Mikado
07-18-2008, 09:09 PM
On March 19th 2008, a historically significant anniversary passed without any real fanfare; namely the 100th anniversary of the public introduction of the Model-T Ford; the car that, more than any, put the World on wheels. Contrary to popular perception, Henry Ford did not invent the automobile, nor was the Model-T the first mass-produced auto, it was however, the first car to be mass produced on a moving assembly line, however, that wasnt until 1913!
When Ford began producing cars in 1903, he was building "toys for the rich", as were other auto makers of the time; however, in the back of his mind, he was planning something new, a car for the masses......even if he had to fight every other director in his company to do so!(And he did, of course) What made the T unique, for it's day, was that it offered so much more, for so much less money! At a time when fenders, doors, windsheilds and even headlights were optional on most cars, they were standard on the Ford, not to mention 4 cylinders, which beat Fords "low-priced" competion, most of which made due with 1 or 2 cylinder engines! (And, while most other cars of the day were made of wood, iron and thin sheet steel, the Ford was made of the finest alloy materials!)
Thus, by 1913, a full half of the cars in the World were Model-T Fords;
which led to a new problem, they couldnt make enough of them to match orders. the answer was to be the production line; supposedly modelled on the conveyor belt system of the Chicago slaughter houses.....only, in reverse!!
(Instead of taking animals apart as they moved along a line, Ford planned to put Ts together!) The line led to riches all around , both for the Ford motor co and to Ford workers; and led to the mass-produced World that we live in today!
Model T production ended in 1927 after just over 17 million T cars were built, a record for a single model, until finally eclipsed by the VW Beetle, in 1972....except, the T did it in 20 years, wheras, it took 34 years for the Beetle to do the same.
Note: At the time, Henry Ford took all the credit for the assembly line but, we now know that credit for it's design and engineering should go to his production supervisor, Charles E. Sorensen, who actually built it. (Though likely, the idea WAS Ford's)
When Ford began producing cars in 1903, he was building "toys for the rich", as were other auto makers of the time; however, in the back of his mind, he was planning something new, a car for the masses......even if he had to fight every other director in his company to do so!(And he did, of course) What made the T unique, for it's day, was that it offered so much more, for so much less money! At a time when fenders, doors, windsheilds and even headlights were optional on most cars, they were standard on the Ford, not to mention 4 cylinders, which beat Fords "low-priced" competion, most of which made due with 1 or 2 cylinder engines! (And, while most other cars of the day were made of wood, iron and thin sheet steel, the Ford was made of the finest alloy materials!)
Thus, by 1913, a full half of the cars in the World were Model-T Fords;
which led to a new problem, they couldnt make enough of them to match orders. the answer was to be the production line; supposedly modelled on the conveyor belt system of the Chicago slaughter houses.....only, in reverse!!
(Instead of taking animals apart as they moved along a line, Ford planned to put Ts together!) The line led to riches all around , both for the Ford motor co and to Ford workers; and led to the mass-produced World that we live in today!
Model T production ended in 1927 after just over 17 million T cars were built, a record for a single model, until finally eclipsed by the VW Beetle, in 1972....except, the T did it in 20 years, wheras, it took 34 years for the Beetle to do the same.
Note: At the time, Henry Ford took all the credit for the assembly line but, we now know that credit for it's design and engineering should go to his production supervisor, Charles E. Sorensen, who actually built it. (Though likely, the idea WAS Ford's)