1917 Ford Rouge Complex Postcards

[Motorpsychology]

New Fords parked at the factory awaiting vacuum tubes, due to shortages caused by the flu epidemic:

Sponsored

 

[puckdodger]

Thanks for sharing Phil. All those band driven lathes and machinery give me nightmares thinking how many workers lost body parts getting tangled up in them.

I love the old pictures. In another life I worked for 35 years at the Oshawa GM Autoplex which housed a full size pick-up plant, two independently operable car plants, a metal stamping plant with about 15 presses, a battery plant, plastics manufacturing, and suspension component manufacturing. We had about 23000 workers and were the largest Canadian auto facility of any manufacturer. My last few years there I was not a line worker and had freedom to roam all over the place and I always enjoyed sneaking around in the office complex after hours and seeing the old photos displayed around the place.

Sadly, global economics and corporate greed saw the work gradually and relentlessly shipped out to lower wage shops and the last cars rolled out the door at the end of 2019. All the JD Power quality awards and productivity awards (and profits!) the team in Oshawa won over the years meant nothing to the bean counters.

 

[Grumpaw]

Also including their own fertilizer

He also took all the left over wood from the body frames and wheels, and made charcoal to sell .
He also owned large tracts of forest where he obtained the wood for his vehicles.

 

[RedlandRanger]

He also took all the left over wood from the body frames and wheels, and made charcoal to sell .
He also owned large tracts of forest where he obtained the wood for his vehicles.

As well as attempting to run his own rubber plantation - that was a failed endeavor however:

https://www.thehenryford.org/collec...s/popular-topics/brazilian-rubber-plantations

Henry Ford wanted to control EVERYTHING in the supply chain - unlike today. My how times change.

 

[Charley]

Thanks Phil, Great post cards.

for those who want to see the current plant, tours are available. Though you see F150 's, not Rangers being built, but still very cool. Except when you mention to your favorite Ford engineer that you wish you could take pics and they respond that their badge permits them not only on the floor, but full photography permissions. Sheesh, kids these days....

https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/ford-rouge-factory-tour/

The Model-T Automotive Heritage Complex, Inc. is a great tour as well. You get to see a killer aftermarket 4 wheel drive system on a Model T.

https://www.fordpiquetteplant.org/

Of course to make the trip worthwhile, go to the Dream Cruise. I was there in 2017. My favorite Ford engineer lived just a few blocks away from Ferndale and knew all the neighborhoods to easily travel from Ferndale down to the Vinsetta Garage area.

http://www.woodwarddreamcruise.com/

 

[FunInTheSun]

As well as attempting to run his own rubber plantation - that was a failed endeavor however:

https://www.thehenryford.org/collec...s/popular-topics/brazilian-rubber-plantations

Henry Ford wanted to control EVERYTHING in the supply chain - unlike today. My how times change.

The rubber plantation may have been because of the rubber shortage during the war (WWII). There is a very interesting museum in Fort Myers where Henry Ford had a summer home. His next-door neighbor was Thomas Edison.
They had a joint venture with Harvey? Firestone in Fort Myers to seek an alternative to the latex from the Indian Rubber Tree, as the supply was mostly from India and the supply lines were long and vulnerable to the German submarine fleet patrolling the Atlantic.

There is a large workshop and chemistry lab with a lot of the original equipment still in place, aling with a lot of other Edison memorabilia, inventions and devices. Giant light bulbs, electric motors, phonographs and other devices on display. You can tour these facilities, along with The Edison and Ford houses, with a couple of cool old Fords and some other Ford-related memorabilia at Henry’s place.
I learned that Edison used to work for Ford, and the story of how Ford encouraged him to go into business is part of the tour. Very good place to spend a day, and not too expensive at like $15 a person, if I remember right.

 

[wanted33]

Wonderful stuff Phil. Growing up my Dad worked for the Cannon Mills Company (Textiles). He did a little of everything. I so remember all of that old style equipment when he took me through. It was hard, hot work, and equipment safety was basically non existent. But, the workers were there everyday making a living to feed there families.

 

[Nevada_Bob]

Amazing history

Thank you, Phil!

 

[rang19ca]

Thanks @P. A. Schilke for posting the pictures.

Sponsored