Henry Ford History - The Face of 20th Century Innovation Final WordsFinal Words The Face of 20th Century Innovation Henry Ford is a household name, synonymous with the Ford Motor Company. Perhaps you’re one of the 2 million Ford owners in the U.S. that drives a Ford SUV, truck, or hybrid to work each day. Behind the well-known manufacturing of classic American vehicles is a man responsible for the innovation: Henry Ford. Where did it all begin? How did Henry Ford shape America as we know it today? These lofty questions can be best answered by reviewing Henry Ford’s accomplishments over his lifespan. If you’re unfamiliar with Mr. Ford, he’s celebrated for his career as an American businessman, born in 1863. He’s famous for introducing the Model T car to the U.S., as well as creating Ford Motor Company. Yet these achievements are barely scratching the surface of what Henry Ford contributed to U.S. history. The reason that Henry Ford was so innovative, so courageous, and so willing to pioneer in his field was because he was focused on American independence. Henry Ford established the Ford Motor Company with free enterprise in mind.

He not only wanted to succeed as a businessman, but he wanted to promote economic stability in the U.S. Henry achieved this by expanding his company globally, providing jobs for hundreds of thousands of hard-working Americans, and insisting on paying his loyal employees fair wages. Most importantly, let’s not confuse fact with fiction. Henry Ford was not responsible for inventing the automobile or the assembly line. Nonetheless, he was responsible for shaping and engineering both inventions in a way that impacted history. That, friends, is innovation. We’ll cover all this and more in a timeline of Henry Ford’s life and accomplishments: Henry chose to deviate from the path provided by his farmer father and instead pursued his love of machines. Henry Ford was born in Michigan in 1863. Even as a young boy, he had strong leadership characteristics; he spent his time directing his friends to build small-scale steam engines instead of playing with toys. Henry also learned other hands-on tricks of the trade that would serve him well in his future career as an engineer and manufacturer: He was a self-taught watch repairman, which provided a foundational understanding of machine mechanics.

Henry left the family farm in 1879 to apprentice with the Michigan Car Company at the tender age of 16. He soon became an operator and repairman of steam engines, as well as a bookkeeper. In this time, Henry established his ability and preference to work independently with the potential to stand out in his industry. After returning to the family farm, Henry married Clara Bryant in 1888. When Henry landed a job as a night engineer with the Edison Electric Illuminating Company, the couple moved back to Detroit in 1891. This new job utilized Henry’s skills as an engineer, while teaching him more of the hands-on trade of electrician. Though Henry was promoted to chief engineer in 1896, he had his sights set higher. He was always drawn to inventing and experimenting, building what were called “horseless carriages” in his tinkering time off-the-clock. Working with other engineer friends, Henry Ford built the first self-propelled car called the Quadricycle in 1896.

The Ford Quadricycle ran on four wheels and was steered with a tiller, similar to a boat; the vehicle was able to move forward in two speeds but didn’t have the ability to reverse. Because of his innovation Thomas Edison to present his automotive plans. Ford was asked by Edison to build a second car model in 1898. These seemingly small steps forward in the life of Henry Ford were enough to get the ball rolling. Henry merged his inventive designs with his sharp business sense to establish the Ford Motor Company in 1903. All About the Finally, the Model T Ford, an inexpensive car for every man, was introduced in 1908. At first, the Model T was manufactured in several color options; by the time that 1913 rolled around, Ford chose to produce the Model T in black only. According to Henry, “Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black.” The Model T Ford was available in different body styles, such as: seat touring car seat runabout car seat town car The Model T ran smoothly with a simple yet powerful four-cylinder engine.

The engine had 20 hp, offering a top speed of 40 to 45 mph. In those days, the Model T started with a hand crank instead of a key ignition. After 1920, select Model T cars included a battery powered starter. The Ford Model T was the first vehicle to be produced globally, in countries like Canada, England, Germany, Spain, Japan, and more. Though the Model T people realize that it followed on the heels of the Model N in 1907, sold for $600. At the time, the Model N was the best-selling car in the U.S. But Henry didn’t stop there. He wanted a cheaper, higher-quality automobile built for the masses: Problem solved in the low-cost Model T, aka “Tin Lizzie.” In total, over 15 million Model T Fords were produced globally; production officially concluded in 1927. Why was the Model T called the Tin Lizzie? The moniker came about when a Model T, dubbed Old Liz, was raced up Pikes Peak in Colorado in 1922. Since Old Liz was sorely in need of a paint job, it was compared to a tin can.

When Old Liz won the race, the nickname Tin Lizzie stuck around! Henry’s vision for the Model T Ford can be summed up in this inspirational quote: I will build a car for the great multitude. It will be large enough for the family, but small enough for the individual to run and care for. It will be constructed of the best materials, by the best men to be hired, after the simplest designs that modern engineering can devise. But it will be so low in price that no man making a good salary will be unable to own one – and enjoy with his family the blessing of hours of pleasure in God’s great open spaces. 50 Worst Cars of All Time Would you be surprised to learn that the Model T was called one of the “50 Worst Cars of All Time” by Time Magazine? Never one to pull punches, Time stated that the Tin Lizzie was originally designed using the mass production model of a slaughterhouse disassembly line, crafted by an engineer named William C. Klann. While Time acknowledged that Henry’s Model T “supercharged the nation’s economy and transformed the landscape in ways unimagined,” the gas powered vehicle also made America dependent on gasoline more than a century later.

