Advertisement for the 1904 Ford Line of Cars, "Boosted into Popular Favor by the Knocks of the Trust"

01

Artifact Overview

The advertisement refers to George Selden's 1895 patent. Selden, a patent attorney and inventor was granted a U.S. patent for an automobile, just before the auto industry began to flourish. He collected royalties from early car manufacturers, claiming his right as owner of the patent. Four auto makers, including Henry Ford, contested Selden's patent which was invalidated in 1911.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Advertisement

Date Made

30 March 1904

Subject Date

1904

Creator Notes

Made for Ford Motor Company

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

2009.0.19.1.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Printing (Process)

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 11.5 in
Width: 8.5 in

02

Related Content

  • Large "Ford" Sign at the Rouge Plant, circa 1964
    Set

    Lesson: Social Change - Mass Advertising -1920s

    • 13 Artifacts
    The River Rouge complex took raw materials, like iron ore, and converted them to refined materials for the creation of new automobiles. Ford strategically positioned the Rouge plant near the river to receive raw materials by boat, and it used the complex's railroad network to distribute them to the proper buildings for refinement. This strategy made Ford Motor Company more efficient and allowed for financial growth.