Cultural effect of Model T and Henry Ford in the 1900 – 1930
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Cultural effect of Model T and Henry Ford in the 1900 – 1930
Henry Ford, the pioneers of automobile era in this world, was the founder of his novel invention in automobiles, the T model in 1908. The Henry Ford with his innovative ideas and willingness for work had circumvented the world. Ford was often quoted as saying "I will build a motorcar for the great multitude"( The Ford Model T page 1). He transformed the economic and social ethnicity in early 19th century and formulated latest ideas of renovation for the world. Thus he not only lowered the cost of the car but raised his profit ratio with the increase in the sales.
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Henry Ford achieved a towering standing by sketching upon consumerism, mass culture and populism to articulate an American way of life. He had neither invented the assembly line nor the automobile, but as he was a eccentric and peculiar in his approach, led to the success story. He altered the phase of American standards of life with his philosophy, wisdom and his dreams. He achieved a landmark in the American history by circumventing his ideas and principles. Through his model T in automobile industry he flourished the people with his theme of prosperity with low expenditure.
Ford was a conservationist who railed against the wastage of wood as well as the wildlife(Donn Paul Werling page 78). The Henry Ford was Episcopalian Christian but a pacifist also. He had an immense hatred for wars. Even famous writer stating that "despite its failure, this effort to stop the war will be remembered when the generals and their battles and senseless slaughter are forgotten". He thought of the war as wastage of time and resources. He, therefore, every time opposed the war. He hoped the world for peaceful and contend place with the people, utilizing their power and resources for development of their own. He thus indulged himself in creation not destruction. He practiced own created ideas for developing himself as well as the people.
The Henry Ford was from a rural town and born on July 30, 1863 near Detroit, Michigan. His father William Ford was an Irish and her mother was a Belgian. Ford was from modest, agrarian Michigan family tree. He was greatly influenced in mechanics right from the beginning. So instead of being a farmer in future, he indulged in science and inventing the mechanical structures. In his initial days of youth, he acquired deep influence in automobiles. He started working as a mechanic’s apprentice and later he started his work on steam engines. He joined Detroit Illuminating Company as engineer in 1891.
He developed a quadricycle in 1896, the first Ford car. He then took over Detroit Automobile Company and renamed it as Henry Ford Company in 1900. Now he turned from a worker to an industrialist, but on his own ideas. He was no prince in his social attitudes and his politics. But Henry Ford's mark in history is almost unbelievable. He reinvented the things with his innovation and novel thought. These ideas directed him to be a leader in business world in early decades of 19th century.
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The Henry Ford, with immense caliber, passion and potential, he organized Ford Company on his own initially making consumerism, mass culture and populism for compelling change in urbanization pattern. He worked with his models, experiments for crafting a new model which would be admired and purchased by every person. He pursued the project with a great deal of technical expertise in design of the engine, chassis, and other mechanical necessities. He launched his model T from his own company Ford. The car that emerged from Ford's design section at the factory that had changed America forever.
His thought of introducing model T led a extreme change in society. It had soiled many new innovations. This 4 seat car dominated the market in the early decades of 19th century from 1908 to 1927. He made significant enhancement in his model by implementing 4 cylinder gasoline engine with rear wheel planetary gear system. The capacity of the fuel tank was 10 gallon with a maximum speed of 45 mph. He employed magnificent like sedan, pickup, roadster, flatbed, sport coupe in this model. The model had a 2speed feature. This all feature incorporate the whole model to a efficient car of its own category.
The model T from Ford dominated the market after its launching from 1908 to 1927. It was the maximum sold car at that time. "I'm going to democratize the automobile," Henry Ford had said in 1909. "When I'm through, everybody will be able to afford one, and about everybody will have one." (Henry Ford and The Model T page 1)The model T was sold more than 10,000 in its first year as it was having a low selling price. With the advent of assembly line the cost got decreased from reduced from $825 to $440. Ford dominated the 54.4% of the market from 1923. The Ford Company with its model T altered the taste of the people of America from 1900 to 1930(Henry Ford Page 1).
The car had one unique and drastic feature that was the car being launched in only black color. This was one of the major drawbacks of declination of the car by 1930’s. After 1930 the other models of other companies like General Motors, Cadillac and others. Thus due to many other factors, the other companies captured the market of Ford. There were many drawbacks in the policies of the Henry Ford like he was an Anti-Semitic. He certain policies against the union and others led the declination of the model T’s market to the other companies.
This car was a unique model in 1920’s period. The idea was to build a high ranking, practical and innovative automobile that can be maintained by middle class persons also. The model T extracted the automobile out of the list of luxuries and brought it into the range and access position where every American citizen might own and enjoyed his own automobile. Ford wanted to bring the car as item not of luxury but an item of facility.
