updraught
Well-known member
About a weakness in the Model T and how it was fixed in the A.
https://youtu.be/l5yRxO-xB4E?si=0hvNDRTHI56Wi_9z
https://youtu.be/l5yRxO-xB4E?si=0hvNDRTHI56Wi_9z
A Henry Ford story
- Thread starter updraught
- Start date
updraught
Well-known member
nkaminar
Well-known member
The accident has been collaborated by other sources. However, the story I got was a little different. I read that when Henry got back to the factory he ordered that the thickness of the wishbone metal be increased but not the overall diameter so that the fault would not be noticed. It was the wishbone that bent causing the axle to rotate and the front wheels to go 90 degrees
The reinforcement for the wishbone was indeed available as an after market item. I had one on my 1915 Model T. Since there were no brakes on the front wheels of the Model T, the wishbone did not have to be as strong as on the Model A. If Henry was mad at the accessory being available it was probably because it pointed out a weak part and it may have hurt sales.
Several people have been hurt or killed by the Model T front suspension collapsing and the car flipping end over end, but the failures have been caused by faulty aftermarket suspension add-ons.
I could not view the Facebook link, not being a Facebookian.
The reinforcement for the wishbone was indeed available as an after market item. I had one on my 1915 Model T. Since there were no brakes on the front wheels of the Model T, the wishbone did not have to be as strong as on the Model A. If Henry was mad at the accessory being available it was probably because it pointed out a weak part and it may have hurt sales.
Several people have been hurt or killed by the Model T front suspension collapsing and the car flipping end over end, but the failures have been caused by faulty aftermarket suspension add-ons.
I could not view the Facebook link, not being a Facebookian.
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updraught
Well-known member
For anyone too young to be using facebook:
"After more than 13 years and $50 million in restoration work, Henry and Clara Ford’s Fair Lane estate in Dearborn is set to reopen by next June.
The reopening marks the culmination of a painstaking effort to restore one of the most important industrial-era estates in the country, closed since 2010, as a living history experience.
Central to the reopening is the “no velvet ropes” experiential tours Fair Lane is planning for visitors to the 57-room historic home on the banks of the Rouge River, its powerhouse, experimental lab and the garage where Henry Ford and his friend Thomas Edison once tinkered.
As part of its developing business model, the estate will offer public rentals of several areas.
“This is going to be a very unique approach. I think people will find it exciting to be immersed in the experience … the time period … and (the Fords’) lives,” said Devon O’Reilly, president and CEO of Fair Lane, who joined the nonprofit last year."
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/nonprofits-philanthropy/cdb-fair-lane-reopening-in-2027-20260812/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=soc-own&fbclid=IwY2xjawTwe8BwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMVdoYXFHR1RXRVkzYlA0cWlzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEehIeYkx98WTeA_1fPMYTjW3ynn_WOs_5JFIrsDT_9elSy6Q5QKnDtAAnk6xk_aem_iYA8HUsnWgLkcQRvAIlWVQ
"After more than 13 years and $50 million in restoration work, Henry and Clara Ford’s Fair Lane estate in Dearborn is set to reopen by next June.
The reopening marks the culmination of a painstaking effort to restore one of the most important industrial-era estates in the country, closed since 2010, as a living history experience.
Central to the reopening is the “no velvet ropes” experiential tours Fair Lane is planning for visitors to the 57-room historic home on the banks of the Rouge River, its powerhouse, experimental lab and the garage where Henry Ford and his friend Thomas Edison once tinkered.
As part of its developing business model, the estate will offer public rentals of several areas.
“This is going to be a very unique approach. I think people will find it exciting to be immersed in the experience … the time period … and (the Fords’) lives,” said Devon O’Reilly, president and CEO of Fair Lane, who joined the nonprofit last year."
https://www.crainsdetroit.com/nonprofits-philanthropy/cdb-fair-lane-reopening-in-2027-20260812/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=soc-own&fbclid=IwY2xjawTwe8BwZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMVdoYXFHR1RXRVkzYlA0cWlzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEehIeYkx98WTeA_1fPMYTjW3ynn_WOs_5JFIrsDT_9elSy6Q5QKnDtAAnk6xk_aem_iYA8HUsnWgLkcQRvAIlWVQ
ModelA29
Well-known member
Just speed up the line so 48 hours worth of work goes by in 40 hours and presto you save all that money running the infrastructure an extra day per week. Plus the workers get an extra day of rest so they can work harder and faster.
ETAModel
Senior Member
As a 20 year old who grew up working on the farm I went to work in heavy earth moving construction. We worked at least 10 hr days Mon thru Fri, and from 4 to 12 hours on Saturday. I tried to tell the boss he wasn't getting much for his money on Saturday. We were all beat from 50-75hrs in the Texas summer sun. That's why robotics do so much in modern assembly lines. They don't get tired.
BRENT in 10-uh-C
Well-known member
This video is typical of the BS and misinformation that is so often posted by YouTube Content makers, ...and this one IMHO was an absolute waste of time even watching it. My 1909 and both of my 1914 Model-Ts DO have a front Radius Rod (-a/k/a 'Wishbone'). Therefore I question the validity of the story as Henry was dead by 1953, as likely was the mentioned driver, so the 70+ year old Mr. Galamb could have made-up that story without the worry of anyone remaining alive who could dispute his 'tale'. Because he knew that, he likely chose to glamorize himself in front of the Reporter for a last bit of glory before he would pass a couple of years later.
Like Neil posted above, they can collapse if subjected to hitting a solid object (i.e.: curb, another vehicle, deep pothole, etc.) but the failure rate of these (both back then, and now) is probably way less than 1% of 1 percent of the Model-Ts are ever affected.
Like Neil posted above, they can collapse if subjected to hitting a solid object (i.e.: curb, another vehicle, deep pothole, etc.) but the failure rate of these (both back then, and now) is probably way less than 1% of 1 percent of the Model-Ts are ever affected.
