Automobiles the in 1920’s The 1920’s was a decade of great change in the American automobile industry. By 1920, the automobile industry had developed in Detroit, although there were plants in other cities in United Stated. Even though the percentage of automobile produced overseas would grow during this time period, the majority were produced in the United States. The number of vehicle produced by American grew from approximately 2.3 million in 1920 to over 5 million in 1929.(Mazzeno,“Automobiles and auto manufacturing.”) In 1920, the Model T, introduced by Henry Ford in 1908, was one of the most popular automobiles in America. Model T was at such a low price that nearly two-thirds of the cars on American road at that time was Henry Ford’s Model T. (Mazzeno,“Model A Ford” ). The four cylinder, twenty horsepower Model T, first offered in October 1908 was sold for $825. It only had two speed planetary transmission, which made it easy to drive. …show more content…
The assembly line made the mass production possible, which lead in lower consumer cost. In 1920 the price of a Model T fell to $290 and that was about three months salary for a average person at that time period (Ewing). Also with Ford’s new idea of the installment plan, the Model T became affordable for people who could pay a portion of the cost up front, and then pay a reasonable monthly payment (Burchett). In 1920, the Ford company manufactured one million Model T vehicle, four years later that number had doubled. However, by 1926 the sales had declined because General Motors (GM) came up with a, Pontiac, that drew customers away from Ford’s Model T. GM was not the only company whose sales where going up. Chevrolet sales in 1927 reached over a million dollars, this was the first time since 1908 that a company other than Ford whose sales went up (Foner and
the Model T to producing the Model A. During the 1950 and 60s Chrysler took over
Other manufacturers were content to target the wealthy American could buy, not even considering the middle or lower class. Ford developed a design and a method of making the cars that steadily and continuously reduced the cost of the car, the car being the Model T. Instead of pocketing the money from the cars Ford used it to make better and more efficient ways to build a car. As a result, Ford Motor Company sold more cars and steadily increased its earnings. Henry Ford somehow managed to change people from the looking at an automobile as a luxury, and more like a convenience
The introduction to the document stated “…Yet I think there can be no serious question that the motor-car has come to be more important to us socially than the horse.”2 It is evident, A. Albert was saying that cars became much more important than horses. An automobile was something that every person should have, it became a necessity. There is a reason why this time period was called the “roaring twenties”. It was an age of mass production, mass consumption and an age of social and economic advancement. Automobiles were made with a simple purpose, to help shorten the travel time, however it made traveling also interesting and fun. Big automobile industries such as “Ford” began making stereo systems. Now people could listen to the same music, or radio stations which made people have something in common. Looking at the big picture automobiles were a part of the “roaring twenties”. The reason 1920’s were the “roaring twenties” was in fact because of automobiles. Without automobiles, there would not have been such a drastic increase of people moving/commuting to cities. Since cars ran on gas it meant gas stations were also a necessity. A large amount of cars were being made therefor a lot of materials were needed and new roads were being paved which meant that there were more jobs and a decline in an unemployment
The Ford Model T, introduced by Henry Ford in 1908 but made affordable to the masses in the 1920s, forever changed the American landscape, facilitating the growth of suburbs and reshaping urban development. Furthermore, the advent of radios brought news, entertainment, and culture into homes across the country, fostering a shared sense of national identity and accelerating the spread of mass
New discoveries, inventions, and advancements improved the lives of Americans in every matter but not without a few negative outcomes. The automobile came into play in the 1920s by making traveling common for people that could not afford cars. It was Henry Ford that started the Ford Motor Company which began to produce affordable automobiles known as the Model-T. The Model-T car became so successful that by the end of the decade, there was almost one automobile per family in the United States. This automobile gave people a new type of freedom, however, the car was proven as a dangerous item when in the hands of irresponsible people who would drink and
The 1920s was a time of growth for society. One form of technology that changed mankind for years to come was the Model T. Although cars were, “First invented and perfected in Germany and France in the late 1800s” (Automobile History 1) the Model T was truly the first of its kind. According to Nick Hardcastle the Model T was the first car most Americans could afford (2). Cars were expensive to make at the time; therefore, they were only available to the wealthy. Most Americans did not own cars, but this wouldn’t be true for long. The average price of a car at the time went from 850 dollars to only 250 dollars in less than ten years (Hardcastle 2). This was a dramatic change that happened in a small amount of time. The world was becoming bigger for more Americans. The number of cars Americans were buying was rapidly
