The Model T
As it was previously mentioned, the Ford Model T was Ford Motor Company's most famous creation. Although it was not the first automobile to ever be created, it was the first automobile to ever be mass produced by Ford. The automobile industry actually started in the late nineteenth century, but did not gain as much popularity until Ford came along. Ford's creation, the Model T, was hailed as if it were from the heavens. It was perfect for the time. The Model T was purposely designed to handle country roads. It was also built easily enough that most people people with some mechanical knowledge could be able to fix it. Because of these aspects, Ford was ambitious about this automobile. At one point, he wanted to be able to make one million Model T's in one year, because of the company's manufacturing capabilities and the Model T's relatively simplistic design. With this automobile, Ford believed that if the price dropped and the quality remained the same, then the overall amount of consumers will go up drastically. With this highly successful automobile, he also believed that more cars and lower prices resulted in less corporate profit, the ability to sufficiently supply the demand for the Model T, and be able to provide employment to those who needed it. Surprisingly, Ford thought all three of those results were good, even less corporate profit ("Henry Ford's Business Philosophy" 1).
Before the Model T, the overall transportation sector of the United States was shoddy. With the exception of the railroad, transportation of people was seemingly nonexistent, especially for the working class. After Ford Motor Company introduced the Model T, everything changed. At the end of of the year 1927, the Model T's production ended. This ended the reign of the most successful automobile to date, selling over 15 million units ("Henry Ford" American 1). Eventually after the Model T's production ended, the company issued out the Model A, which was very similar to the Model T, but possessed some more sophisticated qualities. Ford admired the Model T so much that when the board of directors made a prototype to the possible replacement of the Model T, Ford was infuriated and took his anger out on the prototype. Not only did that show Ford's desire to be in charge, but also his desire to not change what was working fine ("Henry Ford" The American Experience).
The automobile industry in general saw an enormous upturn in the early twentieth century. Though he cannot take credit for all the industry's success, Henry Ford is one of the main factors that caused this increase, as was his extremely successful Model T. His Model T was said to have contained about 5000 pieces that were the same for every single automobile. This standardization of of parts caused the all of the automobiles, especially the Model T, to be essentially identical to one another. This allowed for many cars to be made a fixed. Ford was the number one automobile company until the Great Depression of the late 1920s hit ("Henry Ford" The American Experience). It would be safe to assume that before the Great Depression, the Model T sold close to, if not more than, half of the automobile industry's output of automobiles. Prior to 1900, there were about 300 automobiles made each year between 1886 and 1898. In 1900, there were about 4,200 automobiles made in the United States, not just by Ford Motor Company. The number of automobiles shot up drastically in 1914, when there were roughly 570,000 automobiles made nationwide. It is no coincidence that the number of national automobiles rose so quickly. Between 1900 and 1914, the Model T was invented, produced via the assembly line, and sold nationwide. The Model T definitely was an enormous influence in the large number difference (Osgood 432). Because of the Model T, Ford became very wealthy. It is said that his wealth rivaled that of John D. Rockefeller at this time, and that his wealth was much larger than J.P. Morgan (Tedlow 123).
The Model T was revolutionary, as was its creator. Because of Henry Ford and his genius invention, the life of the average American changed forever. Because of Ford and his philosophy of supporting low prices and the working class, the average man could afford to have a Model T. This created a sense of mobility and liberation from the slums of the city. Because of this enhancement of transportation, the working class could afford to travel long distances in a short time, effectively allowing them more freedom. With the greater length of freedom, cities expanded as did their workers. Rather than living in a close proximity to their work place, a worker could live a longer distance away and drive to work, which is the norm in today's society. Not only did the urban workers benefit, but the farmers did as well, which is what is best for the nation. The cultures of cities and towns began to overlap and cause blending of cultures, which is what The United States is about. This freedom, mobility, and liberation from the entrapment of the slums of the city, or the farm when referring to farmers, allowed the United States to essentially shrink because of the distance capabilities. These capabilities are vital to the modern day society and are often taken for granted.
Pictures:
Header: "Ford T Photo"
Side: "1928 Ford Model A Tudor Sedan"
Before the Model T, the overall transportation sector of the United States was shoddy. With the exception of the railroad, transportation of people was seemingly nonexistent, especially for the working class. After Ford Motor Company introduced the Model T, everything changed. At the end of of the year 1927, the Model T's production ended. This ended the reign of the most successful automobile to date, selling over 15 million units ("Henry Ford" American 1). Eventually after the Model T's production ended, the company issued out the Model A, which was very similar to the Model T, but possessed some more sophisticated qualities. Ford admired the Model T so much that when the board of directors made a prototype to the possible replacement of the Model T, Ford was infuriated and took his anger out on the prototype. Not only did that show Ford's desire to be in charge, but also his desire to not change what was working fine ("Henry Ford" The American Experience).
The automobile industry in general saw an enormous upturn in the early twentieth century. Though he cannot take credit for all the industry's success, Henry Ford is one of the main factors that caused this increase, as was his extremely successful Model T. His Model T was said to have contained about 5000 pieces that were the same for every single automobile. This standardization of of parts caused the all of the automobiles, especially the Model T, to be essentially identical to one another. This allowed for many cars to be made a fixed. Ford was the number one automobile company until the Great Depression of the late 1920s hit ("Henry Ford" The American Experience). It would be safe to assume that before the Great Depression, the Model T sold close to, if not more than, half of the automobile industry's output of automobiles. Prior to 1900, there were about 300 automobiles made each year between 1886 and 1898. In 1900, there were about 4,200 automobiles made in the United States, not just by Ford Motor Company. The number of automobiles shot up drastically in 1914, when there were roughly 570,000 automobiles made nationwide. It is no coincidence that the number of national automobiles rose so quickly. Between 1900 and 1914, the Model T was invented, produced via the assembly line, and sold nationwide. The Model T definitely was an enormous influence in the large number difference (Osgood 432). Because of the Model T, Ford became very wealthy. It is said that his wealth rivaled that of John D. Rockefeller at this time, and that his wealth was much larger than J.P. Morgan (Tedlow 123).
The Model T was revolutionary, as was its creator. Because of Henry Ford and his genius invention, the life of the average American changed forever. Because of Ford and his philosophy of supporting low prices and the working class, the average man could afford to have a Model T. This created a sense of mobility and liberation from the slums of the city. Because of this enhancement of transportation, the working class could afford to travel long distances in a short time, effectively allowing them more freedom. With the greater length of freedom, cities expanded as did their workers. Rather than living in a close proximity to their work place, a worker could live a longer distance away and drive to work, which is the norm in today's society. Not only did the urban workers benefit, but the farmers did as well, which is what is best for the nation. The cultures of cities and towns began to overlap and cause blending of cultures, which is what The United States is about. This freedom, mobility, and liberation from the entrapment of the slums of the city, or the farm when referring to farmers, allowed the United States to essentially shrink because of the distance capabilities. These capabilities are vital to the modern day society and are often taken for granted.
Pictures:
Header: "Ford T Photo"
Side: "1928 Ford Model A Tudor Sedan"