By Ken Wilson of the Wallaceburg & District Historical Society – Special to the Sydenham Current
Ford – a name known around the world thanks to the man, the machine, and the company. The man Henry Ford was the oldest of six children born on a farm in Wayne County, Michigan, on July 30th, 1863. As a young boy Henry took a great interest in all things mechanical, and by the age of 15 he built his first working steam engine. In 1896 Henry build his first automobile – the Quadricycle.
Henry Ford not only had a great mechanical ability and a good business mind, but he also had the ability to recognize good people to hire to help build the Ford Motor Company. People such as the Dodge Brothers, James Couzens of Chatham, and Peter M. Martin of Wallaceburg Ontario, Canada. Each of these people played very important roles in the early company.
Peter Martin was a driving force with the company. He was responsible for the introduction of the assembly line. This reduced the time to assemble the car by approximately 75%.
Henry’s dream was to build a car for the masses. The first Model T was built in 1908. The car was then produced from 1908 to 1927. By that time millions had been built and the world was indeed on wheels.
As a result of Henry’s desire to build a car for the masses, he did everything possible to reduce cost. The car had no oil pump, no water pump and no fuel pump. Over time the price of the car was reduced from more than $800.00 to less than $400.00. In the beginning, every car was painted black. Thus the saying you can have it any colour you want, as long as it is black.
To commemorate Chatham-Kent’s part, and especially Wallaceburg’s part in this, there is deep in the heart of the Wallaceburg Museum a 1913 Model T Roaster, bright red with lots of beautiful shining brass. The car as a 20 hp, 4 cylinder gas engine, a 7.5 gallon gas tank, and it got 20 miles to the gallon.
The car is on display year round in the Industrial Room on the upper floor of the museum. A fun fact is that it went into the museum through a large shipping door at the level of the 2nd story of the old building. That door was later bricked in. The only way the car will ever leave the building is if it is disassembled and carried out piece of piece by hand.
Everyone is invited to stop by the museum and tour the display and photograph this excellent example of the early days of the automobile industry.
The Wallaceburg & District Museum is located at 505 King Street in Wallaceburg.
