| shogun1940 | -- 11-17-2011 @ 3:42 PM |
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when did ford start welding cars together with arc welding, or spot welding. Also what kind of wood did ford use in there sedan delivery model???
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| Stroker | -- 11-17-2011 @ 4:12 PM |
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Shogun 1940: I can't answer your welding question, but as for wood, Ford's Iron Mountain Michigan facility was developed during the Model T era to provide wood for Ford bodies. Given that the prevalent species in the area was "Hard" or Sugar Maple, I'm inclined to believe that most Ford reinforcing wood was maple.
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| ford38v8 | -- 11-17-2011 @ 5:15 PM |
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A bit of trivia about wood in Ford cars: Ford had always been more of an auto "assembler" than an auto "maker", meaning that Ford cars were built from parts purchased from outside suppliers. Parts would come in to Ford plants in boxcars, in wooden boxes, strapped to wooden pallets, and by many different means of transport. Henry Ford from the outset had been a frugal man, never known to allow anything to go to waste. This quality was never better demonstrated than when he saw the mountains of sawdust created at the Iron Mountain facility. He set to work to devise a way to use that sawdust, and as a result invented barbecue charcoal briquets. His very successful Ford Charcoal Briquets Company was sold at great profit, the new name of which becoming a household word: Kingsford. Recognize the name within the name? Sawdust is not wasted anymore. Long before Kingsford Briquets, though, old Henry would specify that parts delivered to Ford would be packed in boxes of certain sizes, made of plywood of a certain quality and thickness, on pallets made of hardwood of particular dimensions. Nothing wasted? These became structural members in Ford cars, floorboards in Ford cars, Wood blocks under truck beds of all sizes. Think of this, though: A pallet of parts that may go into a hundred cars, the dismantling of that pallet to make wood parts for several cars? Was there a genuine economy there, or was there more value recieved in the free publicity that this practice gained? Being very much a Newsmaker himself, Henry Ford knew the value of free publicity and used it to great advantage at every opportunity. Alan
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| Dale Fairfax | -- 11-17-2011 @ 6:47 PM |
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According to the book FORD METHODS and the FORD SHOPS published in 1915 and describing manufacturing of the Model T in the Highland Park Plant, spot welding was in use in 1913-1914. Other books covering the building of Ford cars show resistance butt welding in use to join body panels on the 1932 models. This produced (after metal finishing) invisible joints.
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| Stroker | -- 11-18-2011 @ 6:43 AM |
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Alan: Nice history of Kingsford briquets, with one minor clarification: E.C. Kingsford was an actual person; albeit Henry's relative. He did the site selection for the charcoal works, and Henry rewarded him by naming the company (and company town) "Kingsford Michigan". Kingsford MI is still a functioning "burb" of Iron Mountain. Dan
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| ford38v8 | -- 11-18-2011 @ 9:28 AM |
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Thank you, Dan, I didn't know that! Alan
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| shogun1940 | -- 11-18-2011 @ 4:13 PM |
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I really like the v8 club, you guys know more facts . thanks for all the info
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| nelsb01 | -- 11-18-2011 @ 10:05 PM |
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Matter of fact, about 2 years ago the back of the Kingsford bag had a short write up about Henry and northern Michigan.
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