With the success of the assembly line, Ford was very please however he had a bigger goal set. Ford wanted to produce cheap cars for the common people to use. Ford made many different types of cars and experimented with each of them. They were all good but not good enough. After many different models, Ford achieved his goal with his invention of the Ford Model T. The Model T was a fully functional compact automobile with a good transmission and torque as well as comfort and size. Apart from that, the most important aspect of the Model T was that is was extremely cheap. As Sobel states,”...the model T was only worth $290 in 1924.” This was a huge
With the creation of the Model T, created by Henry Ford, America has more people traveling and getting to places and a new way of production was being introduced to all industries. Because the production of the Model T introduced the idea of an assembly line, it showed other companies and industries ways to pump out production more efficiently and faster than they could before (“Ten Ways the Model T Changed the World”). Once cars were created more people traveled which meant the roads needed to be built up and in better conditions then they were at first. However, the Model T did have some downsides. Since the Model T produced more efficiently it only came in one color, black. At the time, customizations to a car was unheard
in 1908 but by 1925 Model T car cost only $290. By the end of the
Henry Ford created the Model T with the goal of producing a car that could be marketed to the middle class. Up until this point the average car produced cost around $2,000, which exceeded the price range of most Americans. Ford saw the middle class as an economic opportunity, a chance to create more costumers while still manufacturing the same product. His decision was not based exclusively on the lucrative market of the middle class though, but also on his humanitarian belief that citizens deserved the opportunity to purchase a car, as it would allow them to “enjoy with his family the blessing of hours of pleasure in God's great open spaces." Not surprisingly, when Ford created the Model T the working class flooded factories with
The 1920 's were a time where North America became modernized. Whether it was the music, the culture or the growth in technology, this time era is known to most people as the point where America advanced itself to become a world renowned country. An advancement that will be focused on is the Ford Model T. During this time owning a car was a symbol of wealth. Henry Ford, the creator of the Model T, made a system that revolutionized the automobile industry as we know it today. Henry Ford made it possible for people with an average income to own a motor vehicle by creating the assembly line and the theory of mass production. "The horse, which had been the chief means of land transportation for 3,500 years, had given way to the automobile, and
The automobile industry put American citizens into action. Mass production was a big component in the success of automobiles. Although successful, it became very repetitive. Skilled workers who were once worshipped, were no longer needed. Henry Ford was described as racist, bitter, but he brought success to citizens in the 1920s. Ford started the Ford Motor Company in 1903 with the help of a limited amount of workers in a shed. It was not until 1914 where custom-made cars turned into many cars, such as the Model T, moving down an assembly line. The Model T was a very popular car that benefitted cheap labor and easy mobility for its owners. Ford became a billionaire from the help of the federal government’s actions. At this point, the government decided that funds should be spent more on roads. Automobiles introduced
Henry Ford’s legacy began early whenever he created a self propelled wagon, but his work began to get notoriety in October of 1908 with the introduction of the Model T. This car was the first of its kind, and was fully manufactured by Ford in the United States. Henry’s goal was to produce a car that was affordable to every household income. “The Model T made its debut in 1908 with a purchase price of $825.00. Over ten thousand were sold in its first year, establishing a new record. Four years later the price dropped to $575.00 and sales soared. By 1914, Ford could claim a 48% share of the automobile market.” (Sorenson, "Henry Ford Changes the World, 1908.") The original price was in the average household’s budget, but when the price dropped four years later there was a ten times increase in the amount of Model T’s sold. Another great idol in the worlds eyes began his trek to success one century later, and has innovated his industry such as Ford did. Steve Jobs, “The Father of Apple Inc.”,
Ford’s car production won’t be forgotten, but remembered through the ages. The Ford Motor Company’s adaptation of the assembly line gave Ford an advantage over competitors. Selling over 15 million cars by 1925, the new stylish cars were in high demand and were sold at lower prices. This enabled almost anyone to own one and find new pass times to occupy their lives with. During this era the quantity of cars contributed to the building of new freeways, the growth of suburbs, and just scouting the land. Now that America was mobile, gas
It is said that the modern automobile is mainly credited to the work of the Germans and French during the late 1800s, but America during the early 20th century did have a period of work in the