Ford Work 1930s

[Pomeroy41144]

Was Ford Motor Company a 24/7 operation in the mid 1930s? Three shifts?

Did they work on Sundays? Weekends? Christmas?

Interested in these details for the 1936 - 1937 period.

Thanks

[DavidG]

24/7, 3 shifts in the midst of the 'Great Depression'? You're kidding, right?

[jimalabam]

Depends - what particular 1930 years and what plants are you interested in ???

[Pomeroy41144]

Originally Posted by DavidG

24/7, 3 shifts in the midst of the 'Great Depression'? You're kidding, right?

The Great Depression--at last a subject that I actually know something about.

Economic recovery from the Great Depression began in 1933 in the United States. GDP, helped by parts of the New Deal, swung upwards from 1933 onward to 1937. In 1937, Congress cut back on the recovery and the relaxation of some of the New Deal programs interrupted recovery with the Recession of 1937.

So, no I am not kidding. There was increased economic opportunity in the country during the mid 1930s. Some of this new prosperity was reflected in the production at Ford Motor Company. There were more people working than there were unemployed in the mid 1930s. Both of my grandfathers had jobs in the mid 1930s.

Production at Ford for 1933 was 296,242 units domestic production. As the country worked toward fixing problems in 1933, things began to look up a slight bit and the country began the long road to recover. In 1934, production at Ford was 571,952 units--almost double of 1933. It went up from there--1935 saw 761,015 units produced at Ford Motor Company. A small uptick in production for 1936 yielded 775,335 units for domestic production. By 1937, the economy was picking up, govt projects were in full swing and more people were finding work. Ford domestic auto production was nearly 900,000 units for 1937. More than three times the production of 1933.

So the question still stands. What kind of work hours existed at Ford Motor Company in the mid 1930s? Mostly interested in Dearborn. Appreciate the help. Thanks.

[jimTN]

I believe the casting/furnace work was a 24/7 operation.

[paul2748]

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You might try to contact some PR people or customer relations people at Ford

[TonyM]

[QUOTE=Pomeroy41144;1542224]



...In 1937, Congress cut back on the recovery and the relaxation of some of the New Deal programs interrupted recovery with the Recession of 1937.


... Ford domestic auto production was nearly 900,000 units for 1937. More than three times the production of 1933.

QUOTE]

Yes, that recession of late 37 and 1938 took a toll on the economic recovery that had been humming along: FoMoCo manufactured less than half of the number of vehicles in 1938 than in 1937. By 1937 the really bad part of the Great Depression had passed and recovery had taken hold for the most part. And I agree--not all people were in bad shape during the 1930s. Ford was selling those cars to somebody.

[rotorwrench]

Unemployment was the worst problem in the 30s. It got over 20% for a while. Thank the guy upstairs for keeping that from happening since. Ford made a damn good car for the price and thankfully, a lot of folks purchased them. The US may have been on the upswing at the end of the 30s but it was the war and a lot of surplus tax dollars that ended it. The Adjusted Compensation Act of 1936 finally started to turn loose of the bonuses promised the the WWI Vets in the form of bonds. This stimulated the economy a lot in the mid 30s. Most of the folks likely redeemed their bonds well before 1945 maturity date. I know my Grand Pop did but he kept on driving the Model T anyway. Raising 6 kids was rough in that time frame.

[scicala]

Originally Posted by DavidG

24/7, 3 shifts in the midst of the 'Great Depression'? You're kidding, right?

Were you working in a Ford plant in 1936 or 37 ? Or know someone that was.

Sal

[TonyM]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

The US may have been on the upswing at the end of the 30s but it was the war and a lot of surplus tax dollars that ended it. .

Yep, absolutely.