26th July 2008
Without the car the world would undoubtedly be a very different place.
Without the ability to move rapidly from one place to another an enormous amount of trade could not have happened in the past – although now one could argue that it might be a great advantage if everyone did not have the freedom to drive a few hundred metres to by a paper or to do a ‘school run’ .. however the early days of the 20th century and much of the infra structure of the towns and villages in which we live owe their appearance to the development of the carriage and the car.
Without the ability to move rapidly from one place to another an enormous amount of trade could not have happened in the past – although now one could argue that it might be a great advantage if everyone did not have the freedom to drive a few hundred metres to by a paper or to do a ‘school run’ .. however the early days of the 20th century and much of the infra structure of the towns and villages in which we live owe their appearance to the development of the carriage and the car.
Inventors & Inventions
IF IN DOUBT ASK !!!!
One person who began to create ‘Horseless carriages’ - amongst a number - around the early 1890’s was Henry Ford. Ford created his first effort based
around bicycle wheels and without either brakes or a reverse gear. This was the ‘Thin Lizzie’ and really was only an experimental vehicle. After a series of unproductive ventures Ford created his first car the ‘Model A’. However at $1,200 dollars ( around £5000 or $10,000 _ roughly at 2006 prices. However the average US worker made between 200 and 400 dollars at that time (in 1905) so that would be between 3 and 6 years gross wages. Current US average wage is Another interesting and amazing fact from 1905 was that only 144 miles of paved road existed in the US ! ... And only 8000 cars to use them. If those 8000 stuck to the 144 miles that would be about 60 cars to the mile - so they clearly used tracks too.
Model ‘A’ Ford from 1905
Model ‘C’ Ford from 1905
Model ‘T’
Ford from
1915
Ford from
1915
By 1907 the profits were in excess of $1 million and by 1909 only the Model ‘T’ Ford was being produced. With only one car on which to focus the time for production came down from around four-teen hours to just 1.5 hours by using ‘mass production’ techniques... And the price came down from over a thousand dollars to just $350 - cheaper than
By World war (1914) Ford paid his workers $5 per day. This was more twice the pay of his rivals. He also commenced the 8-hour day in order to work three shifts in the 24 hours. All of these allowed the masses to buy the cheapercars and this changed the face of society with suburban areas now being possible. Mass manufacturing was to see a ‘Model T’ Ford made in an incredible 24 seconds ! With so many cars being produced a road network began and is still being built today..........