Life and achievements
Early life
Henry Ford was born on July 30, July 30, 1863, in a Springwells Township, Michigan, farmstead. His father, William Ford, was an Irishman, while his mother, Mary Litogot Ford, was of Belgian origin. Ford spent his childhood on a farm, where he learned the value of hard work, but he had no desire to work on the farm.
Ford had a mechanical inclination even in childhood; at the age of 15, he took apart and reassembled a pocket watch. This skill made him known by his neighbors as the watch repairman. At 16, he left the farm and got a job as an apprentice machinist in Detroit, a growing industrial city.
Ford returned to the family farm in 1882, but his passion for mechanics did not stop there. He maintained steam engines, and by the mid-1880s, he had built his first engine. Ford's beginning years were characterized by learning and trial and error, which paved the way for future developments in the automotive industry.
In 1891, Ford became an engineer at Edison Illuminating Company. This position gave him the financial security and free time needed to develop his gasoline engines. By 1896, he had finished his first horseless carriage, the Quadricycle, and used it, tweaking it as he went along. He was inspired by Thomas Edison when the two met in 1896 to further his interest in automobiles.
In the early years, Ford Motor Company had some difficulties in automobile production. His first company, the Detroit Automobile Company, could have been more successful because it produced expensive, low-quality automobiles. However, these were not to deter him. Due to Ford's tenacity and vision, he established the Ford Motor Company in 1903, which can be considered the starting point of his achievement in the automobile business.
Legacy
Henry Ford, as a personality, is a great industrialist, but at the same time, he has a somewhat ambiguous heritage. He introduced the assembly line in manufacturing, which made cars affordable and brought them into the market for the average American. This innovation not only revolutionized the automotive industry but also affected industrial practices all over the globe.
Ford was interested in more than just manufacturing. He also treated employees well by offering them fair wages; for instance, he introduced the $5 workday in 1914. Another of his innovations was the campaign for the 30-hour workweek, which paved the way for the establishment of the contemporary concepts of work and leisure.
However, the author's contributions to the industry and labor are overshadowed by his antisemitic beliefs and materials. His newspaper, The Dearborn Independent, published a series of articles containing antisemitic conspiracy theories, which were later published in a book called "The International Jew." These views were highly objectionable and left a rather negative impression on him.
Ford's influence on American society is not limited to his business; he was also involved in charitable activities. He also created the Ford Foundation, the biggest and one of the most influential philanthropic organizations, to support education, scientific research, and social justice.
In his last years, Ford suffered from several sicknesses and, therefore, passed on the control of his company to his grandson, Henry Ford II, in 1945. At his death in 1947, Ford had left a fascinating legacy of inventions, charity, and, of course, scandals. His impact on the automotive industry and workers' rights is still relevant today, although his opinions on social issues are still a subject of discussion.
Milestone moments
Jun 16, 1903
Formation of the Ford Motor Company
Henry Ford started the Ford Motor Company with a capital of $28,000. Ford's friend, Alexander Y. Malcomson, a Detroit-area coal dealer, was also among the 12 people who helped form the company.
Ford wanted to create cars for the average consumer, emphasizing effectiveness and low costs. He dreamt of producing a vehicle accessible to every person in America, including the middle-income earners and the working class.
The Ford Motor Company's first car was the Model A, which did well in the market. However, the Model T, launched in 1908, revolutionized the car industry. The Model T was cheap, durable, and simple to service and repair, making it one of the most popular cars of its time.
Oct 1, 1908
The Introduction of the Model T
The Model T, also famously called the "Tin Lizzie," was launched for $825. It incorporated some unique design aspects, like the steering wheel on the car's left side and the engine and transmission being sealed.
The car was designed to be simple and cheap, thus changing the way people moved around and becoming available to the masses. Ford created the moving assembly line in 1913, greatly enhancing the production capacity.
The Model T's price kept decreasing; by 1916, it was selling at $360, thus becoming more affordable. Ford produced more than fifteen million Model Ts by 1927, establishing the company's presence in the automobile market.
Jan 5, 1914
Implementation of the $5 Workday Concept
Henry Ford introduced the $5 workday, thus raising the average wage of his employees two times. This was done in a bid to minimize the turnover rate of employees and to get talented personnel to work in his factories.
Higher wages enabled the workers to buy the cars they were manufacturing, improving sales and brand loyalty. Ford's decision was perceived as a radical move in labor relations policies, and other organizations emulated the action.
The $5 workday enhanced the employees' performance and decreased training expenses, which was beneficial for the company. Regarding wages and working conditions, Ford introduced new measures that became benchmarks in the American labor market.
May 1, 1926
The Five-Day Workweek
Ford employed his factory workers for a five-day workweek, 40 hours a week. This decision enhanced production and gave the employees more free time to spend as they wished.
According to Ford, people would consume more goods and services due to more free time, boosting the economy. The American industry adopted the five-day workweek and spread throughout the country as the norm.
Reducing work hours was part of Ford's system of enhancing workers' welfare and productivity. Some of Ford's policies helped shape modern work-life balance and labor relations.