Application Letters from Charles Jones for Work as Steward or Porter on the Fair Lane, Henry Ford's Private Rail Car, 1922-1923

THF625659 / Application Letters from Charles Jones for Work as Steward or Porter on the Fair Lane, Henry Ford's Private Rail Car, 1922-1923 / page 1
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Artifact Overview

Henry and Clara Ford purchased Fair Lane, their private railroad passenger car, in 1921. When stories about the railcar appeared in newspapers, experienced railroad porters, stewards and cooks sent letters of interest about working for the Fords. Generally, Fair Lane was staffed by a porter to attend to passengers' needs, and a cook to prepare meals.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Letter (Correspondence)

Date Made

January 1922-June 1923

Subject Date

January 1922-June 1923

Collection Title

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

64.167.285.164

Credit

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

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Typewriting
Printing (Process)

Dimensions

Height: 11 in
Width: 8.625 in

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    Artifact

    Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car "Fair Lane," 1921

    By 1920, Henry and Clara Ford found it increasingly difficult to travel with any degree of privacy. They purchased a private railcar and named it Fair Lane. The car had four private rooms, an observation lounge, a dining room, and a fully equipped kitchen. It could accommodate eight passengers. The couple made over 400 trips using Fair Lane before selling the passenger car in 1942.