Michigan In spite of such foreboding pitfalls, the Model T remained popular and historically significant throughout its production because of its simple driving power and ease in operation, even on rough roads. The Model T served as the catalyst of Henry’s success, enabling the Ford Motor Company to open a new manufacturing plant in Michigan. It was there that the first automobile moving assembly line was introduced in 1913. What was the significance of Ford’s ground-breaking assembly line production? In a nutshell, the use of an automotive assembly line enabled the vehicle price to be lowered from a costly $850 in 1908 to less than $300 in 1925. Henry was true to his word. He created a popular, inexpensive, user-friendly vehicle in the Model T, which made up nearly 40% of all vehicle sales in the U.S. at the time. Though Model T production ultimately ceased to make way for newer Ford models and other competing brands, Americans continue to favor the iconic Ford car as a symbol of U.S. history. Henry firmly believed that the Model T was “the universal car.” He envisioned it to be reliable yet cheap with little to no maintenance.

total model t production Because of this manufacturing success, the Ford Motor Company was able to boost the local economy and hire thousands of employees. Henry remained steadfast in his principles and commitment to excellence by paying employees an unheard of wage of $5 per day for an eight hour workday. In 1914, this more than doubled the standard wage of $2.34 a day for nine hours. To put it in perspective, Henry Ford’s generous wage was equivalent to $110 a day in 2011. Henry’s career took a twist in 1918 when he named his son Edsel Ford as president of the Ford Motor Company. Nonetheless, Henry maintained the final authority on all major issues behind the scenes. Henry’s booming career was not without its share of peaks and valleys. Henry maintained his fierce independence as a business leader; he struggled with investor interference in the Ford Motor Company and chose to buy out shareholders in 1919. As a result, Henry Ford became the sole owner of the largest motor company in the world After Model T assembly shut down in 1927 due to declining sales, Henry decided to return to his roots.

He introduced a distinctly unique vehicle called the Model A that was manufactured in an even larger Michigan factory. Henry’s dream of mass production continued at what was then the largest factory in the world, where vehicles as well as glass, tires, steel, and other car parts were produced. To create a top notch vehicle in the Model A, Henry worked side-by-side with his son; Henry designed the technical components of the Model A, while Edsel was responsible for the exterior of the vehicle. The Model A was road-ready by 1927, where it was welcomed by the public. As of 1931, over 4 million Model A’s had been produced. In 1932, the Ford Motor Company implemented a yearly model change system to continually introduce new vehicles to the market. 1932 was a remarkable year in Ford’s history as Henry announced his latest invention, the V-8 engine. Despite his commitment to automobile innovation and design, Henry wasn’t able to shield the Ford Motor Company from the Great Depression. During that time, Ford laid off workers and had to significantly lower wages. Henry famously fought with the United Auto Workers Union when they tried to organize against the Ford Motor Company.

In 1941, Henry had no choice but to sign a union contract. The Ford Motor Company devoted itself to complete military production in 1942, and public production didn’t resume until 1945. Within that time frame, Henry Ford’s influence dwindled altogether. Edsel Ford died in 1943, and Henry passed over control of the company to his grandson Henry II. world war The Ford Motor Company remained a noticeable presence in both world wars, in spite of resistance from Henry. Henry was initially strongly opposed to war but chose to contribute to manufacturing after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. Ford produced all-purpose jeeps exclusively for the U.S. military in 1941. Within that time frame, Henry Ford’s influence dwindled altogether. Edsel Ford died in 1943, and Henry passed over control of the company to his grandson Henry II. Henry Ford died at the age of 83 in 1947. Henry Ford as an inventor and businessman impacted the history of America as we know it. Economically, Henry contributed to the nation by breaking his back to create an affordable, well-manufactured, American-made vehicle in the Model T.

More Americans were able to drive in the early 20th Century because of Ford’s affordably priced car. Henry Ford used his business influence to blur the lines between lower and upper class. The average American was able to save money on buying a car to dramatically improve the efficiency and lower the cost of transportation. Since almost anyone could purchase and drive a vehicle, employees were able to move farther away from workplaces, supporting both urban and rural development. 22%SOLD In 1956, the Ford Motor Company sold common stock. 10.2 million shares were sold on the first day, roughly 22% of the company. 75%ACQUIRED With each decade, the Ford Motor Company continued to progress in power and innovation, following in the footsteps of their leader Henry Ford. Ford acquired 75% of Aston Martin in 1987. $5.3 Billion And was able to tip the scales in 1988 to earn $5.3 billion globally, the highest revenue of any vehicle manufacturer to date.

To this day, the Ford Motor Company remains successful, with steady sales throughout a recently sluggish economy: 2004 Ford Motor Company Timeline | Ford.com 1896 Henry Ford builds the Quadricycle. Henry Ford's first vehicle rode on four bicycle wheels and was powered by a four-horsepower engine. Instead of a steering wheel, the Quadricycle had a tiller. The gearbox had only two forward gears with no reverse. 1899 Henry Ford joins a group that founds the Detroit Automobile Company. Ford leaves company within one year. 1901 Henry Ford defeats the top racecar driver of the era. Ford designed the 26-horsepower Sweepstakes and defeated Alexander Winton's 70-horsepower Bullet in 10 laps around the one-mile oval of the Detroit Driving Club. The victory lead to Henry Ford's second short-lived attempt at auto manufacture, the Henry Ford Company. 1903 The Ford Motor Company is incorporated. With 12 investors and 1,000 shares, the company had spent almost all of its $28,000 cash investment by the time it sold the first Ford Model A on July 23, 1903.

But by October 1, 1903 Ford Motor Company had turned a profit of $37,000. 1904 Ford Motor Company of Canada is founded. Ford’s first international plant was built in Walkerville (now Windsor), Ontario, right across the Detroit River from Ford’s existing facilities. The company was a separate organization with its own set of shareholders. It was created to sell vehicles not just in Canada, but also all across the then-current British Empire. 1907 Ford introduces the scripted typeface of its trademark. Childe Harold Wills designed the Ford logo. He used his grandfather’s stencil set, which was based on the style of writing taught in schools when Ford and Wills were children. However, the Ford oval would not be featured on a car until the 1927 Model A. 1908 Ford Introduces the Model T. Henry Ford’s Model T put the world on wheels with a simple, affordable, durable automobile. Ford sold 15 million Model Ts before ceasing production in May 1927, making it one of the best-selling vehicles of all time, and arguably the most famous car in the world.

