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Lesson: Henry Ford

9 artifacts in this set

This expert set is brought to you by:

The staff at The Henry Ford

Lesson 2 of "Impact of the Model T - Then and Now"

Lesson 2 of "Impact of the Model T - Then and Now"

Detailed Description

Employees at Edison Illuminating Company of Detroit, circa 1895

Photographic print

Henry Ford (far right) joined Edison Illuminating Company as a night engineer in September 1891. By mid-1894 he had been promoted to chief engineer. It was during his time here that Ford built his first automobile, the 1896 Quadricycle. Ford resigned from Edison Illuminating Company in August 1899 to devote himself full time to the budding automotive industry.

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1896 Ford Quadricycle Runabout, First Car Built by Henry Ford

Automobile

The Quadricycle was Henry Ford's first attempt to build a gasoline-powered automobile. It utilized commonly available materials: angle iron for the frame, a leather belt and chain drive for the transmission, and a buggy seat. Ford had to devise his own ignition system. He sold his Quadricycle for $200, then used the money to build his second car.

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Detroit Automobile Company Delivery Truck outside Factory, 1899-1900

Photographic print

If the name Detroit Automobile Company does not sound familiar it is because the company lasted no more than eighteen months. It was Henry Ford's first effort at building a motor vehicle and it was not successful. Here the company's first product, a delivery truck, parked in front of the factory on Cass Avenue in Detroit. Despite a glowing description in the Detroit News-Tribune, the truck was apparently not a very good vehicle and...

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Henry Ford and Ed (Spider) Huff Driving the Ford Sweepstakes Racer at Grosse Pointe, Michigan, October 10, 1901

Photographic print

Henry Ford and Ed "Spider" Huff driving Sweepstakes, Ford's first race car, to victory over Alexander Winton at the Grosse Pointe Race Track, a horse racing track, Grosse Pointe, Michigan, October 10th, 1901. After several other cars dropped out, the race pitted the then unknown Ford against Alexander Winton who, in 1901, was one of the most well-known and successful automobile manufacturer in the country. After Winton's car developed...

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1901 Ford "Sweepstakes" Race Car

Racing car

This is Henry Ford's first race car. After his first auto company failed, Ford turned to racing to restore his reputation. He raced "Sweepstakes" against Alexander Winton on October 10, 1901, and, to everyone's surprise, the novice Ford beat the established Winton. The victory and resulting publicity encouraged financiers to back Ford's second firm.

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Henry Ford and Ford Motor Company Executives at Henry Ford Museum, 1933

Photographic print

One of the most important decisions that Henry Ford made early in his career was to identify talented individuals who could bring his vision for a universal car for the masses to reality. Each man pictured here was, in one way or another, directly responsible for Ford Motor Company's success, and failures, in the years leading up to World War II. P. E. Martin and Charles Sorensen were the hard-driving production and manufacturing heads that...

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1914 Ford Model T Touring Car, Given to John Burroughs by Henry Ford

Automobile

This 1914 touring car is one of several Model T automobiles given to naturalist John Burroughs by his friend Henry Ford. Ford Motor Company experienced a milestone year in 1914. The automaker fully implemented the moving assembly line at its Highland Park plant, and it introduced the Five Dollar Day profit-sharing plan for its employees.

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Henry Ford with the First Ford V-8 Engine, March 26, 1932

Photographic print

When the V-8 went into production in 1932, Henry Ford and Ford Motor Company once again revolutionized the automobile market. Although the Ford V-8 was not the first production V-8 in automotive history, it was the first compact (because of the V alignment of the eight cylinders) and powerful engine that was available to the general auto buying audience. Henry Ford personally oversaw the design and development of the V-8 with a selected team...

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Westinghouse Portable Steam Engine No. 345, Used by Henry Ford

Steam engine (Engine)

Portable steam engines like this powered grain threshers, sawmills, or corn shellers. Horses pulled them from farm to farm. In 1882, 19-year-old Henry Ford was able to make this engine run well when an older man could not; his first accomplishment in the adult world. Thirty years later Ford tracked down the engine, bought it, and returned it to operating condition.

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20900 Oakwood Boulevard, Dearborn, MI 48124-5029

Contact Center: 313-982-6001
Contact Center Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

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