Henry Ford’s Innovations

Ford’s Early Life Born Near Detroit, MI in 1863 Born Near Detroit, MI in 1863 Attended school until he was 15. Attended school until he was 15. Secretly worked on mechanical projects at night after his chores. Secretly worked on mechanical projects at night after his chores. Ran away at 16 to become an apprentice in a Detroit machine shop Ran away at 16 to become an apprentice in a Detroit machine shop Picture from Picture from

You Can Go Home Again After years of earning $2.50 per week at one job and $2 per week at another (to make ends meet), Ford returned to his father’s farm and built a one-cylinder tractor. After years of earning $2.50 per week at one job and $2 per week at another (to make ends meet), Ford returned to his father’s farm and built a one-cylinder tractor.

Moving Back to the City Ford eventually got a job as an engineer and machinist and moved back to Detroit. Ford eventually got a job as an engineer and machinist and moved back to Detroit. Detroit image fromwww.cityyear.org Detroit image fromwww.cityyear.org

Ford sells his first car Ford sold his first “gasoline buggy” for $200 in Ford sold his first “gasoline buggy” for $200 in Engine image from Engine image from

Chief Engineer Ford became chief engineer of an electric company, earning $125 per month. Ford became chief engineer of an electric company, earning $125 per month. Ford later quit because he refused to give up working on gasoline cars and focus on electricity. Ford later quit because he refused to give up working on gasoline cars and focus on electricity.

Detroit Automobile Company Ford persuades a group of men to help him manufacture his car. Ford persuades a group of men to help him manufacture his car. He quits after two years because his backers wanted to produce small quantities at large profits. He quits after two years because his backers wanted to produce small quantities at large profits.

999 Ford built a racing car in a one-story brick shed that won every race that it entered. Ford built a racing car in a one-story brick shed that won every race that it entered. Image of Barney Oldfield from Image of Barney Oldfield from

Ford Motor Company Publicity from his racing car helped Ford start the Ford Motor Company. Publicity from his racing car helped Ford start the Ford Motor Company. He received $100,000 in capital. He received $100,000 in capital. He and his son became sole owners in He and his son became sole owners in 1919.

Ford Concentrates on One Car Ford concentrated his efforts on developing a single chassis, the Model T Ford concentrated his efforts on developing a single chassis, the Model T Model T image from Model T image from

“any customer can have a car painted any color he wants, so long as it is black” “any customer can have a car painted any color he wants, so long as it is black”  Henry Ford

$850 The Model T sold for $850 in The Model T sold for $850 in By 1925, mass production cut the cost to $290. By 1925, mass production cut the cost to $290.

Ford Changes the Workday Ford developed mass production techniques. Ford developed mass production techniques. This made workers’ jobs very monotonous. This made workers’ jobs very monotonous. In order to fix this, for raised wages to $5 per day, shortened the work week, and shortened the workday from 9 hours to 8 hours. In order to fix this, for raised wages to $5 per day, shortened the work week, and shortened the workday from 9 hours to 8 hours. Next image from Next image from

Assembly Line Conveyor belts and the assembly line reduced the amount of time need to produce a Model T from 12.5 hours in 1912 to 1.5 hours in Conveyor belts and the assembly line reduced the amount of time need to produce a Model T from 12.5 hours in 1912 to 1.5 hours in Previous image from Previous image from

The Logic of Mass Production Ford reasoned that increased production allows manufacturers to reduce costs and increase the # of products sold. Ford reasoned that increased production allows manufacturers to reduce costs and increase the # of products sold. Another big result of this was that higher wages allowed workers to buy more products (the worker as consumer belief) Another big result of this was that higher wages allowed workers to buy more products (the worker as consumer belief)

Different Models? Other manufacturers such as Albert Sloan (General Motors) worked on producing new models and changing the looks of cars. Other manufacturers such as Albert Sloan (General Motors) worked on producing new models and changing the looks of cars. Ford finally developed the Model A in Ford finally developed the Model A in Model A image from Model A image from

Vertical Integration Ford bought all his own coal mines, iron mines and forests, railways, and his own lake and ocean steamships. Ford bought all his own coal mines, iron mines and forests, railways, and his own lake and ocean steamships. Buying everything that he needed to produce cars (all aspects of the production process) became known as vertical integration. Buying everything that he needed to produce cars (all aspects of the production process) became known as vertical integration.

NO Labor Unions Ford remained strongly aligned against labor unions throughout his life. Ford remained strongly aligned against labor unions throughout his life. Labor Union image from Labor Union image from

B-24’s Ford’s plants produced bombers during World War II. Ford’s plants produced bombers during World War II. Ford passed away in 1947 at the age of 83. Ford passed away in 1947 at the age of 83. B-24 image from B-24 image from

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