In His Name Devotionals
FORD’S MODEL T
In His Name Devotionals
FORD’S MODEL T
In his best selling biography, “Ford: the Man and the Machine,” Robert Lacy points out that the man who implemented the assembly line and revolutionized manufacturing loved and believed in his Model T so much that he didn’t want to ever change a bolt on it.
Returning from a European vacation in 1912, Ford visited a Highland Park garage to view a newly designed car produced by William Knudson, his ace production man. Knudson saw the sun setting on the four year old Model T. So, he produced a low-slung version with red lacquered paint. After slowly walking around the car a few times, Ford, removing his hands from his pockets, went berserk. He ripped off two of the four doors and jumped on it trying to damage as much of the new design as possible.
As a result, Knudson decided to join up with General Motors. Thus, competitive necessity caused Ford to later develop the Model A.
Perhaps it would be helpful to remember Henry Ford the next time we think that our tradition, marriage, parenting skills, education, or personal growth can’t improve. Can you imagine only one car—the Model T?
