Today in 1914..........
 

1914: Ford introduces an assembly line for the Model-T

Henry Ford introduces an assembly line for the Model-T engine. It is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile, the car that opened travel to the common middle-class American.

and then came the MODEL A!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;) Far more Model As went onto the roads than Model Ts, I'm sure.

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I think many more Model T were built as they were in production far longer than the A. Something like 15 million Ts to 5 million As. Feel free to correct my numbers.

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You're right...who would have thought? The T was in production more that twice the time and then there was that nasty Depression, I remember it well!!! Would there be more Ts on the road today than As? Of course no way would I drive a T where As go today.

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Hey Ed post #2 answered your question.. maybe the T's fell apart and the A's being more robust survived.. there certainly seems to be more around these days

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Agree. The Model A Ford was the best car ever built for the money according to a 1960 issue of Popular Mechanics. It had amazing quality of materials, the best steels, SS starting in 1930, etc. for about the same money as Model T.

When the A came out, I have read (Peter Winnewisser's book don't recall off hand) that Ford planned on building something like 20 million cars. Of course times changed with the Depression, and people's tastes changed, and all else is history. It still is amazing today, how many Model A's are still around.

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And you still have that magazine from 1960??

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No that was another article I read somewhere. I recall a '30 Dlx. Roadster pictured. Was probably a McCahill article.

I've tried Googling it can't find it. Will look thru my stash of Model A stuff I'm sure I have it (article that is).

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Been doing some research on the Al Gore internet and instead of copying and pasting everything I've read, I will state this......yes there were far more Ts made than As but....considering the % built, there are from 200,000 to 250,000 As more than Ts still on the road today worldwide.

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Henry wasn't bashful about getting rid of the Model T's so he could sell more A's.
I'll bet You Tube has the video of the Ford plant crushing the T's and shoving them into the furnace.

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Hey kinda like the junker turn in bail out we had:D

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Ed,

Henry surely had some great ideas. I once read the idea of the assembly line was fashioned after the Chicago "disassembly" lines used in meat processing..

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Thanks for the confirmation and research on those figures. Its interesting

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Mike....quite a few years ago when TV was the source of news, it was reported from a world-wide survey the top 10 influential inventions. I remember the #1 was the printing press and I still have to agree. I can't remember anything else so I've been doing research again trying to find that poll and to see if Henry Ford was on the list. Lot's of polls on the same subject have been taken since then and lot's more inventions have been added. The printing press I found has moved to NO#5 position. Henry Ford is not mentioned but considering the items now on that list, in a few more years, Lattes will be number one. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: Henry Ford wasn't perfect but he had a great creative mind. ;)

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Tom, Crushing used Chevies wasn't beyond his abilities and desires either. Maybe that is part of the reason that used Chevies from that period are so uncommon. I guess it was't just Chevrolet that suffered this crushing fate either. Probably all other low priced brands such as Essex, Dodge, and Maxwell etc as well. If people couldn't buy a Chevy, they wouldn't be buying parts for it either.
Terry

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Do you think the bigger car makers, Duisenberg, Mercedes, etc, had anything to do with it or was it a way the US automakers was keeping control of the US auto industry keeping everything at the manufacturer/dealership; ie, parts, etc ?

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I think it was Henry Ford's way of diminishing competition. I think that if you can't buy that Chevy that the Ford Dealership took in trade last week because the Ford Management said to crush all other brands of trade ins, then you're never going to buy parts for it, AND...... you just might have to buy a Ford! Sneaky Huh? Later on, Aftermarket parts were more available and you weren't so dependent on dealerships for parts, Ford discontinued the practice.
Terry

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Interesting, free market finally won out then?