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.