In 1908, there were only about 18,000 miles of paved roads in the US. To deal with the primitive roads, Ford used light and strong vanadium steel alloy for critical parts. At the time, most of the automobiles in existence were luxurious novelties rather than affordable transport. But to appeal to the mass market, Ford’s vehicle also had to be reliable and easy to maintain. Fortunately for millions of new drivers, it was. 1908 Ford opens its first overseas sales branch in Paris. 1913 Ford introduces the integrated moving assembly line to auto production. Ford's innovation eventually reduced the Model T's chassis assembly line from 12.5 to 1.5 hours, and in doing so precipitated a revolution in manufacturing. The accelerating speed with which Ford could produce cars helped him continue to lower the price of the Model T. 1914 Ford institutes the famous "$5 Day". In 1914, $5 per day was double the existing pay rate for factory workers, and on top of that, Ford reduced the workday from nine to eight hours.

The day after the “$5 Day” was announced, an estimated 10,000 people lined up outside Ford’s employment office hoping to be hired. Ford’s increased pay greatly improved employee retention since the monotonous and strenuous work of the moving assembly line was causing high turnover. The increased wage had the added effect of allowing many of Ford’s employees to purchase the cars they produced, and the eight hour workday allowed Ford to run 3 shifts a day instead of 2. The increased pay, increased leisure time, and even increased the personal mobility of car ownership were all critical factors in the creation of an American middle class. 1917 Ford begins construction of the River Rouge Complex. It would become the largest integrated factory in the world by the following decade. Throughout its history, the self-contained Rouge Complex has contained a wide array of industries necessary to produce cars, including steel mills, a tire factory, a glass factory, a power plant and a reception depot for coal, iron ore, rubber and lumber. In the 1930s the complex employed over 100,000 workers. Today the River Rouge Complex continues to evolve to meet the needs of modern manufacturing processes.

1917 Ford Motor Company produces its first ever truck. The Ford Model TT was a truck based on the Model T car, but with a reinforced chassis and rear axle. This early pickup was rated at one ton. 1918 Ford’s River Rouge Complex begins manufacturing antisubmarine patrol boats. These 42 Eagle-class boats were the first product manufactured at the Rouge. In its efforts to aid the Allies in WWI, Ford also produced more than 38,000 Model T cars, ambulances, and trucks, 7,000 Fordson tractors, two types of armored tanks, and 4,000 Liberty airplane engines for the Allies. Afterward, Ford hired disabled veterans returning from the war, making the automaker one of the first companies to hire people with disabilities and to adapt work environments to their specific needs. 1919 Edsel Ford succeeds Henry Ford as president of the company. On the same day, Henry Ford put a plan in place to buy out his investors and make himself, Clara Ford, and Edsel the sole owners of the business.

Edsel’s interest in aesthetic automotive design brought a new dimension to Ford Motor Company, pushing the company to begin producing cars that were beautiful as well as practical. Edsel was also an extremely important art benefactor in Detroit, and one of the best-known paintings he commissioned was Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry mural. His aesthetic legacy lives on in the original Lincoln Continental. 1922 Ford acquires the Lincoln Motor Company. Ford purchased Lincoln from Henry Leland, his former business associate from the Detroit Automobile Company. Since then, Lincoln has produced many luxury cars of historical and aesthetic note, including the 1931-1939 K-Series, 1936 Zephyr, Edsel Ford’s original Continental, the ensuing first-generation Lincoln Continental and the classic 1956-1957 Continental Mk. II. 1925 Ford begins production of Ford Tri-Motor airplanes. Ford’s plane was nicknamed the “Tin Goose,” a reference to the Model T’s nickname as the “Tin Lizzie.” The Tin Goose was one of the first airplanes used by America’s early commercial airlines.

Combined with Ford’s reputation, application of assembly-line techniques and investment in Ford Airlines, the plane helped spur the creation of the commercial airline industry. And to further accelerate the industry’s development, Ford offered the plane’s 35 patents free of royalties, including his patent for the navigational radio beam. 1927 Ford begins selling the 1928 Model A. While the Model T dominated the auto industry from 1908 to the early 1920s, by the middle of the decade there was fierce competition from other automakers. After the 15 millionth Model T drove off the assembly line on May 26, 1927, Ford closed plants all over the world to spend six months retooling factories and perfecting the design of a new car. Ford called the new car the Model A, commemorating Ford Motor Company’s first car, the 1903 Model A. The car was the first vehicle to sport the iconic Blue Oval logo, and it included innovative features like a Safety Glass windshield. By 1931 Ford had sold over five million Model As despite the difficulties of the Great Depression. 1932 Ford introduces the flathead V8 engine.

As with the new Model A, Henry Ford shut down all other production operations to work on this innovative project. At great effort and expense, the company engineered a way to cast the first commercially successful V8 engine. The flathead was a hit. It was affordable, versatile, and introduced just as the American market was becoming fascinated with ever-more powerful engines. It remained in production for over 22 years. To this day the flathead remains extremely popular with hot rodders. 1936 Ford begins selling the Lincoln Zephyr line. Much like the Mercury brand, Lincoln-Zephyr was designed to sell at a price point between the Ford V8 De Luxe and the high-end luxury cars offered by Lincoln. Lincoln-Zephyr’s sleek, aerodynamic shapes helped make the brand a sales success, but when auto production ceased during WWII, the Zephyr name was dropped as well. 1938 Ford unveils the medium-priced Mercury brand. Edsel Ford created Mercury cars to bridge the gap between affordable Fords and luxurious Lincoln cars. The first Mercury was the 1939 Mercury 8, which had a V8 engine and a stylish body characteristic of Edsel Ford's design sense.

