Search
- Handwritten Note from Henry Ford to Six-Year-Old Edsel Ford, 1900 - Henry Ford the businessman and innovator had a softer side as reflected by this note written to his son Edsel in May 1900. Edsel and his mother Clara were away on a trip to Louisville, Kentucky, to visit Clara's brother Milton. Notice that Henry printed this letter in capital letters to ensure that his six-and-a-half-year-old son could read it easily.

- May 21, 1900
- Collections - Artifact
Handwritten Note from Henry Ford to Six-Year-Old Edsel Ford, 1900
Henry Ford the businessman and innovator had a softer side as reflected by this note written to his son Edsel in May 1900. Edsel and his mother Clara were away on a trip to Louisville, Kentucky, to visit Clara's brother Milton. Notice that Henry printed this letter in capital letters to ensure that his six-and-a-half-year-old son could read it easily.
- Hand Drill Used by Early Automobile Mechanic William W. Pring, 1899 -

- 1899
- Collections - Artifact
Hand Drill Used by Early Automobile Mechanic William W. Pring, 1899
- Interior of Detroit Automobile Company, circa 1900 - The Detroit Automobile Company was Henry Ford's first attempt to manufacture motor vehicles. Despite a glowing review in the <em>Detroit News-Tribune</em>, the company's first product, a delivery truck, was an apparent failure. The Detroit Automobile Company closed in 1901. It took two more companies and three more years before Henry Ford became a successful automobile manufacturer.

- circa 1900
- Collections - Artifact
Interior of Detroit Automobile Company, circa 1900
The Detroit Automobile Company was Henry Ford's first attempt to manufacture motor vehicles. Despite a glowing review in the Detroit News-Tribune, the company's first product, a delivery truck, was an apparent failure. The Detroit Automobile Company closed in 1901. It took two more companies and three more years before Henry Ford became a successful automobile manufacturer.
- Henry Ford Driving Detroit Automobile Company Truck, circa 1900 - The Detroit Automobile Company, founded in July 1899, was Henry Ford's first attempt to manufacture automobiles, and this delivery truck was its first product. Despite a glowing report in the <em>Detroit News-Tribune</em>, the company's vehicles simply weren't all that good. It built no more than 20 trucks and cars before formally dissolving in January 1901.

- circa 1900
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford Driving Detroit Automobile Company Truck, circa 1900
The Detroit Automobile Company, founded in July 1899, was Henry Ford's first attempt to manufacture automobiles, and this delivery truck was its first product. Despite a glowing report in the Detroit News-Tribune, the company's vehicles simply weren't all that good. It built no more than 20 trucks and cars before formally dissolving in January 1901.
- Portrait of William Herbert Murphy, Former Detroit Automobile Company Executive, circa 1930 - Detroit lumber merchant William H. Murphy backed Henry Ford's first car company, the Detroit Automobile Company, in 1899. After it failed, Murphy financed Ford's successful 1901 "Sweepstakes" race car. Murphy then supported a second car company, the Henry Ford Company, but parted ways with the firm's namesake when Henry Ford spent too much time designing racers rather than production cars.

- circa 1930
- Collections - Artifact
Portrait of William Herbert Murphy, Former Detroit Automobile Company Executive, circa 1930
Detroit lumber merchant William H. Murphy backed Henry Ford's first car company, the Detroit Automobile Company, in 1899. After it failed, Murphy financed Ford's successful 1901 "Sweepstakes" race car. Murphy then supported a second car company, the Henry Ford Company, but parted ways with the firm's namesake when Henry Ford spent too much time designing racers rather than production cars.
- Detroit Automobile Company Factory Floor, circa 1900 - The Detroit Automobile Company was Henry Ford's first attempt to manufacture motor vehicles. Despite a glowing review in the <em>Detroit News-Tribune</em>, the company's first product, a delivery truck, was an apparent failure. The Detroit Automobile Company closed in 1901. It took two more companies and three more years before Henry Ford became a successful automobile manufacturer.

- circa 1900
- Collections - Artifact
Detroit Automobile Company Factory Floor, circa 1900
The Detroit Automobile Company was Henry Ford's first attempt to manufacture motor vehicles. Despite a glowing review in the Detroit News-Tribune, the company's first product, a delivery truck, was an apparent failure. The Detroit Automobile Company closed in 1901. It took two more companies and three more years before Henry Ford became a successful automobile manufacturer.
- Agreement between Detroit Automobile Company and Henry Ford, 1899 - Henry Ford's first company was the Detroit Automobile Company. Aside from letterhead paper, a few photographs, some newspaper clippings, and this document, nothing remains of it. This agreement stipulates Henry's job as Mechanical Superintendent. In his early years Henry was not the actual president. In this case C.A. Black was president. The company failed because it offered a poor vehicle.

- July 24, 1899
- Collections - Artifact
Agreement between Detroit Automobile Company and Henry Ford, 1899
Henry Ford's first company was the Detroit Automobile Company. Aside from letterhead paper, a few photographs, some newspaper clippings, and this document, nothing remains of it. This agreement stipulates Henry's job as Mechanical Superintendent. In his early years Henry was not the actual president. In this case C.A. Black was president. The company failed because it offered a poor vehicle.
- Letterhead of the Detroit Automobile Company, 1899-1901 - Henry Ford's first company, the Detroit Automobile Company, was formed in July 1899. Aside from a few photographs, newspaper clippings, and letterhead paper, nothing remains of it. Henry served as Mechanical Superintendent and Clarence A. Black was president. The company's vehicles were of marginal quality, and it built no more than 20 trucks and cars before dissolving in January 1901.

- 1899-1901
- Collections - Artifact
Letterhead of the Detroit Automobile Company, 1899-1901
Henry Ford's first company, the Detroit Automobile Company, was formed in July 1899. Aside from a few photographs, newspaper clippings, and letterhead paper, nothing remains of it. Henry served as Mechanical Superintendent and Clarence A. Black was president. The company's vehicles were of marginal quality, and it built no more than 20 trucks and cars before dissolving in January 1901.
- Detroit Automobile Company Delivery Truck outside Factory, 1899-1900 - If the name Detroit Automobile Company does not sound familiar it is because the company lasted no more than eighteen months. It was Henry Ford's first effort at building a motor vehicle and it was not successful. Here the company's first product, a delivery truck, parked in front of the factory on Cass Avenue in Detroit. Despite a glowing description in the <em>Detroit News-Tribune</em>, the truck was apparently not a very good vehicle and the Detroit Automobile Company went out of business in January 1901. It would take two more companies and three more years before Henry Ford would become a successful automobile manufacturer.

- 1899-1901
- Collections - Artifact
Detroit Automobile Company Delivery Truck outside Factory, 1899-1900
If the name Detroit Automobile Company does not sound familiar it is because the company lasted no more than eighteen months. It was Henry Ford's first effort at building a motor vehicle and it was not successful. Here the company's first product, a delivery truck, parked in front of the factory on Cass Avenue in Detroit. Despite a glowing description in the Detroit News-Tribune, the truck was apparently not a very good vehicle and the Detroit Automobile Company went out of business in January 1901. It would take two more companies and three more years before Henry Ford would become a successful automobile manufacturer.