Technology in the 1920s

The Assembly Line Old way: -products assembled one at a time -work stations -took a long time for something like a car -very skilled labour Limousines are assembled at individual stations by a Pittsburgh manufacturer, 1912

The Assembly Line -is a manufacturing process in which individual parts of a larger product are put together in a specific order -workers do the same repetitive task -sped up the manufacturing process dramatically -allowed factories to churn out products at a remarkable rate -reduced labour hours—benefitting many workers who used to spend 10 to 12 hours a day in the factory trying to meet quotas

The Assembly Line -meatpacking, firearms, and auto industries used the assembly line process -meatpacking industry was already using assembly lines by the 1860s -operated a pulley system to bring over each animal carcass in turn -would cut the meat as needed, then move on to the next animal  much more quickly 

Henry Ford -Ford Motor Company adopted the assembly line between 1908 and 1915 -helped the company become a significant force in the United States economy Henry Ford and his first car the Quadricycle, which he built in 1896

Henry Ford -did not invent the car -produced an automobile that was within the economic reach of the average American -designed a method of manufacture that steadily reduced the cost of the Model T -profits went into lowering the price of his car -cars no longer seen as a luxury item for the rich

The Model T -made its debut in 1908 with a purchase price of $825.00 -over 10,000 were sold in 1908 -four years later the price dropped to $575.00 and sales soared -by 1914, had a 48% share of the automobile market -reduced the assembly time of a Model T from twelve and a half hours to less than six hours

First Ford Assembly Line, 1913

The Telephone -by 1920’s, became standard household appliance -had to turn a crank generator which caused a current to be sent through the line which rings the bell of the party wanted -neighbours were all on the same line (called party lines) -‘rubbernecking’ – listening in on the conversations of others

Radio -most important of inventions!! Broke down the isolation between rural and city -essential device for modern living, bringing news and entertainment to homes across the country -soap operas (dramas sponsored by soap companies for housewives) -issue raised ….should it be censored??? -Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) formed in 1932 to ensure Canadian content on airwaves -Hockey Night in Canada first aired in 1923

Brunswick Radio Ad (1928)

RCA Radiola – Radiola 30 Eight-tube Super Heterodyne (1925)

Movies -were silent -orchestra or piano player would provide music to accompany the silent screen -intertitles convey story details and dialogue -“Talkies” arrived in 1927

Movies Charlie Chaplin Buster Keaton Marx Brothers

Automobile -Canadians LOVED the car and the way it opened up a wider world to them -sold for less that $400. Soon became ‘closed car.’ Electric starters developed so you didn’t have to crank it. Windshield washers and heaters made driving comfortable   -1925- 75000 km of paved road -1930- 128000 km -tourism became massively important -summer cottages sprang up -1929, 4 million Americans spent $300 million in Canada

Automobile Toronto

Automobile Life magazine on October 1, 1908 Excerpt: "FORD HIGH PRICED QUALITY IN A LOW PRICED CAR" "The Ford Four Cylinder, Twenty Horse Power, Five Passenger Touring Car $850.00 Fob. Detroit"

Automobile 1912 "Ford delivery cars cost but $700 f.o.b. Detroit - complete with all equipment."

Automobile 1927

Automobile 1924

Household Appliances -seemed to promise consumers more time for leisure activities -advertising’s golden age -was needed to sell the huge amounts of products being produced -new innovations: home washing machine, toaster, vacuum cleaner, refrigerator, electric stoves and hotplates

Household Appliances Electrochef (500 pounds!)

Household Appliances -toasters needed electricity (which was spreading to cities) -also, advent of sliced bread in the 1930 -the year after Wonder began selling sliced bread, Americans bought over one million toasters

Household Appliances

Household Appliances

Household Appliances

Questions?