1941 Ford begins producing Jeeps for the U.S. military. The vehicles were nicknamed for their "GP," or general-purpose designation. 1941 Ford signs its first contract with the UAW-CIO. After years of struggle between management and labor at Detroit's major automakers, Ford signed a contract guaranteeing better pay, benefits and working conditions for employees. 1942 Ford halts civilian auto production in the United States to produce military equipment. Through its manufacturing expertise, Ford facilities built a staggering number of automobiles, planes, tanks, aircraft engines and other materiel for the war effort. By the end of WWII, Ford had produced more than 8,000 B-24 Liberator bombers. Charles Lindbergh, the famous trans-Atlantic pilot, worked as an advisor for the construction of bombers at Ford’s Willow Run plant. In 1944, Rose Will Monroe was working at Willow Run as a rivet gun operator when she was chosen to appear in a promotional film for war bonds. Rose became the personification of the fictional “Rosie the Riveter” character as depicted in the iconic “We Can Do It!” posters. 1943 Edsel Ford dies.

Edsel was the only child of Henry and Clara Ford. After his death, Henry Ford returned to his former position as president of Ford Motor Company. Today, Edsel's legacy lives on in his contributions to the design of Lincoln cars and his generous backing of art in Detroit. 1945 Henry Ford II becomes president of Ford Motor Company. The son of Edsel and the grandson of Henry Ford, Henry Ford II, served as president from 1945 to 1960 and as chairman and CEO from 1960 to 1979. When Henry II took over, the company and its bookkeeping practices were in disarray. With the help of ten former U.S. Army Air Force officers nicknamed the “Whiz Kids,” Henry II transformed the organization into a disciplined company with modern management systems – prepared for the global challenges of the post-war world. 1948 Ford introduces the F-Series line of trucks. With its first postwar truck design, Ford ceased building trucks on car platforms and used a purpose-built truck platform instead. The truck was available in eight sizes and weight ratings, from the ½ ton capacity F-1 to the three-ton capacity F-8.

In 1953, Ford replaced the F-1 with the ½ ton F-100, along with the F-250 ¾ ton trucks and the F-350 one-ton trucks. In 1984, the F-100 was replaced by the F-150 line of trucks. Since 1982, F-series has been the best-selling vehicle in the U.S. View slideshow 1948 Ford introduces the 1949 Ford. The 1949 Ford was the first all-new American car design to come out of Detroit after WWII. With its wind tunnel-tested aerodynamic shape, integrated pontoon fenders, airplane-inspired spinner grille and an updated V8, the new car was as radical a change as the 1928 Model A. 1954 Ford introduces the Thunderbird. The T-Bird emphasized comfort and convenience over sportiness. With its performance, design and distinctive porthole windows, the car would become a classic. 1954 Ford begins crash testing its vehicles. In the 60 years since then, Ford has performed more than 31,000 crash tests around the world.

In recent years Ford has also used virtual crash testing to maximize the quantity and availability of crash data. In tandem with physical testing, the crash simulations help Ford gather more data than ever before. 1956 Ford becomes a publicly traded company. At the time, Ford's initial public offering (IPO) of common stock shares was the largest IPO in history. 1956 The Continental Division of the Ford Motor Company introduces the Continental Mk II. Under Henry Ford's grandson, William Clay Ford, the 1956 Mk. II was a revival of the 1941 Continental that grew out of a custom car designed for Edsel Ford's private use. Edsel and designer E.T. Gregorie named these stylish and elegant cars for the inspiration they drew from the "continental" cars they saw in Europe. 1957 Ford introduces the Edsel. Introduced as a recession was beginning in the United States, the Edsel was simply the wrong car for the wrong time. However, the car's highly unique styling makes it a valuable collector's car to this day. 1959 Ford Credit is founded.

The full name of Ford's financial services arm is Ford Motor Credit Company LLC, and today the company offers loans and leases to car buyers, in addition to loans and lines of credit for Ford and other dealerships. 1964 The Ford Mustang goes on sale. The Mustang came to define the pony car class with its combination of a long hood, short deck, affordable price and customization options. The Mustang was a huge success, and today it remains one of the fastest-selling vehicles in history. With its role in movies like Bullitt and songs like "Mustang Sally," the car quickly became a cultural icon as well. 1965 Ford-Philco engineers unveil the Mission Control Center used to put a man on the moon. Ford owned Philco from 1961 to 1974, during which the company produced consumer electronics, computer systems, and military projects. In addition to designing, building, equipping and staffing Mission Control, Ford’s Philco electronics subsidiary performed support work for NASA’s Apollo and Gemini space programs thanks to Philco’s capabilities in transistors, solid-state devices, and microelectronics. Later, Ford Aerospace and Communications Corporation evolved out of Philco.

In 1976 the company built seven INTELSAT V satellites for the International Telecommunications Satellite Organization. These satellites are still used today to send television transmissions and telephone calls between continents. 1965 Ford Germany and Ford U.K. collaborate to release the Transit in Europe. 1966 Three Ford GT40 Mk. IIs sweep the podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ford broke Ferrari's six-year winning streak at Le Mans to become the first American manufacturer to ever win the race. 1966 was the first of four consecutive victories for Ford, which won the 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969 24 Hours of Le Mans with various generations of the GT40. 1970 Ford introduces three-point, self-adjusting and retracting front outboard lap and shoulder belts. 1976 Ford of Europe introduces the Ford Fiesta. The subcompact hatchback became the company’s first internationally successful front-wheel drive model. At $870 million, its development budget was also the largest in Ford’s history.

