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Model T Ford |
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9.3.18 US Production
- The first production Model T that was “announced for release” on 1 October 1908 was manufactured at the Piquette Plant in Detroit, Michigan.
- Only eight cars were produced in the first month. Were they all Touring models?
- About 12,000 cars were produced at the Piquette Plant.
- Between 1910 and 1927 production of the Model T was carried out at the Highland Park complex, Michigan.
- In late 1913 the company introduced the world’s first moving assembly line. It was also the first to use completely interchangeable parts.
- "The man who puts in a bolt does not put on the nut," Ford explained. "The man who puts on the nut does not tighten it."
- The initial assembly line was 200 feet (61 meters) long. By January 1914 it had been extended to 300 feet (92 meters) and 4 lines were operating. What was the maximum number of lines?
- Assembly took place in a four-story building, with engines produced on the top floor.
- After the engine was fitted to the chassis the basic assembly sequence was: dash & steering gear, then radiator, tie rods, steering post and finally the starting crank.
- After the assembled chassis was fully tested the body was then lowered to the bottom floor using a chute called a “Drop” for the final production stage of combining the body with the chassis.
- Up to 1911 the bodies were made from wood. A Touring model became the first Model T to be fitted with a wooden framed body covered by sheet steel.
- Model T bodies could also be obtained from accessory manufacturers.
- By the end of 1913 chassis assembly time was nearly 8 times faster, having reduced from 728 to 93 minutes.
- Very few changes were introduced during the cars production run.
- In 1915 rear tires with treads were fitted, the horn was mounted inside the hood, body numbers were discontinued and the elimination of the use of brass began.
- On early models the radiator, headlights and horn were brass.
- In 1917 the famous brass radiator was replaced by a black painted steel one.
- In 1919 the factory had the capacity to produce 1,200,000 vehicles annually.
- By the time production ended in May 1927 the company had reduced Model T production time to one every 24 seconds.
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