[rotorwrench]

Another factor was Henry's sensitivity to the possibility of labor strikes with any specific supply source or paying patent rights. With standard slotted screws, he could source them from a number of different companies. With a patented product, he would have to pay for patent rights to be allowed to manufacture them on his own and he wouldn't do that after his own patent fight on the George Selden patent for automobile manufacture. Other manufacturers just payed Selden's price but Henry fought it in court and finally won but it took quite a while. If he couldn't make it then he passed on those business deals.

Ford of Canada was different. Henry only had a 13% interest in that organization. He had a say on the board of directors but he didn't run the company. He basically just let them run it how ever they wanted since he sold them a lot of parts anyway so he made his money both ways. As long as they did good then he let it be. It was a win win situation for him.