Moreover, Ford built a massive plant in Almusafes, Spain, near Valencia, to manufacture the car. The investments paid off, and the Fiesta broke the one-year sales record of the 1965 Mustang. From 1978 to 1981, Ford also sold the European Fiesta in North America. However, it wasn’t until 2009 that Ford would begin selling the Fiesta in the U.S. again. 1978 Ford introduces the downsized Panther platform. The smaller platform debuted in response to rising oil prices and new fuel economy regulations. 1980 Phillip Caldwell succeeds Henry Ford II. Caldwell was the first non Ford-family member to become chairman and CEO of Ford. 1981 Ford begins selling the fifth-generation Escort world car. When the Ford Escort was first sold in North America, the car was designed to share components with the European Escort. As such, in its first year the North American car featured a badge with the name “Escort” superimposed over a globe instead of a blue oval. The car was one of Ford’s best-selling vehicles in the ‘80s. 1985 Ford revolutionizes automotive design with the Taurus.

The Taurus’ aerodynamic “jelly bean” body style broke tradition with the boxy sedan shapes of the time, helping the car become one of Ford’s most popular vehicles ever. The car was an important part of a worldwide shift in automotive design. Within Ford, the car represented a shift toward increased quality standards and front-wheel drive designs. 1986 Ford introduces the modular assembly line at its St. Louis assembly plant. The modular assembly line made use of automated ancillary assembly lines to produce vehicle sub-assemblies. The sub-assemblies were then added into the main assembly line. The trial run at St. Louis was a success, and today most Ford plants use modular assembly lines. 1990 Ford introduces the Explorer. In doing so, Ford helped launch the domestic SUV market. As SUVs became popular substitutes for family sedans, station wagons and vans, the Explorer became one of Ford’s most successful vehicles. The Explorer was a more comfortable and better-handling replacement for the Ford Bronco, which was discontinued in 1996. 1993 Ford introduces the Mondeo as its new global sedan.

Though it was first introduced in Europe, the Mondeo was sold as the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique in the United States until 2000. Today the Mondeo is known as the Fusion in the United States. 1996 Ford produces the Ford Ranger Electric Vehicle. With lead acid batteries, regenerative braking, and a 700 lb. payload rating, the Ranger EV was a forerunner to today’s electric vehicles and hybrid energy systems. 1998 The introduction of the Lincoln Navigator spurs rapid growth in the luxury SUV segment. 2001 Ford's board of directors names Bill Ford to replace Jacques Nasser as CEO. The change helped the company return its focus to its core operations -- building cars -- and it realigned the company's values to emphasize its employees and the quality of its products. 2003 Ford celebrates its 100th anniversary. To commemorate the centennial of the company that put the world on wheels, Ford offered limited production centennial editions of five of the vehicles in its lineup at the time. Like the early Model T, the vehicles were offered in “any color so long as it is black.” 2004 Ford introduces the GT as its premium sports car.

The mid-engine, 550 horsepower Ford GT was inspired by the legendary GT40 race cars that dominated the 24 Hours of Le Mans from 1966 to 1969. 2006 Alan Mullaly becomes Ford's President and CEO. Under Mullaly, Ford didn’t just weather the financial crisis of 2008 as the only American auto manufacturer to avoid receiving a government bailout loan. Instead of waiting out the crisis, Ford continued to aggressively invest in product development so that when the economy recovered Ford products would be some of the best vehicles on the market. A key part of Mullaly’s leadership was the One Ford plan. One Ford envisioned every person in every part of the global enterprise as part of a single team united by a common culture and a shared goal to deliver outstanding products. 2007 Ford begins offering SYNC in vehicles sold as 2008 models. Created from a partnership between Ford and Microsoft, SYNC offers a hands-free, voice-activated connectivity system with mobile phone integration, navigation and voice-activated access to entertainment. Ford has continuously updated SYNC since its introduction in order to help drivers keep their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road while remaining connected to their technology.

2009 Ford begins offering its turbocharged EcoBoost line of engines. Delivering better fuel economy and more power than a naturally aspirated engine of the same size, Ford’s EcoBoost engines quickly became a popular choice in the U.S. and abroad. 2011 Henry Ford - Visionaries on Innovation - The Henry Ford Visionaries on Innovation Search our website to find what you’re looking for. Search Select Your Language You can select the language displayed on our website. Click the drop-down menu below and make your selection. Henry Ford Founder, Ford Motor Company Retired curator of transportation at The Henry Ford, Bob Casey admits that he is fascinated with the way Ford approached life. "He was one of these people who didn't take a job because he knew how to do it," says Casey during this lengthy video interview. "He often took jobs because he didn't know how to do them, and they were opportunities to learn.

It's a very gutsy way to learn." An Innovator Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 0:47 Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 0:24 Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 1:08 Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 1:07 Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 2:13 Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 0:37 Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 1:59 From Kitchen Sink to Model T Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 1:52 The Model T Changed the World Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 2:12 Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 1:27 Ford Had an Understanding of the Market Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 0:47 Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 1:04 The Rise of the Middle Class Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 0:38 Any Color As Long As It Is Black Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 1:57 Failure Is a Chance to Start Over Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 1:48 Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 1:19 Origin of the Moving Assembly Line Bob Casey on Henry Ford

 Length: 2:27 Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 1:24 Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 1:33 A Passion for the Business Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 0:57 Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 3:41 Ford's Transition to War Production Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 1:23 Ford Cars: 1903 Ford Model A Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 0:54 Ford Cars: 1906 Model N and 1907 Model S Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 1:04 Ford Cars: 1908 Model T Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 1:01 Ford Cars: The Moving Assembly Line at Highland Park Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 0:28 Ford Cars: 1930 Model A Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 2:00 Ford Cars: 1932 Ford V-8 Bob Casey on Henry Ford Length: 1:08 Be ready to revise any system, scrap any method, abandon any theory, if the success of the job requires it.

