Henry Ford and the Ford Model T

Ford Model T Sedan

        While the Ford Model T was not the first automobile it is definitely the most iconic, and had a profound effect on industrialism and urbanization in America. The Model T was the first commercially successful car sold by the Ford Motor Company from 1908-1927, and was the most common automobile in the United States while it was produced. It provided a new form of transportation, and was the first automobile to be adopted by the masses. With the use of new manufacturing techniques, and the rising consumerism in America the Ford Model T was able to be successful, and made automobiles something that working and middle class Americans could afford. The Ford Model T was successful not only because of its time and place, but because of the measures taken to make this car the most accessible one to date.

Ford and his Quadricycle

        The Ford Model T was not the first vehicle built by Henry Ford, and there were many advancements that lead to its eventual success. The first motor vehicle built by Ford was the Quadricycle, which Henry Ford himself built in his workshop in Detroit while working at Edison Illuminating Company. After his invention he would leave the Edison Company to pursue the automobile industry, but experienced a series of failures with the Detroit Automobile Company, and the Henry Ford Company, until he formed the Ford Motor Company in 1903.  The Ford Motor company was valued at 2 million when they unveiled the Model T. At release the Ford Model T was $850 and came in six different colors. The release of the Ford Model T put Ford Motor Company on the map, and made Ford a household name.

Model T converted into Fire Truck

Ford Model T Speedster

        The Ford Model T was the perfect car for early 20th century America for many reasons, mainly because of how it was built. It was one of the first automobiles with interchangeable parts, making it easy to service and maintain. Many companies also sold kits for  users to customize the Model T to their heart's content. Many Model Ts were converted into things like tractors, fire engines, and race cars. It handled the unpaved, rough, pre-urbanization dirt roads of America well, making it perfect for the farms, country roads, and small towns of rural America. Ford was also able to decrease its price significantly with many slight changes, the most notable one being a new method of manufacturing called the assembly line in 1913. The assembly line allowed Ford to bring the $800 price tag down to $325 making it more affordable than ever. By bringing the price down considerably, and making the car suited for almost any terrain the Model T was the perfect car for the century.
        The  introduction of the automobile by Ford lead to significant strides in the urbanization of America, and the reshaping of the United States landscape. New forms of transportation were being experimented with, but none would have the impact of the automobile. With the automobile becoming apart of mainstream America, efforts were made to make the roads more suitable for drivers. Concrete and gravel highways became the standard in the United States with many businesses and attractions popping up along these new roads. The boom in the auto industry lead to booms in the petroleum industry, and in the rubber industry due to tire production. It also changed the industrial scene with its use of the assembly line making production easier and more efficient. Though the Model T was just a car it had a great impact on urbanization and industrialism in the 20th century.
       I believe the Model Ts success can be attributed to the time of its release. It came at a time when innovation was needed in transportation. People living in cities required new forms of transportation to get around the new urban areas. The economy was reaching a point where people were finally willing to spend money, and consumerism was on the rise. The Ford Model T was the first vehicle that made automobiles a non-luxury item that the average consumer could afford. This perfect timing allowed it prosper.

2017 Ford GT

        The Model T may not have been the first automobile, but it was definitely the most influential. It popularized the left-sided steering wheel, and made installment plans a standard in automobile sales. The assembly line created in 1913 is also still widely used today in the automobile industry, and cars are now something that almost anyone can afford. The automobile industry would not be where it was today without the Ford Model T, and its legacy is still present today.

Works Cited:

"Henry Ford: Motorizing America." American History, ABC-CLIO, 2017, americanhistory.abc-clio.com.  Accessed 01 Feb. 2017.

Shumsky, Neil Larry. "Automobiles." American History, ABC-CLIO, 2017, americanhistory.abc-clio.com. Accessed 01 Feb. 2017.

McGuire, William, and Leslie Wheeler. "Henry Ford." American History, ABC-CLIO, 2017, americanhistory.abc-clio.com. Accessed 6 Feb. 2017.

Dearborn. "Model T Facts." Model T Facts. The Ford Motor Company, 05 Aug. 2012. Web. 01 Feb. 2017. <https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2013/08/05/model-t-facts.html>.

"Ford Motor Company Unveils the Model T." History.com. A&E Television Networks, n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2017. <http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/ford-motor-company-unveils-the-model-t>.

"Model T Variations." The New York Times. The New York Times, 19 July 2008. Web. 01 Feb. 2017. <http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/07/20/automobiles/collectibles/0720-MODELT_index.html>.

"SIX CYLINDER CAR FEATURE OF SHOWS." New York Times 13 Oct. 1907: n. pag. NYtimes.com. The New York Times, 13 Oct. 1907. Web. 01 Feb. 2017. <http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F05E2DF173EE233A25750C1A9669D946697D6CF>.