Ford Legacy

Ford Model T, also known as the Tin Lizzie, is a car manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from 1908 to 1927. It was the first car in the world to be produced in millionth series.

The production of practical and affordable cars, organized by Henry Ford, has improved the lives of many people around the world. Having introduced assembly line assembly, Ford not only established mass production of cars, but also directed the development of industry along a new path.

Henry Ford was born in the village of Springfield in Michigan on July 30, 1863. He was the eldest of six children, William and Mary Ford, who owned a prosperous farm. Henry spent his childhood on the parent's farm, where he helped the family and attended a regular rural school.

The huge interest in technology that Henry showed at a very young age, and allowed him to become one of the most famous industrialists in the world.

At the age of 12, Henry equipped a small workshop where he enthusiastically spent all his free time. It was there that, after a few years, he designed his first steam engine. In 1879, Henry Ford moved to Detroit, where he got a job as an assistant engineer.

Henry Ford 

Henry Ford designed his first assembly line in 1913 and revolutionized the production of the Ford Model T.

This assembly line at Ford's first Highland Park, Michigan plant has set new standards for mass production methods worldwide.

How Ford started collecting cars

Initially, Ford assembled cars in the same way as everyone else - one at a time. The car stood on the ground throughout the assembly, and mechanics and their assistants received the parts, returned to the car and collected it from the chassis on. To speed up the process, cars began to be assembled on special platforms, which were then moved from one brigade of workers to another. But this was not fast enough, since Ford still needed trained work crews for the "manual" assembly of the car. Therefore, the volume of production was still low, and the price of the car was rising due to salary costs to qualified mechanics.

Automation required. Henry and his engineers invented machines that could produce the necessary parts in large quantities, and figured out how to install them as quickly as they were assembled. The conditions for a technical breakthrough have been created.

Henry Ford developed the basic ideas of pioneers in this field, such as Eliu Root, who developed the assembly system for Samuel Colt, according to which the production process was divided into separate stages to simplify it.

He continued the experiments until each of the operations was perfected and his concept of mass production became a reality.

Another innovation was the use of interchangeable parts that could be assembled by unskilled workers. Also conducted experiments with inclined trays and conveyors. And, of course, even the arrangement of workers and tools was carefully studied to ensure the most efficient operation of the conveyor.

Final view of assembly line

The decisive step was the creation of a moving assembly line. Starting from the bare chassis, the car moved along the conveyor, from one workstation to another, until the finished car drove off under its own power. An important element of this process was that all the auxiliary lines along the route of the assembled vehicle worked synchronously and delivered the necessary parts at the right time.

Ford assembly line 2000

This combination of punctuality, continuity and speed has given the world mass production. At the factory in Highland Park, Ford Model T production reached a record level: a finished car rolled off the assembly line every 10 business days. Ford was able to reduce prices, double the minimum daily wage to $ 5, produce products of excellent quality and at the same time make a profit.

Ford produced two million Ford Model Ts annually and sold them for just $ 260 - an affordable price for the time.