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- Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car, "Fair Lane," November 12, 1942 - 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 <em>Fair Lane</em>. 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 <em>Fair Lane</em> before selling the passenger car in 1942.
- November 12, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car, "Fair Lane," November 12, 1942
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.
- Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car, "Fair Lane," outside Henry Ford Museum, November 12, 1942 - 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 <em>Fair Lane</em>. 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 <em>Fair Lane</em> before selling the passenger car in 1942.
- November 12, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car, "Fair Lane," outside Henry Ford Museum, November 12, 1942
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.
- Application Letters from Charles Jones for Work as Steward or Porter on the Fair Lane, Henry Ford's Private Rail Car, 1922-1923 - Henry and Clara Ford purchased <em>Fair Lane</em>, 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, <em>Fair Lane</em> was staffed by a porter to attend to passengers' needs, and a cook to prepare meals.
- January 1922-June 1923
- Collections - Artifact
Application Letters from Charles Jones for Work as Steward or Porter on the Fair Lane, Henry Ford's Private Rail Car, 1922-1923
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.
- 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 <em>Fair Lane</em>. 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 <em>Fair Lane</em> before selling the passenger car in 1942.
- June 23, 1921
- Collections - 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.
- Train with Steam Locomotive, Passenger and Freight Cars, circa 1856 - Locomotive boilers had to stay hot to produce steam. Lagging -- insulation around the boiler -- was crucial. This American-type locomotive of the 1850s had narrow wooden strips mounted around its boiler for insulation. But the wood deteriorated quickly when exposed to weather and sparks. Improved designs placed a protective sheet metal jacket over the wood.
- circa 1856
- Collections - Artifact
Train with Steam Locomotive, Passenger and Freight Cars, circa 1856
Locomotive boilers had to stay hot to produce steam. Lagging -- insulation around the boiler -- was crucial. This American-type locomotive of the 1850s had narrow wooden strips mounted around its boiler for insulation. But the wood deteriorated quickly when exposed to weather and sparks. Improved designs placed a protective sheet metal jacket over the wood.
- Appleton Car Mover Company "Atlas VII" Railcar Mover, circa 1920 - This tool allowed the user to move a railroad car by hand through the power of compound leverage. The user positioned the wedge under one of the car's wheels and pushed down on the handle. This motion simultaneously pressed a spur -- or fulcrum -- down onto the rail and pushed a small foot up against the wheel to ease the car forward.
- circa 1920
- Collections - Artifact
Appleton Car Mover Company "Atlas VII" Railcar Mover, circa 1920
This tool allowed the user to move a railroad car by hand through the power of compound leverage. The user positioned the wedge under one of the car's wheels and pushed down on the handle. This motion simultaneously pressed a spur -- or fulcrum -- down onto the rail and pushed a small foot up against the wheel to ease the car forward.
- Lift Created for Franklin D. Roosevelt to Board the Presidential Railcar, "Ferdinand Magellan," circa 1943 - Franklin Delano Roosevelt was diagnosed with polio (later suggested to have been Guillain-Barre syndrome) in 1921 and experienced permanent paralysis in both legs. Though he tried to keep it private, Roosevelt used a wheelchair throughout his presidency (1933-1945). This lift allowed him to board the railcar <em>Ferdinand Magellan</em>, which was equipped for presidential use during World War II.
- circa 1943
- Collections - Artifact
Lift Created for Franklin D. Roosevelt to Board the Presidential Railcar, "Ferdinand Magellan," circa 1943
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was diagnosed with polio (later suggested to have been Guillain-Barre syndrome) in 1921 and experienced permanent paralysis in both legs. Though he tried to keep it private, Roosevelt used a wheelchair throughout his presidency (1933-1945). This lift allowed him to board the railcar Ferdinand Magellan, which was equipped for presidential use during World War II.
- Streamline Railway Pull Toy, 1935-1940 - Transportation toys have reflected larger technological innovations in society, in both their use of different materials and the types of vehicles they have represented, such as this streamlined railway car. The Wolverine Supply and Manufacturing Company was founded in 1903 by B. F. Bain, who hailed from Wolverine, Michigan. The company was known for its pressed steel toys and sand toys.
- 1935-1940
- Collections - Artifact
Streamline Railway Pull Toy, 1935-1940
Transportation toys have reflected larger technological innovations in society, in both their use of different materials and the types of vehicles they have represented, such as this streamlined railway car. The Wolverine Supply and Manufacturing Company was founded in 1903 by B. F. Bain, who hailed from Wolverine, Michigan. The company was known for its pressed steel toys and sand toys.
- Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car, "Fair Lane," outside Henry Ford Museum, November 12, 1942 - 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 <em>Fair Lane</em>. 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 <em>Fair Lane</em> before selling the passenger car in 1942.
- November 12, 1942
- Collections - Artifact
Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car, "Fair Lane," outside Henry Ford Museum, November 12, 1942
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.
- Interior of Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car, "Fair Lane," June 22, 1921 - By 1920, Henry and Clara Ford found it increasingly difficult to travel in privacy. They purchased a private railroad car and named it <em>Fair Lane</em>. Mrs. Ford designed the car's interior in consultation with Sidney Houghton of London. Houghton had earlier provided the same service for the Fords' yacht, <em>Sialia</em>. The Fords made more than 400 trips with <em>Fair Lane</em>.
- June 22, 1921
- Collections - Artifact
Interior of Henry Ford's Private Railroad Car, "Fair Lane," June 22, 1921
By 1920, Henry and Clara Ford found it increasingly difficult to travel in privacy. They purchased a private railroad car and named it Fair Lane. Mrs. Ford designed the car's interior in consultation with Sidney Houghton of London. Houghton had earlier provided the same service for the Fords' yacht, Sialia. The Fords made more than 400 trips with Fair Lane.