July 30, 2012, marks the 149th birthday of Henry Ford. Ford is known as the “Father of the Automobile” as well as a one of the greatest inventors in US history. He is most famous for incorporating the Ford Motor Company in 1903, but there are many other contributions he made that are not as prominent.
Here are a few of the lesser-known facts about Henry Ford.
- Ford was chief engineer for Thomas Edison’s Edison Illuminating Company. The two became close friends.
- Ford held 161 US patents for his inventions and innovations.
- Ford was an avid book collector. Much of his collection now stands at the Benson Ford Research Center in Dearborn, MI.
- Ford created the 8-hour workday in order to run three-shifts and run his factories 24 hours a day.
- Ford created the Kingsford charcoal brand in 1920, turning leftover wood from Model T production into briquettes.
- Ford loved to dance and worked to revitalize old-fashioned dancing in the 1920s.
- Ford patented a soy-based plastic bodied car in 1942 as an attempt to open new markets for farmers.
The Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, Florida, will be hosting a presentation in honor of Henry Ford on July 30 in the Edison Ford Museum. For more information, their website.
Ford, of course, is most beloved for his cars with the Ford Motor Company, from the early Model A to today’s Ford Mustang GT. Classic car collectors and muscle car enthusiasts alike can attribute the success of the American automobile to the innovation and vision of Henry Ford. If you collect classic Ford vehicles or vintage muscle cars, protect your investment with comprehensive collector car insurance from Classic Auto. We provide budget-friendly premiums with included benefits such as next term mileage rollover and roadside assistance. Get an instant collector car insurance quote online.
About the Author
Drew Yagodnik is Vice President of Classic Automobile Insurance Agency, Inc. Classic Automobile Insurance Agency has been protecting collector, classic and exotics since 1992.
