. After 19 years of Model T production, the public was eager for Ford Motor Company's new car. It took six months of intensive design work and plant retooling, but the Model A was a hit. Ford sold nearly five million cars over the Model A's four-year production run.
1924 Ford Motor Company Institutional Message Advertising Campaign, "Monumental Enterprise"
Advertisement
In 1924-25 the Ford Motor Company ran a series of sixteen dramatic advertisements in the Saturday Evening Post and Country Gentleman magazines. Rather than promoting the Model T specifically, the ads aimed to convey the company's scale and philosophy. Here the Rouge plant's power house and blast furnaces, serve as backdrop to the storage bins alongside the plant's boat slip.
Advertisement for the 1932 Ford V-8 Car, "Announcing the New Ford V-8 Cylinder"
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Henry Ford and Ford Motor Company revolutionized the automobile market again in 1932 with the introduction of the company's V-8 engine. By casting the engine's block as single piece, Ford kept manufacturing costs down and made the engine affordable to consumers. The venerable engine remained in production until 1953.
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