Compressed Air Device for Packing Helmets during World War I, Ford Motor Company Philadelphia Plant, 1917-1918

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Artifact Overview

When the United States entered World War I, American automobile companies turned some of their manufacturing capacity to the production of war materiel. Ford Motor Company received a contract to paint, assemble, and crate steel helmets for American soldiers. Altogether, Ford's Philadelphia plant processed more than 2.7 million helmets at a rate as high as 40,000 each day.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Photographic print

Subject Date

1917-1918

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

84.1.1660.139

Credit

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

Material

Paper (Fiber product)
Linen (Material)

Technique

Gelatin silver process

Color

Black-and-white (Colors)

Dimensions

Height: 7.5 in
Width: 11 in

Inscriptions

text in image on front: Compressed air device for packing helmets. A line of 25 helmets the length of the upper box frame work was compressed by this device into the length of the packing box shown imposition ready to receive the helmets. This Ford development packed 25 helmets in about 30 seconds. stamped on back: PH. B. WALLACE, PHOTOGRAPHER WALNUT ST. PHILA.
Compressed Air Device for Packing Helmets during World War I, Ford Motor Company Philadelphia Plant, 1917-1918