About the Model T, its end, and its aftermath
The Model T was extremely popular in the early 1900s. Between 1913 and 1927, Ford made more than 15 million Model Ts. All of the car bodies were made on a “100-inch-wheelbase chassis.” ( "Model T - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com.")In the earlier years of the Model T, cars were made in green, red, blue, and grey, but from 1913 to 1925, the car was made only in black because of Ford wanting to make the car cheaper. The engine had four cylinders in a block and the cylinder head came off for repairs. The engine allowed up to 20 horsepower and it could go up to 40-45 miles per hour. “In most models the engine was started by a hand crank, but after 1920 some models had battery-powered starters. Transmission was controlled by foot pedals.” ( "Model T - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com.") The fuel tank(10 gallons) was under the front seat. “Since gasoline was given to the engine by gravity and because the reverse gear had more power than the forward gears, the Model T often had to be driven up steep hills backward.” ( "Model T - Facts & Summary - HISTORY.com.") By this time, Alfred P Sloan Jr. of GM started to sell Chevrolets that were more advanced than the Model T. People started wanting a better Ford car. The problem was, Ford didn't want a new Model T. “Once, while he was away on vacation, employees built an updated Model T and surprised him with it on his return. Ford responded by kicking in the windshield and stomping on the roof.” ("Sample Material.") Henry’s son, Edsel, was the only person who kept on trying to get Ford to move on and make a new car. Henry didn't listen. In 1926, Henry finally understood that the Model T was failing from the falling sales. “On May 25, 1927, Ford stopped making the Model T, and the Highland Park factory was closed for 6 months.” ("Sample Material.") Cars like the Model T paved the way to other products being produced, such as steel, oil, rubber, and highway productions. Gasoline money helped make highways, such as the Interstate Highway System. The assembly line also had an impact on the production of refrigerators, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and radios. All of these things could now be “mass produced.”
|