The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-16
WILLS LEAVES FORD
TO START NEW LINE
Well Known Engineer Has
Big Plans to Be Announced
Later.

c. Harold wills has severed business
relations with the Ford Motor Company
and Henry Ford which cover period
Of nearly eighteen years.
Mr.. willss association with Henry
Ford. beginning March 20, 1901. ante
dates the organization OF the Ford
Motor Company by two years. In
fact, Mr.. Willis was the FIRST assooi-
ate Mr.. Ford selected in his original
venture as an independent motor car
manufacturer.
While unprepared as yet to make
any definite public statement Of his
plans. Mr.. Wills announces that he Is
going into a manufacturing business
somewhat similar to the one to which he
has given nearly two decades of his
extraordinarily successful and brilliant
career. He expects to open temporary
Offices in the Book Building and is not
aniliated with any other company or or
ganization.
1t is generally conceded that c. Har-
old Wills Is responsible for two vastly
important factors In the amazing sue
cess of the Ford Motor Company. The
first OF these factors is the designing of
of the Ford car. Mr. Wills has had
facture of every automobile that the
Ford Motor Company has produced
since Its Organization June 16. 1903.
The second important factor in Ford
success is the work Mr.. Wills has done
in designing. organizing and developing
the huge manufacturing equipment and
facilities which have made It possible
for the Ford Motor Company to produce
nearly n million automobiles year.
hAA Er At
ysars who has employed. trained and
developed the manufacturing heads Of
the organization. 1t was he who de-
signed special machinery and equipment,
original methods and processes of manu-
facture to solve these problems unique In
industry. because thus far industry had
not dreamed Of such stupendous produo-
ton.
To solve these problems for the Ford
Motor Company. to make possible the
Ford car. a million Ford cars year.
Mr. Wills has gone into many branches
of applied science and Industrial engt-
reering. He has had charge of the COM
nlercializing Of vanadium steels, a vital
factor In the strength. lightness and
simplicity OF all the cars Mr.. Wills has
designed. He has perfected the com
mercial use OF the new molly bdenum
steels. which Mr.. Wills prophesiee will
soon be vital factor in motor car
manufacture.
Mr.. Wills played an exceedingly i'm
portant part in the development of the
Liberty motor. His engineering and
Misunderstanding ability was concen-
trated upon the task OF quantity as well
as quality production OF Liberty motors.
lie it was, also. who built up the or
ganization and equipment which in an
amazingly short time were making an
tal laI nj nf ~,
motors.
In other vital war work and plans Mr..
Wills served as confidential adviser to
the War Department. Several of his
epoch making inventions for the discom7
ilture of the Hun had progressed far be-
yond the experimental stage when the
srmistice was declared.
Indeed 1t is probably no exaggeration
TO say that for his genius in the orig
inal application Of industrial science,
in devising manufacturing equipment
and perfecting organization, in finding
lew methods OF accomplishing unprece-
dented industrial achievements MIR.
Wills is to-day one OF the outstanding
f2ures in American industry.
Considerable pressure Is already being
brought to bear on Mr.. Wills by varl-
Gus cities to secure the location Of his
business undertaking. While the matter
H. still undetermined. Detroit is hopeful
OF keeping to herself Mr.. Wills's con-
tributions to the industrial supremacy
and civic progress of his native city.
The question as to just what new and
startling development Mr.. Wills will
now turn his brilliant abilities and in
domtable energy is generally conceded
10 be one of pretty vital Importance not
only to mis- fellow townsmen of Detroit
but to the manufacturing interests and
some 100000 motor car owners OF the
country.
Il am anxious to do something worth
while" Mr. Wills explains and this
Feems an opportune time to start"