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- Filming the Assembly Line at the Ford Rouge Plant, January 1936 - At its peak in the 1930s, Ford Motor Company's massive Rouge factory employed more than 100,000 workers. The complex included more than 15 million square feet of floor space and 120 miles of conveyors that turned out a new car every 49 seconds. In 1936, when this photo was taken, the people of Ford built more than 790,000 automobiles.
- January 15, 1936
- Collections - Artifact
Filming the Assembly Line at the Ford Rouge Plant, January 1936
At its peak in the 1930s, Ford Motor Company's massive Rouge factory employed more than 100,000 workers. The complex included more than 15 million square feet of floor space and 120 miles of conveyors that turned out a new car every 49 seconds. In 1936, when this photo was taken, the people of Ford built more than 790,000 automobiles.
- Aerial View of Ford Motor Company Branch in Richmond, California, September 15, 1931 - Ford Motor Company opened an Albert Kahn-designed assembly plant in Richmond, California, in 1930. During World War II, employees at the factory built tanks, jeeps, and other military vehicles. Ford closed the Richmond plant in 1956. Today it houses private businesses and a visitor center for Rosie the Riveter / World War II Home Front National Historical Park.
- September 15, 1931
- Collections - Artifact
Aerial View of Ford Motor Company Branch in Richmond, California, September 15, 1931
Ford Motor Company opened an Albert Kahn-designed assembly plant in Richmond, California, in 1930. During World War II, employees at the factory built tanks, jeeps, and other military vehicles. Ford closed the Richmond plant in 1956. Today it houses private businesses and a visitor center for Rosie the Riveter / World War II Home Front National Historical Park.
- Stamping Presses in the Ford Plant in Buffalo, New York, April 1952 - Ford Motor Company opened a stamping plant in Buffalo, New York, in 1950. The facility produced sheet metal stampings and welded sub-assembly components for other Ford factories. The Buffalo Stamping Plant was expanded several times over the years. By the 2020s, its floor space had doubled from an initial 1.2 million square feet to more than 2.4 million square feet.
- April 17, 1952
- Collections - Artifact
Stamping Presses in the Ford Plant in Buffalo, New York, April 1952
Ford Motor Company opened a stamping plant in Buffalo, New York, in 1950. The facility produced sheet metal stampings and welded sub-assembly components for other Ford factories. The Buffalo Stamping Plant was expanded several times over the years. By the 2020s, its floor space had doubled from an initial 1.2 million square feet to more than 2.4 million square feet.
- Army Helmets Transferred from Tenth to Ninth Floor by Chute, Ford Motor Company Philadelphia Plant, 1917-1918 - 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.
- 1917-1918
- Collections - Artifact
Army Helmets Transferred from Tenth to Ninth Floor by Chute, Ford Motor Company Philadelphia Plant, 1917-1918
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.
- Model A Assembly Line at Ford Motor Company's Moscow Factory, 1930 - In 1929, Ford Motor Company signed an agreement with the Soviet government to help open two plants in the U.S.S.R. at Nizhny Novgorod and Moscow. Ford provided detailed drawings of factory buildings and equipment, and it sent engineers and foremen to oversee construction and startup. Although Ford lost money on the venture, it earned favorable international publicity.
- November 06, 1930
- Collections - Artifact
Model A Assembly Line at Ford Motor Company's Moscow Factory, 1930
In 1929, Ford Motor Company signed an agreement with the Soviet government to help open two plants in the U.S.S.R. at Nizhny Novgorod and Moscow. Ford provided detailed drawings of factory buildings and equipment, and it sent engineers and foremen to oversee construction and startup. Although Ford lost money on the venture, it earned favorable international publicity.
- Ford Motor Company Twin Cities Assembly Plant, St. Paul, Minnesota, circa 1935 - Ford Motor Company opened its Twin Cities Assembly Plant at St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1925. Situated on the Mississippi River, the factory generated its own power through an adjacent hydroelectric dam. After building a mix of vehicles, the plant converted to all-truck production in 1978. The facility was producing Ranger pickup trucks when it closed in 2011.
- circa 1935
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Motor Company Twin Cities Assembly Plant, St. Paul, Minnesota, circa 1935
Ford Motor Company opened its Twin Cities Assembly Plant at St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1925. Situated on the Mississippi River, the factory generated its own power through an adjacent hydroelectric dam. After building a mix of vehicles, the plant converted to all-truck production in 1978. The facility was producing Ranger pickup trucks when it closed in 2011.
- Oil Painting, Rouge Plant, by Irving R. Bacon, 1949 -
- 1949
- Collections - Artifact
Oil Painting, Rouge Plant, by Irving R. Bacon, 1949
- One Millionth Vehicle Built at Ford Motor Comapany Assembly Plant, Lorain, Ohio, April 3, 1962 - Ford Motor Company opened an assembly plant in Lorain, Ohio, in 1958. Over the years, the factory manufactured various Ford and Mercury models. On April 3, 1962, employees celebrated production of the plant's one millionth vehicle: a Ford Econoline van. Workers at Lorain built another seven million vehicles before the plant closed in 2005.
- April 03, 1962
- Collections - Artifact
One Millionth Vehicle Built at Ford Motor Comapany Assembly Plant, Lorain, Ohio, April 3, 1962
Ford Motor Company opened an assembly plant in Lorain, Ohio, in 1958. Over the years, the factory manufactured various Ford and Mercury models. On April 3, 1962, employees celebrated production of the plant's one millionth vehicle: a Ford Econoline van. Workers at Lorain built another seven million vehicles before the plant closed in 2005.
- 1,000,000th Vehicle Built at Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant, Lorain, Ohio, April 3, 1962 - Ford Motor Company opened an assembly plant in Lorain, Ohio, in 1958. Over the years, the factory manufactured various Ford and Mercury models. On April 3, 1962, employees celebrated production of the plant's one millionth vehicle: a Ford Econoline van. Workers at Lorain built another seven million vehicles before the plant closed in 2005.
- April 03, 1962
- Collections - Artifact
1,000,000th Vehicle Built at Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant, Lorain, Ohio, April 3, 1962
Ford Motor Company opened an assembly plant in Lorain, Ohio, in 1958. Over the years, the factory manufactured various Ford and Mercury models. On April 3, 1962, employees celebrated production of the plant's one millionth vehicle: a Ford Econoline van. Workers at Lorain built another seven million vehicles before the plant closed in 2005.
- M20 Armored Car Built at the Ford Motor Company Chicago Assembly Plant, March 1945 - Ford's T-26 Command Car, designated M20 by the U.S. Army, combined speed with protection. The vehicle featured six-wheel drive, a cruising range of 400 miles, and a top speed of 56 miles per hour. Armor plating, up to 3/4-inch thick, and a top-mounted .50 caliber machine gun provided further defense. Ford built 3,791 M20 vehicles, all at its Chicago plant.
- March 12, 1945
- Collections - Artifact
M20 Armored Car Built at the Ford Motor Company Chicago Assembly Plant, March 1945
Ford's T-26 Command Car, designated M20 by the U.S. Army, combined speed with protection. The vehicle featured six-wheel drive, a cruising range of 400 miles, and a top speed of 56 miles per hour. Armor plating, up to 3/4-inch thick, and a top-mounted .50 caliber machine gun provided further defense. Ford built 3,791 M20 vehicles, all at its Chicago plant.