Biography
Henry Ford was born on July 30, 1863 in Dearfield, Michigan. He was the eldest son of William Ford and Mary Litogot Ford. Starting at a young age, while working on his father's farm, Henry developed a deep interest in the machines of the farm rather than the farm work itself. Ford's interest in machines impelled him to find a mechanical job outside of the family farm. Ford received a formal education, which was mostly taught by his mother, until he was fifteen years old. Ford's first job was at James Flowers and Brothers Machine Shop, where he worked 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. His next job was at Detroit Dry Dock Company. He worked on the steam engines and earned a salary of $2.50 per week. Meanwhile, he had a $3.50 a week rent. At the age of fifteen, Ford found himself making money by repairing watches to pay for the rest of the rent. This may have started Ford's early sympathy for the common man ("Henry Ford" Business 1) From an early age, Ford was known to disassemble and reassemble almost all the machines or technology he could get his hands on. Later in 1891, Ford became the head engineer at the Edison Illumination Company, where he met a famous and life-long friend, Thomas Alva Edison ("Henry Ford " American 1). Though they did not realize it at the time, Edison and Ford would be good friends until Edison's death. While working at the Edison Illumination Company, Ford spent any and all free time developing his Quadracycle, fueled by a gas motor. This invention, which is featured with him in the picture above, was completed in 1896, starting Ford's long road to success. His Quadracycle was not much like the modern day automobile that everybody is well aware of. This invention had many limitations including: a maximum speed of twenty miles per hour, no brakes included, and no reverse function. This invention eventually evolved into a fully functional race car. This new race car competed on a ten mile course and won, even with an inexperienced driver like Ford at the wheel. Ford became very well known and desired for work after this ("Henry Ford" The American Experience).
After his victory in the race, many attracted investors contacted him. They wanted to start a company. On August 5, 1899, Ford became the chief engineer and one of the founders of Detroit Automobile Company ("Henry Ford" The American Experience) It was later renamed after the brains of the operation to the Henry Ford Company. Ironically, Ford was forced out in 1902, because of conflicts with him and the board of directors. Henry Leland, who was on the board of directors, then recreated the Henry Ford Company into a company by the name of Cadillac. In 1903, with a new group of investors, Ford founded the Ford Motor Company (Davidson and Sweeney 168-169).
With his new company under his control, Ford quickly went to work and in 1908, the Model T was introduced. Known for its simplicity and practicality, the Model T was the car for the common man. This simple machine had 20 horsepower and three speeds, which was perfect for the common man. For the first few years, the Ford Model T was created with conventional methods of the same workers working on different individual machines. In 1913, Ford changed all of that. Rather than having a few workers on most, if not all, aspects of an individual car, Ford decided to have all workers work on all the cars. This method was achieved through the moving assembly line that would constantly move the products on a conveyor belt for workers to do the same, simple task (Davidson and Sweeney 172).
In 1918, Ford's only son Edsel, became the new president of Ford Motor Company, because Henry Ford decided to step down. One year later, the gigantic River Rogue plant was built and supplies and sales of the Model T skyrocketed as a result ("Henry Ford" Business 1). After about sixteen years of being sold in vast quantities, production and sales of the Model T ended. The Model T sold over 15 million units in its sixteen year span (Davidson and Sweeney 166). After the Model T, the company began to sink. The company had some small problems, which will be discussed on later pages, until 1943 when Henry Ford's son and Ford Motor Company's president Edsel dies. From there, Henry Ford takes over until his death on April 7, 1947 ("Henry Ford" The American Experience). After his death, Ford was remembered mostly for three things: his assembly line, his company and its Model T, and his museum and Greenfield Village that were started in 1929 (Lacey 248).
Pictures:
Header: "Henry Ford, Best, Quotes, Sayings, Business, Profits, Deep."
Side: "Henry Ford and the Quadracycle"
After his victory in the race, many attracted investors contacted him. They wanted to start a company. On August 5, 1899, Ford became the chief engineer and one of the founders of Detroit Automobile Company ("Henry Ford" The American Experience) It was later renamed after the brains of the operation to the Henry Ford Company. Ironically, Ford was forced out in 1902, because of conflicts with him and the board of directors. Henry Leland, who was on the board of directors, then recreated the Henry Ford Company into a company by the name of Cadillac. In 1903, with a new group of investors, Ford founded the Ford Motor Company (Davidson and Sweeney 168-169).
With his new company under his control, Ford quickly went to work and in 1908, the Model T was introduced. Known for its simplicity and practicality, the Model T was the car for the common man. This simple machine had 20 horsepower and three speeds, which was perfect for the common man. For the first few years, the Ford Model T was created with conventional methods of the same workers working on different individual machines. In 1913, Ford changed all of that. Rather than having a few workers on most, if not all, aspects of an individual car, Ford decided to have all workers work on all the cars. This method was achieved through the moving assembly line that would constantly move the products on a conveyor belt for workers to do the same, simple task (Davidson and Sweeney 172).
In 1918, Ford's only son Edsel, became the new president of Ford Motor Company, because Henry Ford decided to step down. One year later, the gigantic River Rogue plant was built and supplies and sales of the Model T skyrocketed as a result ("Henry Ford" Business 1). After about sixteen years of being sold in vast quantities, production and sales of the Model T ended. The Model T sold over 15 million units in its sixteen year span (Davidson and Sweeney 166). After the Model T, the company began to sink. The company had some small problems, which will be discussed on later pages, until 1943 when Henry Ford's son and Ford Motor Company's president Edsel dies. From there, Henry Ford takes over until his death on April 7, 1947 ("Henry Ford" The American Experience). After his death, Ford was remembered mostly for three things: his assembly line, his company and its Model T, and his museum and Greenfield Village that were started in 1929 (Lacey 248).
Pictures:
Header: "Henry Ford, Best, Quotes, Sayings, Business, Profits, Deep."
Side: "Henry Ford and the Quadracycle"