Henry Ford His Early Life as an Inventor Henry Ford did not invent the automobile. He didn’t even invent the assembly line. But more than any other single individual, he was responsible for transforming the automobile from an invention of unknown utility into an innovation that profoundly shaped the 20th century and continues to affect our lives today. Innovators change things. They take new ideas, sometimes their own, sometimes other people’s, and develop and promote those ideas until they become an accepted part of daily life. Innovation requires self-confidence, a taste for taking risks, leadership ability and a vision of what the future should be. Henry Ford had all these characteristics, but it took him many years to develop all of them fully. His beginnings were perfectly ordinary. He was born on his father’s farm in what is now Dearborn, Michigan on July 30, 1863. Early on Ford demonstrated some of the characteristics that would make him successful, powerful, and famous. He organized other boys to build rudimentary water wheels and steam engines. He learned about full-sized steam engines by becoming friends with the men who ran them. He taught himself to fix watches, and used the watches as textbooks to learn the rudiments of machine design.

Thus, young Ford demonstrated mechanical ability, a facility for leadership, and a preference for learning by trial-and-error. These characteristics would become the foundation of his whole career. Ford could have followed in his father’s footsteps and become a farmer. But young Henry was fascinated by machines and was willing to take risks to pursue that fascination. In 1879 he left the farm to become an apprentice at the Michigan Car Company, a manufacturer of railroad cars in Detroit. Over the next two-and-one-half years he held several similar jobs, sometimes moving when he thought he could learn more somewhere else. He returned home in 1882 but did little farming. Instead he operated and serviced portable steam engines used by farmers, occasionally worked in factories in Detroit, and cut and sold timber from 40 acres of his father’s land. By now Ford was demonstrating another characteristic—a preference for working on his own rather than for somebody else. In 1888 Ford married Clara Bryant and in 1891 they moved to Detroit where Henry had taken a job as night engineer for the Edison Electric Illuminating Company. Ford did not know a great deal about electricity. He saw the job in part as an opportunity to learn.

Henry was an apt pupil, and by 1896 had risen to chief engineer of the Illuminating Company. But he had other interests. He became one of scores of people working in barns and small shops across the country trying to build horseless carriages. Aided by a team of friends, his experiments culminated in 1896 with the completion of his first self-propelled vehicle, the Quadricycle. It had four wire wheels that looked like heavy bicycle wheels, was steered with a tiller like a boat, and had only two forward speeds with no reverse. A second car followed in 1898. Ford now demonstrated one of the keys to his future success—the ability to articulate a vision and convince other people to sign on and help him achieve that vision. He persuaded a group of businessmen to back him in the biggest risk of his life—a company to make and sell horseless carriages. But Ford knew nothing about running a business, and learning by trial-and-error always involves failure. The new company failed, as did a second. To revive his fortunes Ford took bigger risks, building and even driving racing cars.

The success of these cars attracted additional financial backers, and on June 16, 1903 Henry incorporated his third automotive venture, Ford Motor Company. The Innovator and Ford Motor Company The early history of Ford Motor Company illustrates one of Henry Ford’s most important talents—an ability to identify and attract outstanding people. He hired a core of young, able men who believed in his vision and would make Ford Motor Company into one of the world’s great industrial enterprises. The new company’s first car, called the Model A, was followed by a variety of improved models. In 1907 Ford’s four-cylinder, $600 Model N became the best-selling car in the country. But by this time Ford had a bigger vision: a better, cheaper “motorcar for the great multitude.” Working with a hand-picked group of employees he came up with the Model T, introduced on October 1, 1908. The Model T was easy to operate, maintain, and handle on rough roads. It immediately became a huge success. Ford could easily sell all he could make; but he wanted to make all he could sell. Doing that required a bigger factory.

In 1910 the company moved into a huge new plant in Highland Park, Michigan, just north of Detroit. There Ford Motor Company began a relentless drive to increase production and lower costs. Henry and his team borrowed concepts from watch makers, gun makers, bicycle makers, and meat packers, mixed them with their own ideas and by late 1913 they had developed a moving assembly line for automobiles. But Ford workers objected to the never-ending, repetitive work on the new line. Turnover was so high that the company had to hire 53,000 people a year to keep 14,000 jobs filled. Henry responded with his boldest innovation ever—in January 1914 he virtually doubled wages to $5 per day. At a stroke he stabilized his workforce and gave workers the ability to buy the very cars they made. Model T sales rose steadily as the price dropped. By 1922 half the cars in America were Model Ts and a new two-passenger runabout could be had for as little as $269. In 1919, tired of “interference” from the other investors in the company, Henry determined to buy them all out.

The result was several new Detroit millionaires and a Henry Ford who was the sole owner of the world’s largest automobile company. Ford named his 26-year-old son Edsel as president, but it was Henry who really ran things. Absolute power did not bring wisdom, however. Success had convinced him of the superiority of his own intuition, and he continued to believe that the Model T was the car most people wanted. He ignored the growing popularity of more expensive but more stylish and comfortable cars like the Chevrolet, and would not listen to Edsel and other Ford executives when they said it was time for a new model. By the late 1920s even Henry Ford could no longer ignore the declining sales figures. In 1927 he reluctantly shut down the Model T assembly lines and began designing an all-new car. It appeared in December of 1927 and was such a departure from the old Ford that the company went back to the beginning of the alphabet for a name—they called it the Model A. The new car would not be produced at Highland Park. In 1917 Ford had started construction on an even bigger factory on the Rouge River in Dearborn, Michigan.

