Ford T

The Ford T (called Chock Lizzie or Flivver with the the United States) is a Automobile produced by the Ford Motor Company of Henry Ford between 1908 and 1927. For much, Ford T made of 1908 the historical year where the car enters the great series (in the United States). She is generally regarded as the first car accessible to the greatest number, that which “put America on wheels”; Henri Ford innovated much for the manufacture of the model T: assembly with the chain, and either individual and manual (though Oldsmobile actually introduced this method earlier, on the Curves Dash ), wages proportional to the price of the car for the workmen, so that they provide a guaranteed market. The first Ford T of series leaves the Piquette factory to Détroit the September 27th 1908.

Since the foundation of the company in 1903, Henry Ford had produced and developed several car models. The first had been indicated model has, but there had not been 19 models produced to Ford T: several were only prototypes. The T succeeded the S , which it even derived from the model more sold until there, the NR . After a score of year of production of Ford T, it is not a model U which succeeded to him, but new a type has which was to express the revival of the range. The concurrent firm Chrysler benefitted from it for launching in 1928 the first car of the mark Plymouth under the name Model U .

Ford T was indicated the most important car of the 20th century at the end of an international survey.

Characteristics

The design of the car is due to Childe Harold Wills and two immigrants Hungarian, Joseph A. Galamd and Eugene Farkas. Harry Coils, C.J. Smith, Gus Degner and Peter E. Martin was also implied. The production started in 1908, but the “years model” go from 1909 to 1927.

Assembly with the chain

The concept, then revolutionary, of the assembly line was introduced at Ford by William C. Klann, of return of a visit to a slaughter-house of Chicago where the animals were cut up by stages, while circulating on a travelator. The effectiveness of a person always dealing with the same part of the animals drew its attention. He proposed the idea of a line of assembly in Peter Martin who, not very trustful at the time, however encouraged it to test. Other people prided themselves to have proposed the idea with Henry Ford, but the “revelation” coming from the visit of Klann at the slaughter-house is well documented in the files of Ford, making of him the father of the modern concept of assembly to the chain. The process was an evolution by tests and errors of a team made up mainly of Peter E. Martin, superintendant factory, Charles E. Sorensen, its assistant, Harold Wills, draftsman and toolmaker, Clarence W. Avery, and Charles Lewis. When the first car was built on the line of assembly, in front of the media, of the visitors, and Henry Ford, Pa Klann in taken the wheel.

Motorization

Ford T had a driving four cylinders, of a cubic capacity of 2900 cm ³, assembled as in the current engines in only one block (whereas number of words of the time had casings separated for the cylinders), producing a power of 20 horses (that is to say 15 kw) for a maximum speed of 72 km/h. The engine had side valves and three stages (the cylinders were thus grouped by two between the stages). Fuel consumption, according to Ford, was approximately 11 to 19 liters to the 100. The car could turn as well to the gasoline as to the ethanol, but the fall of the cost of the gasoline and the Prohibition made alcohol a fuel not very usable.

A Magneto of lighting, playing a role comparable with that of the modern Alternator S, produced a Alternative course basic Tension which fed a " wind vibrante" (kind of transformer very simple) which created a higher tension, which fed lighting via a system of temportisation. The synchronization of the lighting of the various cylinders was generated by an exit of timer. A battery could provide a supplement of energy: with high mode, the tape recorder always did not produce enough current. When electric headlights were introduced in 1915, the tape recorder was to improve to support this additional request. Even once a dynamo and a battery were installed (allowing to feed a starter), the tape recorder was charged for lighting, because of its reliability. This electric starting was installed on the majority of the cars sold after 1919, it was actuated by a small circular pedal. Before the installation of this electric starter, the T was started using a Manivelle. For that, the candles were to be time-lag manually, if not the engine was likely to give a “return of lighting”. The handle of the crank was designed to be held in the palm of the hand, and not with the inch, thus if such a return occurred the crank pushed back the hands, without coming to twist the wrist or breaking the inch. The ordering of the choke was obtained with an outgoing wire of the bottom of the radiator, which one could draw with the left hand, the right hand handling the crank.

The gasoline reserve of 38 liters was assembled under the back seat; a version had a Carburateur modified to employ ethanol, which could be produced in an autonomous way by a farmer. The routing of fuel of the tank towards the carburettor was simply assured by the principle the communicating vases, so that one T could not assemble a too stiff slope when the level of the tank was too low - a palliative solution was to go up in step back. In 1926, on the last models, the tank was installed more with the front one.

Very first T produced (a few hundreds) had a water pump, which was quickly abandoned with the profit of a less expensive and more reliable system of circulation of water by thermosiphon. The warm water, less dense, went up in the top of the casing and went naturally towards the radiator, while the water cooled in this one took the opposite way. It was the direction of circulation in the majority of the cars (even equipped with a pump) until the introduction of the radiators to cross flows. Water pumps were available, certain owners could install some.

