|
When I was in school, I was taught that Henry Ford invented the car. However, that is 100% false information.
What You Didn’t Know…
Car
When I was in school, I was taught that Henry Ford invented the car. However, that is 100% false information. Although Mr. Ford has done some innovative things, inventing the car is not one of them. The very first working steam-powered car was invented by Ferninand Verbiest in 1672. The only problem with the invention was that it was unable to carry a driver or passenger. In 1769 Nicolas-Joseph Cugnot invented the first self-propelled mechanical automobile. In 1801 Richard Trevithick invented what he called the “Puffing Devil” road locomotive. It was unable to maintain steam pressure long enough so it wasn’t very practical. In 1881 Gustave Trove invented the first electric car. Finally, we get to what is considered the very first automobile, was in 1879, invented by Karl Benz. His wife Bertha, was the first person to ever drive a car long distance. She would drive it around as advertising to get the cars name known. In 1893, the first working car to be road-tested in America was built by Duryea brothers of Massachusetts. In 1896 C.R. Patterson and Sons Company was the first black-owned automobile manufacturer. In 1901 Ransom Olds (Oldsmobile) was the first to mass produce cars. And finally, in 1913 Henry Ford was the first to mass produce cars within 15 minutes, the fastest anyone had done. Believe it or not there are about 5 more inventors not mentioned before Henry Ford, but I decided to only name a few. The automobile, like the light bulb, is not an invention one can fit into one article. With many inventors from all over the world it takes time and much research to fully get the full story of the invention. Also, the automobile, like the light bulb, took over 25 different men to get the invention off its feet and running. So, as said with the light bulb, if you have a great idea for an awesome invention, it just may take teamwork to make the dream work.
Final note: Make sure you research everything school has taught. From my research they apparently thought misinformation was an okay idea.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car
https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/c-r-patterson-sons-company-1893-1939/
Photo Credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benz_Patent-Motorwagen
|
Ford took that idea to the assembly line and created the first car, the Model T (from a long line of A, B… R to T) that his workers could buy from the wages he paid them. Model Ts soon became everywhere, and that is why Ford is so recognizable as the founder of the American automobile industry when so many automobile companies--hundreds--failed and are still failing.
History in schools has been boiled down to essentials that seem like the books are lies. Thankfully with the Internet and the power of Google that some hate, we can find out the truth about any subject thanks to Wikipedia and other sources, constantly correcting the stories. A wonderful experience you are showing us.
The myth that I often remember was being told that city kids thought that milk grew in bottles. Some sources state that Ford was a racist. He certainly hated unions and unionization.
Ron