“A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.”
Henry Ford was an American industrialist, founded the Ford Motor Company and revolutionized the assembly-line pertaining to mass production. He was born and grew up on a Dearborn, Michigan farm on July 30, 1863. As a young boy he took great interest in learning how everything worked, taking things apart and then putting them back together. Ford become bored with farm work and left home at 16 to take training as a machinist in Detroit, where he learned to successfully operated and service steam engines.
In 1891, Ford was hired as an engineer for the Edison Illuminating Company and in just two years he was promoted to Chief Engineer. While working for Edison, Ford was experimenting with creating a horseless carriage. He constructed the Ford Quadricycle, his first model in 1896, and ended up presenting it to Thomas Edison. Edison encouraged Ford to build another, better model. He took Edison's advice and in 1903 established the Ford Motor Company. In October of 1908, Ford introduced the Model T automobile selling 15 million, making Henry Ford one of the richest men in the world. "Any color-as long as it's black." |
Ford was not known as one of the richest men, he was known more for his manufacturing an inexpensive automobile made by skillful workers who were being treated well. He paid all his workers $5 a day (equal to $110) to build simple to drive and cheap to repair cars. In 1914, Ford helped sponsor the development the assembly line of mass production. The concept behing the assembly lines developed at Ford's Highland Park Plant to produce the Model T. It was not until GM came into the picture that Ford started making different cars with different colors, since he was keen on making all the Model T cars black. The assembly line changed how many businesses worked back in the early 1900's, but over the past hundred years it has yet to be completely changed. By 1918 half of the cars in America were Model T's.
While America was in World War I, Ford funded a peace ship to Europe and then in 1936 set up the Ford Foundation to provide ongoing grants for research, education and development. At age 83, Henry Ford died on April 7, 1947, but his vision of what an automobile and garage should be are still the same.
While America was in World War I, Ford funded a peace ship to Europe and then in 1936 set up the Ford Foundation to provide ongoing grants for research, education and development. At age 83, Henry Ford died on April 7, 1947, but his vision of what an automobile and garage should be are still the same.