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- Drawing, "Push Rod Assembly - Valve," Ford V-12 Aircraft Engine (GG Aero Engine), January 30, 1943 - The Ford Motor Company created over a million parts drawings from 1903 to 1957. Many of these drawings specify engineering requirements for the components of Ford-made vehicles--including automobiles, trucks, tractors, military vehicles and Tri-motor airplanes. Others document assembly components, stages of casting and forging, or experimental designs. Beginning in the 1940s, Ford transferred the drawings to microfilm.
- January 30, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Drawing, "Push Rod Assembly - Valve," Ford V-12 Aircraft Engine (GG Aero Engine), January 30, 1943
The Ford Motor Company created over a million parts drawings from 1903 to 1957. Many of these drawings specify engineering requirements for the components of Ford-made vehicles--including automobiles, trucks, tractors, military vehicles and Tri-motor airplanes. Others document assembly components, stages of casting and forging, or experimental designs. Beginning in the 1940s, Ford transferred the drawings to microfilm.
- Igor Sikorsky Landing the VS-300 Helicopter at Henry Ford Museum before Presenting it to Henry Ford, October 7, 1943 - Igor Sikorsky donated his pioneering VS-300 helicopter to The Henry Ford in October 1943. During the presentation ceremony, Sikorsky and his test pilot demonstrated the helicopter's exceptional maneuverability. They slipped the aircraft's nose probe through a small ring, set one of its wheels on a handkerchief spread on the ground, and carried souvenir "air mail" letters in its front basket.
- October 07, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Igor Sikorsky Landing the VS-300 Helicopter at Henry Ford Museum before Presenting it to Henry Ford, October 7, 1943
Igor Sikorsky donated his pioneering VS-300 helicopter to The Henry Ford in October 1943. During the presentation ceremony, Sikorsky and his test pilot demonstrated the helicopter's exceptional maneuverability. They slipped the aircraft's nose probe through a small ring, set one of its wheels on a handkerchief spread on the ground, and carried souvenir "air mail" letters in its front basket.
- Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Assembly Line, Dearborn, Michigan, 1927 - Henry Ford attempted to apply automobile assembly line techniques to the manufacture of airplanes, and to build them in large numbers. Monthly production peaked at 25 planes in June 1929. The Great Depression forced Ford to re-focus on his core auto business, and the company's commercial aircraft production ended in May 1933.
- February 07, 1927
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Tri-Motor Airplane Assembly Line, Dearborn, Michigan, 1927
Henry Ford attempted to apply automobile assembly line techniques to the manufacture of airplanes, and to build them in large numbers. Monthly production peaked at 25 planes in June 1929. The Great Depression forced Ford to re-focus on his core auto business, and the company's commercial aircraft production ended in May 1933.
- Henry Ford II, Charles Lindbergh, Les Morris, Henry Ford and Igor Sikorsky at the VS-300 Helicopter Presentation, October 7, 1943 - Henry Ford and helicopter innovator Igor Sikorsky shared a mutual friend in Charles Lindbergh, the pilot celebrated for his 1927 solo transatlantic flight. When Sikorsky mentioned his admiration for Ford to Lindbergh, Lindbergh arranged an introduction. The meeting ultimately led to Sikorsky donating his VS-300 helicopter to The Henry Ford in 1943 at a ceremony attended by all three men.
- October 07, 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford II, Charles Lindbergh, Les Morris, Henry Ford and Igor Sikorsky at the VS-300 Helicopter Presentation, October 7, 1943
Henry Ford and helicopter innovator Igor Sikorsky shared a mutual friend in Charles Lindbergh, the pilot celebrated for his 1927 solo transatlantic flight. When Sikorsky mentioned his admiration for Ford to Lindbergh, Lindbergh arranged an introduction. The meeting ultimately led to Sikorsky donating his VS-300 helicopter to The Henry Ford in 1943 at a ceremony attended by all three men.
- Junkers Diesel Engine at the Locomotive Shop, Ford Rouge Plant, 1937 - Ford Motor Company's Rouge plant included a locomotive shop that employed as many as 475 people. These skilled workers maintained the Rouge's steam and diesel-electric locomotives, along with other heavy equipment. They also maintained locomotives of the Henry Ford-owned Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, and they restored locomotives for Mr. Ford's Edison Institute museum.
- May 10, 1937
- Collections - Artifact
Junkers Diesel Engine at the Locomotive Shop, Ford Rouge Plant, 1937
Ford Motor Company's Rouge plant included a locomotive shop that employed as many as 475 people. These skilled workers maintained the Rouge's steam and diesel-electric locomotives, along with other heavy equipment. They also maintained locomotives of the Henry Ford-owned Detroit, Toledo & Ironton Railroad, and they restored locomotives for Mr. Ford's Edison Institute museum.
