Henry Ford Essay, Research Paper

A. Historical Narrative

1.Henry Ford, by far the universe^s most renowned industry man,

held a strong grip on American business. The Model t, which

was his crown creation and the mass production method he used

to produce it, changed the face of the current times and became

a temper of the times because it was catchy. He had a blue

collar appeal to the majority of Americans, who were just that

blue collar, because he succeeded on his own merits. Even with

the great wealth he accumulated, he still maintained the

support of the common folk.

2. In Helbroner & Singer, Mr. Ford

is discussed a great deal in chapter 10 Workers and Work. It

is fitting that he be discussed in that chapter, due to the

hard workers mentality he maintained and his actions concerning

his position on the prices of his cars to fit the wages of his

workers. H&S describes one of his greatest contributions as

being the creation of the assembly line. This creation as H&S

says, ^ deliberately speeded up the pace of work as machinery

determined the pace of labor^. It also says, ^ the character

of work was changed.^

B. Historical Interpretation

1. The author gives a somewhat normal account of Mr. Ford^s life, by

normal I mean similar to other information probably heard in

description of his life. What is amusing is chapter 7, which is,

entitled Genius Ignoramus. This chapter gives information on some of

Mr. Ford^s not-so bright ideas such as; the naval submarine he sought

to build, and the three motors each day, and his political aspirations

that most people do not know about. All these ventures failed for one

reason or another, but did not take away from his overall genius in

industry.

2. In chapter 30; Henry Ford: Legend and Legacy the author places Ford

on that industrialist pedestal that he belongs on. He concludes that

his legacy will go on in the continued production of cars in the mass

method, as well as the old car and special interest auto clubs and

publications. The author also concludes that if he had died before

1914, after he set sweeping changes in motion he would be even more of

an immortal.

C. Historical Method

1. The author utilizes several sources such as:

N.S.B. Gras, ^?Shifts in Public Relations,^? Bulletin of the Business Historical Society 19 (Oct. 1945)

Eric Goldman, Two-Way Street: The Emergence of Public Relations Counsel (Boston: Bellman Publishing Company, Inc. 1948)

Seltzer, Automobile Industry, pp3, 91; Keith Sward, The Legend of Henry Ford(New York: Reinhart & Company, Inc., 1948, p. 14.

Reliability of sources

The sources used are all properly documented and seem at glance to be

viable. He used all credible business journals, as well as earlier

publications on Henry Ford to comprise this marvelous account of Henry

Ford^s life.

History 3330 Business History

Dr. Brad Rice

Book Analysis