If you live in or around Detroit, you probably know the name Henry Ford. But do you know the man? Henry Ford was a visionary, an engineer, a philanthropist, and even dabbled in politics, though never actually holding office. There is no doubt Henry Ford left an indelible mark on the world, but even more so, on his world, his home, Detroit.
The Early Years
Henry Ford was born on July 30, 1863, on his family’s farm in Dearborn, Michigan. But farm life was not for him. He enjoyed tinkering, which led him to Detroit and the Edison Illuminating Company, where he ascended to chief engineer.
In 1888 he married Clara Bryant, and in 1893 they had a son, Edsel. Ford continued tinkering on the side, determined to create his dream, a gasoline-powered engine. Eventually, his passion and charisma opened doors for him.
Failed Attempts
Many may not realize that Henry Ford actually failed twice at starting an automobile company. By the end of 1893, he completed his first functioning gasoline engine. In 1896, he developed his first horseless carriage called the Quadricycle. By 1899, Ford had created a much more advanced model that had brakes and a water tank.
After getting Detroit’s mayor at the time, William C. Maybury, to lead a group of investors, Ford started the Detroit Automobile Company in August 1899. Ford left the Edison Illuminating Company and never looked back.
He didn’t last long, however. At the time, there were over 60 companies making automobiles and the Detroit Automobile Company struggled with the competition. Ford needed an edge, but what? Unfortunately, the company closed in November of 1900 before Ford could find that breakthrough he needed.
Yet failure didn’t deter Ford. By the end of 1901, Ford started the Henry Ford Company, backed again by Maybury leading the investors. Yet again, Ford met with failure and the company closed its doors. A third attempt in 1903 saw the birth of the Ford Motor Company, a company that still operates today.
The Revolution
Ford had finally found a vehicle that worked, the Model A, and his company gained traction. In 1908, the Model T, also known as the “Tin Lizzie,” rolled out to marvelous success. Ford commissioned a new factory to be built in Highland Park, Michigan, and it was there that the real breakthrough occurred.
Ford introduced the revolutionary assembly line production of his Model T. Workers would stay in one position and perform the same task over and over while the vehicle rolled by. It was the edge he needed.
The revolution didn’t end there, though. In 1914, Ford began offering factory employees a $5 per day wage. This catapulted many of his low-skilled laborers into the middle class. They could afford the car they made. Turnover dropped dramatically, giving him a stable, reliable, and efficient workforce. By the end of the 1920s, two of every three cars on the road were a Model T.
So much of what the Detroit area has become is a result of what Henry Ford achieved. Historically speaking, he changed the industrial landscape around him.
Image via Flickr by Joe Quinn under use of CC BY-ND 2.0/Cropped from original
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