The Henry Ford desired to formulate the automobile not for a particular class, but he wanted to design the particular assembly line for everyone. He crafted the automobile to be used by every class of society. Ford said this numerously, "I will build a motorcar for the great multitude"( The Ford Model T Page 1). His statement showed that he wanted to construct this assembly for mass but not for the particulars. The aspiration of the Ford came to be a factual object later.
The Henry Ford decided to launch his model according to the customer research and their needs. Thus due to his efforts, the urban life cycle had model T as a trend in America. Most of the cars by 1918 were model T cars in America. This was his great devotion for his company as an engineer and as a corporate. In the initial days after installing his company, he supposed that he had to convert his efforts for a reasonable priced, reliable, and efficient automobile, which he did with the introduction of the Model T in 1908. His effort brought a novel and consolidate epoch for the automobiles.
The Ford developed an interesting process with this model that was the mass production criteria. This process completely revolutionized the automobile as well as other business. The Ford adopted a new moving assembly line technique over conventional method. This method was known as “Fordism” which was meant for producing the cars at low cost and quickly. Due to application of this method the production rate got increased from 7 cars per hour to 146 cars per hour at that time. This all was due to the mindset and thinking of Henry Ford.
The Ford had made some very broad contribution for business values. He enhanced the work-culture of the workers. He not only made considerable increments for workers but lessened the working hours also to 8 to 9 hours per day. He analyzed the working system statistically for improving the productivity production rate. Ford had been criticized by Wall Street for starting the 40 hour work week and a minimum wage. He proved, however, that paying people more would enable workers to afford the cars they were producing. Ford labeled the increased compensation as profit-sharing rather than wages.
He was the pioneer for the term like “Welfare Capitalism” which was globalized later(Maxton and Wormald, 104-110). He extensively worked for the quality of the work to ensure the standards and efficiency in his company. He therefore initialized a 5$ per day with the five days a week work. He reduced the working hours also for improvising the standards and efficiency. Although he was criticized sharply by various organizations like the Wall Street, but he argued against them. His main theme was that he strongly wanted that the workers who were producing the car must purchase their self-made product.
As more Americans were owning cars, urbanization patterns has changed widely. One fine initiative of the Ford was to introduce the application of interchangeable parts in the model T. This was emulated by many of the other companies to beat him. But overall impression of the Henry Ford was appreciated all over the society. These all significant changes brought the model T at the peak point in automobile market. The Henry Ford dreamed that every American either rich or middleclass individual, must had a car. The dream of the Henry Ford came to be true with the introduction of this model and modification later on.
The Henry Ford commenced with various working methods and managements styles that were followed by all competitors in the markets. His principle “Fordism” was adopted by his opponents also like General Motors. He was followed by his opponents as well as by the other business persons also. His escalation techniques and other qualities were worth and appreciated by the people, hence to be a leading persona in the business vicinity. Due to his efforts only, the Ford Company reached the peak point in such short duration.
The Henry Ford had numerous other excellencies also. He was against the violence and he every time opposed the war. He was also anti-immigrant, anti-liquor, anti-labor, and anti-union. He criticized the unionism in his company. He tried a lot for preventing the unionism and violence, but his efforts turned to be a fatal one later on. He wanted everyone to do work only but not to indulge in anti-work practices. He transformed the economic and social condition of the society and of his workers also.
He didn't like social and cultural changes like government regulation of business, childcare, European immigration and new style dress as well as music. He did not desired for changing the cultural values. Though he was fond of technical changes for cultivating new seeds for development. He crafted a golden era in automobile sector. He disliked gambling and drinking. He wanted the people to follow the principle of work only. He disliked the wastage of time and money.
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He was an Anti-Semitic person. He published series of anti-Jews articles over 7 years in his news paper, Dearborn Independent. He believed Jews were the world’s foremost problem and blamed them for all wars and problems. He criticized them openly in his newspaper. He was against the extremism and religious narrow-mindedness. He developed his on ideas to reflect the society and people. The Henry Ford was one of the leading tycoons who brought economic independence in American society. His perfect works brought a scientific approach for the other businesses also.
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His beliefs got totally reduced after 1927 when the model T was kicked out of the market and he had to face immense difficulties in his career. His beliefs had deeply affected his business such as reduction of sales. There was violence and strikes in his plant. This led dissatisfaction in his mind. The market of model T turned towards other models from other companies like General Motors, Cadillac and others. Although the Ford Company tried variations in model T like by bringing model T in different colors and many others also. But these all measures were not sufficient enough.
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This turned the golden period of model T to an end. After 1920’s the sales decreased and soon the model T lost its maket to General Motors. The Henry Ford had tried his best to escape from this situation. His idea of building a multitude car came to an end. The overall impact for the model T was due his beliefs and boundings of the characteristics and features of the model. The model T end in the market had put tremendous change in the culture of in automobile industry. Many other companies as well as the Ford also altered their policies of marketing. All companies applied were trying technical changes to their new models as well as to marketing and management policies of their self
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Although the model T ended, but instead it had deep affect in society. It changed the definition of the automobile sector. The management policy of the companies also changed. Henry Ford worked on making sure that an automotive infrastructure developed along with the cars. He implanted for setting up the fuel pumps and interstate highways also. His vision helped create a middle class in the U.S., one marked by urbanization, rising wages and some free time in which to spend them He widened the feeling of competency in the companies. General Motors and Cadillac and others tried to bring down the market share of Ford.
