Video Parts (3)
This clip is Part 1 of a 3-part film.
FORD AGE,THE [FORD INDUSTRIAL AND MANUFACTURING ACTIVITIES] Part 1
Description
The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “Forests” - “Ore” - “Railroads” - “Development.” “Over one-half of all the passenger cars in the world today are Ford.” Parked automobiles . “Henry Ford is one of the greatest idealists in the world today, a man whose visions have come true.” “The first Ford Plant.” Viewed through doorway, early model automobile. “His ambition was to make a light durable car, so fool-proof and economical that the humblest workman might own one.” Henry Ford drives the [1896] Quadricycle. “He concentrated his efforts in producing a universal type of car so fundamentally right that the basic mechanical principles survive year after year.” Late model 1923 Ford. “The Ford plants in Detroit are situated on 965 acres, 205½ acres of which are under roof.” Panorama of Ford plants. “The greatest industrial organization of all times, makes possible the production of --” “-- 7,000 cars a day.” Workers and automobiles outside a Ford plant. “Iron ore, fuel and lumber are supplied by Ford mines and forests.” “Iron ore. Imperial Mine, Michigamme, Michigan.” Iron ore mine buildings. “Coal mines, Nuttallburg and Twin Branch, West Virginia. Kentenia, Pond Creek, and Stone, Kentucky.” “Twin Branch, W. Va., supplies a low volatile smokeless coal.” Coal mine and homes. “Imagine the enormous amount of coal it requires a day to keep this industry supplied.” Railroad coal cars drawn by locomotive. “Lumber, Iron Mountain and Sidnaw, Michigan. One half million timber acres.” Lumbering operations. “Living wages and low prices are made possible by efficiency and the elimination waste.” Workers on automobile assembly line. “Waste lumber is made into ‘parts’ boxes.” “The waste metal is baled and melted with other metal. By adding this scrap steel greater strength is obtained.” Scrap metal processing machinery. “Great furnaces prepare the raw material for use in the building of Ford cars.” Smelting furnace. “Think of the tons of ore, coal and limestone used in the foundry daily.” “Vast quantities of steel are required to keep the daily production balanced.” “The manipulator is capable of handling a 5-ton ingot.” “The 54 miles of conveyors, by their various performances throughout the entire Ford organization, make possible this remarkable daily production of cars.” “All the wearing parts are accurately machined for close adjustment.” Automobile manufacturing machinery. “The body frame being assembled. It is almost impossible to conceive the great amount of lumber that is required daily.” Wooden automobile body frame. “The metal parts of the bodies are shaped by powerful presses.” “The axels are forged out by powerful machines.” “The bodies are then painted.” Workers spray-paint automobile bodies. “Tops are made of waterproof covering. The leather and cloth used each day would make several good sized circus tents.” Workers cut and assemble fabric automobile tops. “After all the thousands of parts are perfected the various units are assembled.” Workers on assembly line. “The transmission.” “Assembling the magneto.” “Single women and widows who have dependents are given a chance in the coil unit department and are paid same wage scale as men.” “Assembling the starting motor, Bendix drive and the generator.” “Assembling motor and transmission.” “Placing starting motor and generator.” “Numbering one of the millions of Ford motors.” “The completed motors are conveyed to the loading docks for shipment to the various assembly branches. Foreign shipments are boxed.” Boxing motors - crate with sign, ‘Ford, Sao Paulo, Case No. 19.’ “The rear axle.” Workers on assembly line. “Part Two will follow immediately.” “Ford Age, Part 2.” “A network of Ford service branches and assembly plants touches every nook and corner in the United States. The assembly plants operate along the same lines as the main Ford plants.” “Columbus branch.” “New York City branch.” “Detroit branch.” “Washington branch.” “Oklahoma City branch.” “Dallas branch.” “Kearny plant.” “St. Louis branch.” “San Francisco branch.” “Cork, Ireland plant.” “Buenos Aires branch.” “Copenhagen plant.” “The parts now go to the final assembly line, starting with the chassis.” “Lowering engine into frame.” “As the car moves along the engine and other parts are secured to the frame.” “The dash unit assembly is made on a special rack.” “Putting the dash on the car.” “Think of the amount of wood and rubber used in a day’s manufacture of wheels and tires for Ford cars.” “The radiator is then installed.” “Inspecting the chassis.” “The shields, fenders and running boards are positioned and secured to the brackets.” “The chassis now ready for the body.” “The car then drops from the conveyor to the starting platform and is started through the rear wheels.” “The Ford car owes its popularity to its scientific construction, the tough material it is made of and its wonderful performance.” “The sturdy frame and 3-point suspension permit this.” Ford is driven through deep mud and over raised sidewalk. “The Ford one-ton truck assists the road builder.” “-- and saves time in transportation.” Ford truck passes horse-drawn wagon. “Communities once separated by great distances are brought closer together through the use of the automobile and a strong link in the nation’s progress is formed.” “For this reason the Ford car is seen no matter where your trail may lead, whether it be in the mountains --” “-- or down the valleys -- in the far North’s wintry blasts -- or the South’s scorching sun -- in foreign lands.” [1923]
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