Iron ore and coal were brought in on Great Lakes steamers and by railroad. By 1927, all steps in the manufacturing process from refining raw materials to final assembly of the automobile took place at the vast Rouge Plant, characterizing Henry Ford’s idea of mass production. In time it would become the world’s largest factory, making not only cars but the steel, glass, tires, and other components that went into the cars. Henry Ford’s intuitive decision making and one-man control were no longer the formula for success. The Model A was competitive for only four years before being replaced by a newer design. In 1932, at age 69 Ford introduced his last great automotive innovation, the lightweight, inexpensive V8 engine. Even this was not enough to halt his company’s decline. By 1936 Ford Motor Company had fallen to third place in the US market, behind both General Motors and Chrysler Corporation. In addition to troubles in the marketplace, Ford experienced troubles in the workplace. Struggling during the Great Depression, Ford was forced to lower wages and lay off workers. When the United Auto Workers Union tried to organize Ford Motor Company, Henry wanted no part of such “interference” in running his company.

He fought back with intimidation and violence, but was ultimately forced to sign a union contract in 1941. When World War II began in 1939, Ford, who always hated war, fought to keep the United States from taking sides. But after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor Ford Motor Company became one of the major US military contractors, supplying airplanes, engines, jeeps and tanks. The influence of the aging Henry Ford, however, was declining. Edsel Ford died in 1943 and two year later Henry officially turned over control of the company to Henry II, Edsel’s son. Henry I retired to Fair Lane, his estate in Dearborn, where he died on April 7, 1947 at age 83. Henry Ford’s Legacy Henry Ford had laid the foundation of the twentieth century. The assembly line became the century’s characteristic production mode, eventually applied to everything from phonographs to hamburgers. The vast quantities of war material turned out on those assembly lines were crucial to the Allied victory in World War II. High wage, low skilled factory jobs pioneered by Ford accelerated both immigration from overseas and the movement of Americans from the farms to the cities.

The same jobs also accelerated the movement of the same people into an ever expanding middle class. In a dramatic demonstration of the law of unintended consequences, the creation of huge numbers of low skilled workers gave rise in the 1930s to industrial unionism as a potent social and political force. The Model T spawned mass automobility, altering our living patterns, our leisure activities, our landscape, even our atmosphere. Why He Innovated There is a prophetic story of how the 13-year-old Henry Ford got a pocket watch for his birthday, and then proceeded to take it apart. He simply wanted to know how it worked. It was a character trait that marked the rest of Ford's life. He wanted to know how things worked and, just as important, why they didn’t work. Ford was interested in every aspect of life around him. He explored innovative forms of education which, in time, lead to the founding of the Edison Institute, known today as The Henry Ford. In a single location, Ford brought together dozens of buildings and millions of artifacts.

It was one of the largest collections of its kind ever assembled, as well as a bold and ambitious new way for people of all ages to discover and explore the richness of the American experience for themselves. Henry Ford took inspiration from the past, saw opportunities for the future, and believed in technology as a force for improving people's lives. To him, technology wasn't just a source of profits, it was a way to harness new ideas and, ultimately, further democratize American life. Henry Ford - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com Google Henry Ford: Early Life & Engineering Career Born in 1863, Henry Ford was the first surviving son of William and Mary Ford, who owned a prosperous farm in Dearborn, Michigan . At 16, he left home for the nearby city of Detroit, where he found apprentice work as a machinist. He returned to Dearborn and work on the family farm after three years, but continued to operate and service steam engines and work occasional stints in Detroit factories. In 1888, he married Clara Bryant, who had grown up on a nearby farm. Did You Know? The mass production techniques Henry Ford championed eventually allowed Ford Motor Company to turn out one Model T every 24 seconds.

In the first several years of their marriage, Ford supported himself and his new wife by running a sawmill. In 1891, he returned with Clara to Detroit, where he was hired as an engineer for the Edison Illuminating Company. Rising quickly through the ranks, he was promoted to chief engineer two years later. Around the same time, Clara gave birth to the couple’s only son, Edsel Bryant Ford. On call 24 hours a day for his job at Edison, Ford spent his irregular hours on his efforts to build a gasoline-powered horseless carriage, or automobile. In 1896, he completed what he called the “Quadricycle,” which consisted of a light metal frame fitted with four bicycle wheels and powered by a two-cylinder, four-horsepower gasoline engine. Henry Ford: Birth of Ford Motor Company and the Model T Determined to improve upon his prototype, Ford sold the Quadricycle in order to continue building other vehicles. He received backing from various investors over the next seven years, some of whom formed the Detroit Automobile Company (later the Henry Ford Company) in 1899.

His partners, eager to put a passenger car on the market, grew frustrated with Ford’s constant need to improve, and Ford left his namesake company in 1902. (After his departure, it was reorganized as the Cadillac Motor Car Company.) The following year, Ford established the Ford Motor Company. A month after the Ford Motor Company was established, the first Ford car—the two-cylinder, eight-horsepower Model A—was assembled at a plant on Mack Avenue in Detroit. At the time, only a few cars were assembled per day, and groups of two or three workers built them by hand from parts that were ordered from other companies. Ford was dedicated to the production of an efficient and reliable automobile that would be affordable for everyone; the result was the Model T , which made its debut in October 1908. Henry Ford: Production & Labor Innovations The “Tin Lizzie,” as the Model T was known, was an immediate success, and Ford soon had more orders than the company could satisfy. As a result, he put into practice techniques of mass production that would revolutionize American industry, including the use of large production plants; standardized, interchangeable parts; and the moving assembly line.

Mass production significantly cut down on the time required to produce an automobile, which allowed costs to stay low. In 1914, Ford also increased the daily wage for an eight-hour day for his workers to $5 (up from $2.34 for nine hours), setting a standard for the industry. Even as production went up, demand for the Tin Lizzie remained high, and by 1918, half of all cars in America were Model Ts. In 1919, Ford named his son Edsel as president of Ford Motor Company, but he retained full control of the company’s operations. After a court battle with his stockholders, led by brothers Horace and John Dodge, Henry Ford bought out all minority stockholders by 1920. In 1927, Ford moved production to a massive industrial complex he had built along the banks of the River Rouge in Dearborn, Michigan. The plant included a glass factory, steel mill, assembly line and all other necessary components of automotive production. That same year, Ford ceased production of the Model T, and introduced the new Model A, which featured better horsepower and brakes, among other improvements.

