Historical Narrative
Henry Ford, by far the universe^s most renowned industry man, held a strong grip on American business. The Model t, which was his crown creation and the mass production method he used to produce it, changed the face of the current times and became a temper of the times because it was catchy. He had a blue collar appeal to the majority of Americans, who were just that blue collar, because he succeeded on his own merits. Even with the great wealth he accumulated, he still maintained the support of the common folk.
In Helbroner & Singer, Mr. Ford is discussed a great deal in chapter 10 Workers and Work. It is fitting that he be discussed in that chapter, due to the hard workers mentality he maintained and his actions concerning his position on the prices of his cars to fit the wages of his workers. H&S describes one of his greatest contributions as being the creation of the assembly line. This creation as H&S says, ^ deliberately speeded up the pace of work as machinery determined the pace of labor^. It also says, ^ the character of work was changed.^
Historical Interpretation
The author gives a somewhat normal account of Mr. Ford^s life, by normal I mean similar to other information probably heard in description of his life. What is amusing is chapter 7, which is, entitled Genius Ignoramus. This chapter gives information on some of Mr. Ford^s not-so bright ideas such as; the naval submarine he sought to build, and the three motors each day, and his political aspirations that most people do not know about. All these ventures failed for one reason or another, but did not take away from his overall genius in industry.
In chapter 30; Henry Ford: Legend and Legacy the author places Ford on that industrialist pedestal that he belongs on. He concludes that his legacy will go on in the continued production of cars in the mass method, as well as the old car and special interest auto clubs and publications. The author also concludes that if he had died before 1914, after he set sweeping changes in motion he would be even more of an immortal.
Historical Method
The author utilizes several sources such as:
N.S.B. Gras, ^ÓShifts in Public Relations,^Ô Bulletin of the Business Historical Society 19 (Oct. 1945)
Eric Goldman, Two-Way Street: The Emergence of Public Relations Counsel (Boston
: Bellman Publishing Company, Inc. 1948)
Seltzer, Automobile Industry, pp3, 91; Keith Sward, The Legend of Henry Ford(New York: Reinhart & Company, Inc., 1948, p. 14.
Reliability of sources
The sources used are all properly documented and seem at glance to be viable. He used all credible business journals, as well as earlier publications on Henry Ford to comprise this marvelous account of Henry Ford^s life.
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