Michigan Car Company Works, Detroit, Michigan, circa 1880

01

Artifact Overview

Michigan Car Company was formed in 1864, and it opened the factory shown in this image nine years later. The company built railroad freight cars and car parts. It was one of Detroit's largest manufacturers in the pre-automotive era. Sixteen-year-old Henry Ford briefly apprenticed at Michigan Car Company in 1879.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

circa 1880

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

P.O.3054

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ford Motor Company.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 8.25 in
Width: 10 in

Inscriptions

Ink stamp on front and back of image: 42 / Ford Motor Company Archives