Henry Ford

Henry Ford was an American industrialist and inventor. He was born in Dearborn, Michigan, in 1863. He did not invent the car, but he made cars affordable for regular people. His assembly line changed how things are made around the world.

Early Life

Ford grew up on a farm but was fascinated by machines. He took apart watches and clocks to see how they worked. He moved to Detroit and worked as an engineer. He built his first car in a shed behind his house.

Big Achievements

Ford founded the Ford Motor Company in 1903. He created the Model T, a car that was simple and affordable. He introduced the assembly line, which made building cars much faster and cheaper. He also paid his workers well so they could afford to buy the cars they made.

Fun Facts

• The Model T only came in black because black paint dried the fastest.
• Ford's assembly line could build a car in just 93 minutes.
• He paid his workers $5 a day, which was double the average wage at the time.

Did You Know?

Before Ford's assembly line, a car took over 12 hours to build. With the assembly line, it took about 93 minutes. This idea of mass production changed not just cars but how almost everything is manufactured.