THE AUTOMOBILE IN AMERICA
The Automobile Pioneers; Karl Benz Gottlieb Daimler Henry Ford
Evolving from earlier experiments with steam-powered vehicles, models using the gasoline-fueled internal-combustion engine were first developed by the German engineers Karl Benz (1885) and Gottlieb Daimler (1886). U.S. leadership in automobile production began with Henry Ford 's founding (1903) of the Ford Motor Co., its production (1908) of the inexpensive Model T, and its development of assembly-line techniques.
Timeline; 1900; Packard
First U.S. car to feature three-speed and reverse gear box
General Motors
Ford's principal competitor, became the world's largest automobile manufacturer in the 1920s, and U.S. dominance of the field continued until the 1970s, when it was challenged by growing sales of Japanese and German cars.
1908; William Durant
Formed General Motors
1926; Francis Wright Davis
Installed; First power steering system, pierce- arrow
1948; Chrysler
Introduced; Disc Brakes
1947; B.F. Goodrich CO.
Introduced; First Tubeless tire
1911; Henry M. Leland
Introduced; Interchangeable parts
1915; Cadillac
Introduced; V-8 Engine
1901; Frederick Simms
Invented first car fender; based on railway engine buffers
1911; Charles Kettering
Invents Electric Starter
A Car for Everyone
Now that the masses had their vehicles, they enjoyed them to the fullest. In 1920, Norman Rockwell painted a Saturday Evening Post cover, showing a family outing that turns into a race. By the late 1920's, the auto dealership became popular, and installment plans were available.
First Motel ( Motor Motel)
Opened in 1925 ; San Luis Obispo
First Drive in Gasoline Station
Opened in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1913; 27cents a gallon.
1901; Ransom E. Olds
Originates mass production techniques
1901; Frederick Williams Lanchester
Patents disc brakes
An American Beginning
The American automobile industry began modestly in 1896, when the Duryea Motor Wagon Company of Springfield, Massachusetts sold 13 identical gasoline-powered vehicles. The company would only last three years, however, brothers Charles and Frank Duryea became the first Americans to attempt to build and sell automobiles at a profit. This started the commercial period of the Automobile industry
The Ford Model T
The first production Model T Ford was assembled at the Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit on October 1, 1908. Over the next 19 years, Ford would build 15 million automobiles with the Model "T" engine, the longest run of any single model of car, except for the Volkswagen Beetle. From 1908 to 1927, the Model T would endure with little change in its design. Henry Ford has succeeded in his quest to build a car for the masses.
1934; Chrysler
added; Fifth gear(Over drive)
1911; Synchronized Transmission
for easier gear shifting; Improved Carburetors, Heaters, and Mechanically operated windshield wipers
Future changes in automobile technology are likely to include a variety of things
increased fuel efficiency and new industries to support it improved safety through engineering research and development (both vehicle and road) increased sophistication of controls and instruments, many of which will contribute to safety
1916; Dodge mass
produced; Car body made of steel
1960; Private Car Ownership
reached; 1 car for 31 people worldwide,1 car for 22 people in Europe,1 car for every 3 people in America, where 15% of families have more than one car.
Economic and Health Impacts
the creation of an industry which employs a significant number of people the creation of new technologies and industries to support and supply them a significant monetary cost in injury and property damage increased air and water pollution.
1960; private ownership of cars
1 car for 31 people worldwide 1 car for 22 people in Europe 1 car for every 3 people in America
Involved in an auto-related industry
1 in 5 Americans 20% of the workforce
Quiz
1.By the 1920s, the world's largest automobile manufacturer was: General Motors 2.Future changes in automobile technology are likely to include: Increased fuel efficiency and new industries to support it, Increased sophistication of controls and instruments, many of which will contribute to safety, Improved safety through engineering research and development (both vehicle and road) ( All of these choices are correct) 3.From 1908 until 1927, the Ford Motor Company built over:15,000,000 cars 4.By the early 1960s, the rate of car ownership in America was: 1 car for every 3 people 5.At its height, what percentage of American workers were employed in an automotive-related industry? 20% (2 out of 10)
1908; Henry Ford
Begins mass production of the Model T
Today
Concern about pollution from gasoline combustion has led to the development of cars powered by electricity from rechargeable storage batteries and by the combustion of natural gas, but such vehicles have been limited in the distance they can travel and have only been used on a small scale, largely in metropolitan areas. The development of the automobile resulted in major sociological changes and caused new economic conditions.
1919; Hispano- Suzia H6B
Demonstrated; First single foot pedal to operate first coupled four-wheel brakes
1919; Dussenburg
Demonstrated; first use of hydraulic brake fluid as a link between pedal and mechanism
1967; Pontiac
Developed; Safer car bumpers that absorb some of the energy of an impact or collision
1966; Britain
Developed; electronic fuel injection systems
Self Starter Engine
Early vehicles had to be cranked by hand, via a handle attached to the engine crankshaft. If a backfire occurred (which it did often), the resulting backlash of the crank would often break a man's arm or wrist. With the advent of the self-starter, on the 1912 Cadillac, drivers were able to safely start their own cars, by simply pressing a button with their foot.