Henry Ford and the Assembly Line
Dan Eisenhardt
Background
The use of the assembly line for the production of automobiles changed how and where Americans choose to live. The idea for the assembly line originally came into being when Ransom Olds, from the Olds Automotive Company first patented the idea on January 1, 1901. Olds began to assembly their automobiles using an assembly line in 1902.[1]
Turning Point
On September 1, 1908 the Ford Motor Company began production of the Model T. The Model T was the first car produced by Ford that used Henry Ford’s assembly line, a great improvement over Ransom Olds’ design. With a cost of only $850 the Model T became the most popular car on the planet. Cars being built by other motor companies could cost well over $4,000, the cost of a decent house in 1908. The low cost made the Model T available to the masses. The cheap price was the direct result of Henry Ford’s assembly line and his use of interchangeable parts. Ford stated, “We build our cars absolutely interchangeable. All parts are as nearly alike as chemical analysis…it would certainly seem that two Fords standing side by side, looking exactly alike and made so exactly alike that any part could be taken out of one and put into the other.”[2] Ford’s cars were cheap to run and repair, resulting in their mass popularity. In 1915 Ford sold 355,249 Model T’s,[3] while Oldsmobile sold 7,401 cars total.[4] The sales figure of the Model T continued to grow; Ford was able to sell 777,727 Model T’s in the year 1919.[5]
Effect
Ford’s improved assembly line made purchasing an automobile plausible for many United States citizens. The wide-spread use of the assembly line and affordable cars had a huge impact on the social and economic landscape of the United States. The assembly line allowed technology to be produced for a cheaper price. These savings were passed on to the consumer, making luxury goods more affordable. The production of the assembly line made life easier for middle- and upper-class Americans. One of the luxuries that those Americans could now purchase was the automobile. The widespread use of cars changed where people lived and how they get places.
When the cars first began production many people, mostly farmers, did not want them on the roads. They were worried about sharing the road with their horses. The horses would become frightened of the cars and cause havoc with the farmers. “The public image of the automobile improved following the San Francisco earthquake and fire of April 18, 1906. During these tragic days, autos were driven through fire, smoke, explosions, and debris to rescue victims and to carry doctors, city officials, and rescue squads.”[6] As the car began to become commonplace with the production of the Model T, people became more accepting of them in society. The mass production of automobiles was a huge factor in urbanization and business development. People no longer had to live where they worked; they had the ability to travel distances in a relatively short amount of time. The improvement of the assembly line by Henry Ford helped make goods, like the automobile, more affordable to Americans, changing the face of the country.
[1] “The Assembly Line.” 2009
[2]Henry Ford. My Life and Work. 1924. 11
[3]McCalley, Bruce. “Model T Ford Sales” February 25, 2007.
[4]“Official Oldsmobile Production Figures – 1897 thru 2004” 2011.
[5]McCalley, Bruce. “Model T Ford Sales” February 25, 2007.
[6]Wik, Reynold. “Henry Ford and Grass-roots America.” 1972. 22
Bibliography
Henry Ford. My Life and Work.Doubleday, Page & Company. New York. 1924: 1-21
McCalley, Bruce. “Model T Ford Sales” February 25, 2007.
“Official Oldsmobile Production Figures – 1897 thru 2004” Wild About Cars. 2011.
“The Assembly Line” Timetoast. 2009.
Wik, Reynold. “Henry Ford and Grass-roots America.”The University of Michigan Press. Michigan. 1972: 1-58
Dan Eisenhardt
Background
The use of the assembly line for the production of automobiles changed how and where Americans choose to live. The idea for the assembly line originally came into being when Ransom Olds, from the Olds Automotive Company first patented the idea on January 1, 1901. Olds began to assembly their automobiles using an assembly line in 1902.[1]
Turning Point
On September 1, 1908 the Ford Motor Company began production of the Model T. The Model T was the first car produced by Ford that used Henry Ford’s assembly line, a great improvement over Ransom Olds’ design. With a cost of only $850 the Model T became the most popular car on the planet. Cars being built by other motor companies could cost well over $4,000, the cost of a decent house in 1908. The low cost made the Model T available to the masses. The cheap price was the direct result of Henry Ford’s assembly line and his use of interchangeable parts. Ford stated, “We build our cars absolutely interchangeable. All parts are as nearly alike as chemical analysis…it would certainly seem that two Fords standing side by side, looking exactly alike and made so exactly alike that any part could be taken out of one and put into the other.”[2] Ford’s cars were cheap to run and repair, resulting in their mass popularity. In 1915 Ford sold 355,249 Model T’s,[3] while Oldsmobile sold 7,401 cars total.[4] The sales figure of the Model T continued to grow; Ford was able to sell 777,727 Model T’s in the year 1919.[5]
Effect
Ford’s improved assembly line made purchasing an automobile plausible for many United States citizens. The wide-spread use of the assembly line and affordable cars had a huge impact on the social and economic landscape of the United States. The assembly line allowed technology to be produced for a cheaper price. These savings were passed on to the consumer, making luxury goods more affordable. The production of the assembly line made life easier for middle- and upper-class Americans. One of the luxuries that those Americans could now purchase was the automobile. The widespread use of cars changed where people lived and how they get places.
When the cars first began production many people, mostly farmers, did not want them on the roads. They were worried about sharing the road with their horses. The horses would become frightened of the cars and cause havoc with the farmers. “The public image of the automobile improved following the San Francisco earthquake and fire of April 18, 1906. During these tragic days, autos were driven through fire, smoke, explosions, and debris to rescue victims and to carry doctors, city officials, and rescue squads.”[6] As the car began to become commonplace with the production of the Model T, people became more accepting of them in society. The mass production of automobiles was a huge factor in urbanization and business development. People no longer had to live where they worked; they had the ability to travel distances in a relatively short amount of time. The improvement of the assembly line by Henry Ford helped make goods, like the automobile, more affordable to Americans, changing the face of the country.
[1] “The Assembly Line.” 2009
[2]Henry Ford. My Life and Work. 1924. 11
[3]McCalley, Bruce. “Model T Ford Sales” February 25, 2007.
[4]“Official Oldsmobile Production Figures – 1897 thru 2004” 2011.
[5]McCalley, Bruce. “Model T Ford Sales” February 25, 2007.
[6]Wik, Reynold. “Henry Ford and Grass-roots America.” 1972. 22
Bibliography
Henry Ford. My Life and Work.Doubleday, Page & Company. New York. 1924: 1-21
McCalley, Bruce. “Model T Ford Sales” February 25, 2007.
“Official Oldsmobile Production Figures – 1897 thru 2004” Wild About Cars. 2011.
“The Assembly Line” Timetoast. 2009.
Wik, Reynold. “Henry Ford and Grass-roots America.”The University of Michigan Press. Michigan. 1972: 1-58