Transmission and engine

The T was a propulsion. Its transmission by Epicyclic gear included/understood two speeds before and a step back. Control is rather particular:

The transmission is controlled by three pedals on the ground and a lever assembled to the left of the conducting seat. The accelerator is a lever, on the right wheel. By inserting the pedal of left, one engages the first " report/ratio; court". While slackening it, one passes in second, " longue". While bringing back it in central position, the car is at the died point, which can be also obtained by drawing the lever from left! The car can run at constant speed without the driver not pressing on any pedal, the accelerator being ordered with right hand. There is no clutch, which makes to T the ancestor of the automatic box vehicles.

The central pedal is used to leave in step back and that of right-hand side controls a brake on the transmission. While drawing the lever from left, one brings back initially the pedal of left to the " not mort" , then one slows down on the aft wheels

Although it is very rare, the driving belts could be disaligned, especially in cold weather, so that the car “grazed”, adding a risk to the startup: a person starting the engine could be forced to move back by still holding the crank if the car, however died, were developed to advance - an incident immortalized by certain films of Laurel and Hardy.

The energy of the engine reached the Différentiel by the means of a Cardan and of a tree which actuated the rear wheel-axle unit, certain models (especially of the utilities) had a second gear box with two reports/ratios, installed with the back, actuated by a lever. The gear boxes consisted of Acier to the Vanadium and bathed in oil.

Travelling trains

The suspension of T uses a semi spring elliptic transverse for each axle. It rested on the principle of the driving Pont, now abandoned with the profit of the independent wheels.

The front axle consisted of a casting part of Vanadium steel. Specimens of demonstrations were twisted eight times on them (in Torsion) and were even exposed in the dealers. T did not have a brake comparable with those of the modern cars. The pedal of the right foot drew on a ribbon intertwining a drum in the transmission, which to slow down the aft wheel thus. The previously mentioned carpark brake to raise operated Band brake S off one the outside the rear brake drums.

The wheels were out of wood, of a construction similar to the artillery wheels; wheels with steel ray were available in 1926 and 1927. The tires were of a diameter external of 30 inches (76 cm), with a width of 3,5 inches (8,9 cm) to the back and 2 inches (5 cm) with the front one. The footing was of 99 inches, the width of the ways was normally of 56 inches, a value of 60 inches was available on order “for the roads of the States of the south”.

Evolutions

There be few material changes during the lifespan of this model; the first versions had a radiator and headlights in Laiton. The warning signal and of many small parts were also out of brass. The first produced cars in general had a cockpit opened, less expensive to produce.

Before the model of 1911 (where front doors were added to the Tourer version), the cars built in the United States did not have doors opening for the driver. Later models included closed bus, sedans, cuts and trucks. The frame was available so trucks could Be built to follows. Ford also developed nap truck bodies for this frame, designated the Model TT. The headlights were originally acetylene lamps made off arm, goal eventually the because gained electric lights.

Ford T used certain leading-edge technologies, like vanadium steels. Its lifespan was exceptional: good number of specimens are still functional.

Production

The factory Ford de Piquette could not follow the request, and only 11 cars were built last the first month of construction. In 1910, after having assembled 120000 " T" , Henry Ford moved the company towards the new complex of Highland park. There, T was the first car built with the chain with parts completely interchangeable from one specimen to another. Its objetif was the American Middle-class. one often allots at Ford the sentence " a customer can have this painted car of the color which he wants since it is noir.". Actually, of T of several colors were produced of 1908 to 1914, then again in 1926 and 1927. The color black was not selected either because of a time of shorter drying of painting authorizing a more raised production pace, contrary to another legend. The black color would have been selected because of its less price and its durability.

More than 30 types different of black paintings, presenting different times of drying, were used to paint the various components of Ford T, each one selected according to the requirements of the part in question and the methods being able to be used to pose it.

In 1914, the procedure the assembly of the T had been improved so much that it took nothing any more but 93 minutes to assemble a specimen of it. This year there, Ford produced more cars than all the other brought together manufacturers. When the ten millionth T was produced, 9 cars out of 10 in the whole world was of Ford. With final, more than 15 million were produced, record of production for only one model which was beaten only by the Volkswagen Coccinelle which exceeded 21 million. Admittedly, there be 31 million Toyota Corolla and 25 million Volkswagen Golf, but both cases it is acted in fact of the hardly dividing sum of several successive model more than the name.

The car was initially proposed at a price of 850 dollars, whereas few models were available to less than 2000. Towards the end of the year 1920, the price had fallen to 300 dollars (what, by taking account of inflation, is equivalent to approximately 3300 current dollars) because of the economies of scale and of the improvement of the line production. Henry Ford proceeded to a vertical Integration of industries necessary to the production of his cars. Illustration of this will of economy, it provided plans on the manufacture of the barges out of wood used by certain suppliers to convey the parts, of kinds which they can be dismounted, certain parts entering directly the production of the model T! The falls were used with the production as Charcoal sold under the mark Kingsford , which still exists.