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The definition of automobile sector had changed tremendously with the advent of model T. It also turned the social status of the people and changed the definition of luxury for the normal people. The normal people and even the workers also were being able to purchase the car. Henry Ford had changed ideology of the people. He had a great impact on the American society in the early 19th century.
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The model T has led the Henry Ford to set off his association in other fields also. Due to this success, Henry Ford initiated for launching the newspaper “Dearborn Independent”. He migrated in the aviation business at some position during the 1st World War. But not succeeded extensively. He also experimented to install a rubber plant in the jungles of Amazon These were changes for the Henry Ford only brought by the model T.
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The Henry Ford was eulogized all over the world. He was praised by the Europeans for his pnce. Even the Adolf Hitler also praised him for the steps he took for the modernization of the society. The political leader of America at that time also praised him for his work. Even the president Franklin Roosevelt referred the Detroit as “Arsenal of Democracy” (Henry Ford Page1). The Ford’s innovative ideas led to many innovations in technical as well as in business field also.
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The Ford philosophy had changed the economic view of the America. The River Rouge Plant of the Ford Company became the world's largest industrial complex (Henry Ford Page 1). The Ford showed the path of self dependency for the people in America. He wanted that the America should expand its business relation in other parts of the world and should be self dependent. He also expanded his business to other parts of the world like he collaborated with the Fiat also. At the beginning of the decade of 1930, the Ford became the third largest producer in the automobile sector. Thus the Ford made himself a successful businessman on his own efforts.
Ford's affordable Model T irrevocably altered American society. Both deliver the message to the society for raising the economic condition. The company's assembly line process threw America's Industrial Revolution into overdrive. Though the collapse of the model T came eventually, but up to that point it had changed mindset of the people. The model T created a landmark in American automobile sector at that time. The application which had been introduced by the Henry Ford for producing model T had changed the conventional method to a scientific process. The thinking of Henry Ford brought a drastic change to production and increased the productivity.
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Ford's great strength was the manufacturing process, not invention. Although many of the people and his workers urged him to update the model but Henry Ford was not willing for the change and he discarded these change for his beloved model T. There were other factors also which caused the collapse of the market of the model T. But the overall effect of the model T was tremendous. It created the culture of owning a car in middleclass American society also. Due to the efforts of the Henry Ford and the strategy of model T, the middleclass people as well as the workers were also being able to buy the car. Thus the culture of the American society was revolutionized and transformed to a modern age.
Henry Ford died on April 07, 1947. Will Rogers said, "It will take a hundred years to tell whether he helped us or hurt us, but he certainly didn't leave us where he found us."( Henry Ford and The Model T page 1) The Henry Ford, irrespective of his some immoral and ruthless qualities, thought not only for himself but for the modernization of the America. He took himself for pioneering for the modernization scientifically. The change in the early 19th century was also due to him. The turning point was the establishment of the Ford Company by him for changing the world.
Reference:
1) Henry Ford and The Model T. 1996. Byron Preiss Visual Publications, Inc. and Forbes Inc.
<http://www.wiley.com/legacy/products/subject/business/forbes/ford.html>
2) Nevins, Allen and Hill, Frank Ernest. Ford: Expansion and Challenge: 1915-1933. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons. 1957.
3) Rae, John Bell. Great Lives Observed: Henry Ford. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1969.
4) The Ford Model T. 2007. Frontenac Motor Company
<http://www.modelt.ca/background.html>
5) Lee Iaccocca, Henry Ford, Monday, Dec. 7, 1998.
<http://www.time.com/time/time100/builder/profile/ford.html>
6) Donn Paul Werling, Henry Ford: A Hearthside Perspective, Published 2000 SAE.
7) Charles E. Sorensen, My Forty Years With Ford, Contributor David L. Lewis, Samuel T
Williamson, Published 2006 Wayne State University Press.
8) Henry Ford, My Life and Work,
Work Cited:
1) The Ford Model T. 2007. Frontenac Motor Company
<http://www.modelt.ca/background.html>
2) Donn Paul Werling, Henry Ford: A Hearthside Perspective, Published 2000 SAE.
3) Henry Ford and The Model T. 1996. Byron Preiss Visual Publications, Inc. and Forbes Inc.
<http://www.wiley.com/legacy/products/subject/business/forbes/ford.html>
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Cultural effect of Model T and Henry Ford in the 1900 – 1930. (2018, Feb 17). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/cultural-effect-of-model-t-and-henry-ford-in-the-1900-1930/
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