The Ford Barn

whirnot · 11-16-2022, 10:35 PM

I am looking for information about the Ford Iron Mountain plant. Ford Built the plant in the early 20s and it was to make wood components for the Model T. They also built parts for Model As, and other wood parts until shut down in 1952.

It is well known that Briggs and Murray built bodies for Ford in the Model A area. What I am trying to find is if Ford supplied wood parts to these body makers or did the make all their own.
Please verifiable, documented information only, not rumor.
Thanks

rotorwrench · 11-17-2022, 01:05 PM

The Briggs and Murray bodies were different enough that they had a fair amount of differences in the wood structure that held them together. Both companies manufactured bodies for other automobile brands and they used wood for them as well. In Charles Sorensen's book about his time at FMC, he made mention that Henry had questioned the price that one of the subcontractors was charging FMC for the steel they were using in body fabrication. This led to FMC's rolling mills supplying them with the steel they needed after that point. He never mentioned anything about wood though.

The Henry Ford site has a lot of info available. The Iron Mountain facility was where all the station wagon bodies were made after it came on line. Ford likely made all the wood used in the bodies produced by FMC there but most of that was for the top structures and the interior trim fitting plus the floor boards & seat bottoms/backs at least with respect to the model A. A lot of Model T bodies were made there during that era.

Henry and Clara Ford were close to Minnie Kingsford who was a first cousin. Henry had her husband Edward scout the properties and site for the Iron Mountain plant where the hard wood resources came from.

Jim Mason · 11-17-2022, 03:58 PM

https://www.scribd.com/document/4538...ounty-Michigan

whirnot · 11-18-2022, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

The Briggs and Murray bodies were different enough that they had a fair amount of differences in the wood structure that held them together. Both companies manufactured bodies for other automobile brands and they used wood for them as well. In Charles Sorensen's book about his time at FMC, he made mention that Henry had questioned the price that one of the subcontractors was charging FMC for the steel they were using in body fabrication. This led to FMC's rolling mills supplying them with the steel they needed after that point. He never mentioned anything about wood though.

The Henry Ford site has a lot of info available. The Iron Mountain facility was where all the station wagon bodies were made after it came on line.

Actually Ford didn't make any station wagon bodies until 1929.
The Iron Mountain plant had been running for 8 years.
They advertised it as it was the first time you could buy a station wagon that was completely factory built, instead of a third party body builder.

rotorwrench · 11-19-2022, 10:19 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I stated "after it came on line". The history was about the plant and not any individual car. Some model Ts built by FMC had a lot of wood but there were also subcontractors in that era.

11-16-2022, 10:35 PM	#1
whirnot Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Bend Or. Posts: 1,057	Any historians? I am looking for information about the Ford Iron Mountain plant. Ford Built the plant in the early 20s and it was to make wood components for the Model T. They also built parts for Model As, and other wood parts until shut down in 1952. It is well known that Briggs and Murray built bodies for Ford in the Model A area. What I am trying to find is if Ford supplied wood parts to these body makers or did the make all their own. Please verifiable, documented information only, not rumor. Thanks __________________ Bill Worden 1929 Roadster 1929 Briggs Town Sedan 1930 Closed Cab pickup Smith Motor Compressor 1951 Ford F1 High Desert Model A's

11-17-2022, 01:05 PM	#2
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: Any historians? The Briggs and Murray bodies were different enough that they had a fair amount of differences in the wood structure that held them together. Both companies manufactured bodies for other automobile brands and they used wood for them as well. In Charles Sorensen's book about his time at FMC, he made mention that Henry had questioned the price that one of the subcontractors was charging FMC for the steel they were using in body fabrication. This led to FMC's rolling mills supplying them with the steel they needed after that point. He never mentioned anything about wood though. The Henry Ford site has a lot of info available. The Iron Mountain facility was where all the station wagon bodies were made after it came on line. Ford likely made all the wood used in the bodies produced by FMC there but most of that was for the top structures and the interior trim fitting plus the floor boards & seat bottoms/backs at least with respect to the model A. A lot of Model T bodies were made there during that era. Henry and Clara Ford were close to Minnie Kingsford who was a first cousin. Henry had her husband Edward scout the properties and site for the Iron Mountain plant where the hard wood resources came from. Last edited by rotorwrench; 11-17-2022 at 01:11 PM.

11-17-2022, 03:58 PM	#3
Jim Mason Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 914	Re: Any historians? https://www.scribd.com/document/4538...ounty-Michigan __________________ www.jmodela.coffeecup.com Fwiw, jm.

11-19-2022, 10:19 AM	#5
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,440	Re: Any historians? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I stated "after it came on line". The history was about the plant and not any individual car. Some model Ts built by FMC had a lot of wood but there were also subcontractors in that era.