The eccentric approach of Henry Ford meant that few changes were done on the model during its life cycle: he believed that T was exactly the car which whoever would never need. As other companies offered vehicles higher on certain aspects at competitive prices, T lost market shares. Finally, on May 31st, 1927, Ford its production ceased and launched out in the manufacture of the model has

The engine of Ford T continued to be produced until August 4th, 1941. Close to: 170000 engines were produced after the production of the car had ceased, mainly to be used as replacement in existing cars. Amateurs of races, precursors of the current fanatics of hot rods , rather largely used this engine to build machines of cheap races.

Clubs of collectors

The cars built before 1919 are regarded as apartment at the era of the “veterans”, those left factory after this date being “vintage”. Today, there exist two principal clubs for the conservation and the restoration of Ford T: the Model T Ford International Club and the Model T Ford Club off America . Good number of the steel parts are still produced today, and one finds even imitations in Glass fiber of parts of carosseries, intended for constructions of hot rods imitating Ford T.

External bonds

Ford T in France
Model T Ford Club off America (the USA)
Model T Ford International Club
Source off Model T Ford information (the U.K.)
Source off Model T Ford information (Canada)
Source off Model T Roadster Ford information (the USA)
Model T Radiators
Model Ford T 1921

First car in the world to be assembled in assembly line, the Ford T was produced with more than fifteen million specimens between 1908 and 1927. The chain was installation gradually as from April 1913 by Henry Ford.

This car that American called familiarly Lizzie had its enormous success with its simplicity, its robustness, its facility of control and, especially, its cost relatively low.

Data sheet

Extracts from the " Model T Advance Catalog - 1908" (Henry Ford Museum)

Driving : 4 vertical rolls, cycles at 4 times, 20 CV, 3 inches 3/4 X 4 inches, cast cylinders of only one block, with water jackets around the higher half of the block. Gray steel mouldings with fine grain.

Valve S : Extra broad, all the left side.

Trees : Crankshaft and Camshaft forged and not welded, treated metal with the Vanadium hot Ford, polished ranges.

Casing : Upper part fixed at the motor unit. Lower part out of steel in a hurry and stretched to form the low housing of the magneto and the transmission.

Cooling : System thermo syphon.
Lighting : Ford magneto, low tension, made up of a crown of armatures interdependent of the driving block and of a rotor of permanent magnets on the driving wheel.

Carburizing : Composed of a tank on constant level and a tube of aspiration and licking,

Transmission : Epicycloidal system with satellite gears and planetary Ford, bathing in oil, treaties metal with hot Ford vanadium. Quiet unit: a reduction (4/11), a direct catch, a step back, easy to pass.

Lubrication : System combining splashing and revolved - simple and not very effective on the strong declivities.
Clutch : With metal multiple discs, functioning in oil.

Levers : Front steps by lever and pedal. Step back by pedal. Accelerator and advances with lighting under the steering wheel.

Tail rotor drive : By tree with Cardan joint with single universal joint towards the back bridge, on line on the back axis. Ford system at three points (patented all countries) with all parts moving locked up in a tight box, turning in oil. Metal with the Vanadium everywhere.

Nose gear : A forging, I-section, special treatment, metal with vanadium.

Direction : Reduction Ford system, irreversible.

Brake S : 2 types. (A) Service brake on the transmission; (b) Brakes with expansion interns on drums of aft wheels.

Wheels : Out of standard wood artillery. Long extra hubs.

Tires : pneumatic S; back 30 X 3 inches 1/2, before 30 X 3 inches.

Suspension : Before and back, semi-elliptic springs with the front one.

Footing : 100 inches; spacing 56 inches, 60 inches for the roads of the south on order.

Tank : 10 gallons (47,30 liters). Cylindrical gasoline tank assembled directly on the framework.

standard Equipment : Oil lamps on side, back lamp, warning signal and fixings of lamp with gas. Touring Because and Roadster equipped to receive the hood.

Weight : 1200 lbs (544,32 kg).

Price : 850$, FOB (Free One Board), Strait, Michigan.

speed : 70 K/h

Some dates

1922 : the production exceeds the annual million. February 4th Henry Ford buys Lincoln.
1923: New body with Tudor and Fordor.
1924: June 15th leaves the 10.000.000e Ford T, the firm settles with the Mexico and the Japan then the following year in Australia.
1925: Ford manufactures 44% of the American automobile production. The Pneu S balloons arrive just like the return to the choice of the color of body. The price of Touring is with lowest: $290 ($850 with launching at the end of 1908).
1926: Ford manufactures 36% of the American automobile production and proposes from now on 4 colors of body.
1927: May 18th leaves the 15.000.000e T and the production will cease a little later to leave room to the Ford has.

See too

Aeroford - has British Copy one the Model T

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