- Ford V-8 Truck Hauling Balloon Gondola for the Piccard-Compton Stratosphere Ascension, June 6, 1933 - The Piccard-Compton Stratosphere Balloon launched in August 1933 at the Chicago World's Fair, piloted by Lt. Commander "Tex" Settle. The magnesium gondola and hydrogen balloon quickly crashed soon after launch due to an open valve. It is shown here in June, hauled by a Ford V-8 truck. Jean and Jeannette Piccard successfully relaunched it in October 1934 from Ford Airport.
- June 30, 1933
- Collections - Artifact
Ford V-8 Truck Hauling Balloon Gondola for the Piccard-Compton Stratosphere Ascension, June 6, 1933
The Piccard-Compton Stratosphere Balloon launched in August 1933 at the Chicago World's Fair, piloted by Lt. Commander "Tex" Settle. The magnesium gondola and hydrogen balloon quickly crashed soon after launch due to an open valve. It is shown here in June, hauled by a Ford V-8 truck. Jean and Jeannette Piccard successfully relaunched it in October 1934 from Ford Airport.
- Ruth Elder's Airplane, the "American Girl," Fueling up before Take-off, October 11, 1927 - Ruth Elder planned to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic. On October 11, 1927, Elder and co-pilot George Haldeman took off in their Stinson Detroiter <em>American Girl</em>. An oil leak forced them to ditch in the ocean some 360 miles short of land. Still, the 2,623 miles Elder covered set a new distance record for a female pilot.
- October 11, 1927
- Collections - Artifact
Ruth Elder's Airplane, the "American Girl," Fueling up before Take-off, October 11, 1927
Ruth Elder planned to be the first woman to fly across the Atlantic. On October 11, 1927, Elder and co-pilot George Haldeman took off in their Stinson Detroiter American Girl. An oil leak forced them to ditch in the ocean some 360 miles short of land. Still, the 2,623 miles Elder covered set a new distance record for a female pilot.
- Group from Edison Institute Schools Visit the Piccard Stratosphere Flight Balloon at Ford Airport, September 1934 - The Piccard stratosphere flight departed from Ford Airport field on October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. This image was taken at one of the airport's hangars in September of 1934, and depicts the Piccards with a group of visiting children from the Edison Institute School.
- September 17, 1934
- Collections - Artifact
Group from Edison Institute Schools Visit the Piccard Stratosphere Flight Balloon at Ford Airport, September 1934
The Piccard stratosphere flight departed from Ford Airport field on October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. This image was taken at one of the airport's hangars in September of 1934, and depicts the Piccards with a group of visiting children from the Edison Institute School.
- Group from Edison Institute Schools Visit the Piccard Stratosphere Flight Balloon at Ford Airport, September 1934 - The Piccard stratosphere flight departed from Ford Airport field on October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. This image was taken at one of the airport's hangars in September of 1934, and depicts the Piccards with a group of visiting children from the Edison Institute School.
- September 20, 1934
- Collections - Artifact
Group from Edison Institute Schools Visit the Piccard Stratosphere Flight Balloon at Ford Airport, September 1934
The Piccard stratosphere flight departed from Ford Airport field on October 23, 1934. Spouses Jean and Jeannette Piccard ascended 10.9 miles in a metal gondola carried by a hydrogen balloon. This image was taken at one of the airport's hangars in September of 1934, and depicts the Piccards with a group of visiting children from the Edison Institute School.
- Construction of Ford Tri-Motor 14-AT Showing Center Hispano Suiza Engine, January 1932 - Ford Motor Company's Tri-Motor, built from 1926-1933, flew in many early American airline fleets. The all-metal airplane was rugged, dependable, and equally adaptable to passenger and freight service. Tri-Motors were built with some of the same mass production techniques used in Ford's automobile plants. This version, the 14-AT, featured three Hispano-Suiza Engines. This photograph reveals the interior of the central engine.
- January 05, 1932
- Collections - Artifact
Construction of Ford Tri-Motor 14-AT Showing Center Hispano Suiza Engine, January 1932
Ford Motor Company's Tri-Motor, built from 1926-1933, flew in many early American airline fleets. The all-metal airplane was rugged, dependable, and equally adaptable to passenger and freight service. Tri-Motors were built with some of the same mass production techniques used in Ford's automobile plants. This version, the 14-AT, featured three Hispano-Suiza Engines. This photograph reveals the interior of the central engine.