By that time, the company had produced some 15 million Model Ts, and Ford Motor Company was the largest automotive manufacturer in the world. Ford opened plants and operations throughout the world. Henry Ford: Later Career & Controversial Views The Model A proved to be a relative disappointment, and was outsold by both Chevrolet (made by General Motors) and Plymouth (made by Chrysler); it was discontinued in 1931. In 1932, Ford introduced the first V-8 engine, but by 1936 the company had dropped to number three in sales in the automotive industry. Despite his progressive policies regarding the minimum wage, Ford waged a long battle against unionization of labor, refusing to come to terms with the United Automobile Workers (UAW) even after his competitors did so. In 1937, Ford security staff clashed with UAW organizers in the so-called “Battle of the Overpass,” at the Rouge plant, after which the National Labor Relations Board ordered Ford to stop interfering with union organization. Ford Motor Company signed its first contract with UAW in 1941, but not before Henry Ford considered shutting down the company to avoid it.

Ford’s political views earned him widespread criticism over the years, beginning with his campaign against U.S. involvement in World War I . He made a failed bid for a U.S. Senate seat in 1918, narrowly losing in a campaign marked by personal attacks from his opponent. In the Dearborn Independent, a local newspaper he bought in 1918, Ford published a number of anti-Semitic writings that were collected and published as a four volume set called The International Jew. Though he later renounced the writings and sold the paper, he expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler and Germany, and in 1938 accepted the Grand Cross of the German Eagle, the Nazi regime’s highest medal for a foreigner. Edsel Ford died in 1943, and Henry Ford returned to the presidency of Ford Motor Company briefly before handing it over to his grandson, Henry Ford II, in 1945. He died two years later at his Dearborn home, at the age of 83. Tags Henry Ford biography | birthday, trivia | American Business Personality | Who2 Inventor Henry Ford created the first inexpensive mass-produced automobile — the Model T — and revolutionized American industry by developing and refining assembly line manufacturing.

Ford began his working life as a machinist, then became an engineer with the Edison Illuminating Company. (He and Thomas Edison remained close friends for decades.) In his spare time Ford tinkered with creating a motorized vehicle, and in 1896 introduced the Quadricycle, a four-wheeled cart with a gasoline engine. (Ford has often been credited with inventing the automobile, though historians now agree he was only one of many people who built motorized cars.) In 1903 the Ford Motor Company was founded, and in 1908 Ford introduced the Model T. By 1924 10 million Model T cars had been sold and Detroit had become the auto-making capital of America. Ford remained one of the country’s most famous and influential businessmen until his death in 1947.

Extra credit The Edsel model car, a famous Ford Motors flop, was named for Ford’s only child, who died in 1943… Ford Motors was later run by Edsel’s son and Ford’s grandson, Henry Ford II… Ford’s personal opinions were sometimes controversial, especially his attacks on the Jewish community and pre-war support of Adolf Hitler … After Ford’s death much of his fortune was used to create the philanthropic Ford Foundation… Ford is often quoted as saying “History is bunk.” The real quote, according to Bartlett’s Quotations, is: “History is more or less bunk.” Ford made the statement in a 1916 interview with the Chicago Tribune. Henry Ford leaves Edison to start automobile company - Aug 15, 1899 - HISTORY.com Henry Ford leaves Edison to start automobile company Share this: Henry Ford leaves Edison to start automobile company Author Henry Ford leaves Edison to start automobile company URL Publisher A+E Networks On this day in 1899, in Detroit, Michigan, Henry Ford resigns his position as chief engineer at the Edison Illuminating Company’s main plant in order to concentrate on automobile production.

Henry Ford left his family’s farm in Dearborn, Michigan, at age 16 to work in the machine shops of Detroit. In 1888, he married Clara Bryant, and they had a son, Edsel, in 1893. That same year, Ford was made chief engineer at Edison. Charged with keeping the city’s electricity flowing, Ford was on call 24 hours a day, with no regular working hours, and when not working could tinker away at his real goal of building a gasoline-powered vehicle. He completed his first functioning gasoline engine at the end of 1893, his first horseless carriage, called the Quadricycle, by 1896. In the summer of 1898, Ford was awarded his first patent, in the name of his investor and Detroit’s mayor, William C. Maybury, for a carburetor he built the previous year. By the middle of the following summer Ford had produced his third car. A much more advanced model than his two previous efforts, it had a water tank and brakes, among other new features.

Maybury’s support, combined with Ford’s bold ideas and charisma, helped assemble a group of investors who contributed some $150,000 to establish the Detroit Automobile Company in early August 1899. Ten days later, Ford left Edison, where he had worked for the previous eight years. He turned down a considerable salary offer of $1,900 per year and the title of general superintendent to become mechanical superintendent of the new auto company, with a salary of $150 per month. The Detroit Automobile Company was one of some 60 aspiring automakers in America at the time, and it struggled to keep up with the stiff competition provided by the likes of Packard of Ohio and Olds Motor Works of Lansing, Michigan. The company began to collapse in the middle of its second year of operation and ceased doing business in November 1900. Maybury and others retained their faith in Ford, however, and in late 1901 they backed him as chief engineer of the Henry Ford Company. This effort failed as well, and Ford put all of his hopes into a make-or-break third effort.

The Ford Motor Company, founded in mid-June 1903, rolled out its first car–a Model A–that July and continued to grow steadily over the next several years. The release of the now-legendary Model T or “Tin Lizzie” in 1908 catapulted Ford Motor Company into the leading ranks of American automakers and turned its founder, a farm boy from Dearborn, into one of the world’s richest men. Related Videos

Question: Where did Henry Ford, in the early twentieth century, establish the Ford Motor Company?
Answer: Detroit, USA