Watch CBS News

Moments When Quality Changed History

By Lori Melton

Ford Motor Company built its reputation as a world-class automaker by being the driving force behind huge innovations. In fact, Ford's 100-year-and-counting history as a Detroit-based industrial giant can be traced to its historical roots as a catalyst for change in the Industrial Revolution and the manufacturing process pioneer of the Henry Ford assembly line. Furthermore, the automaker's forward-thinking continues today with a leading engineer's On-the-Go H2O in-vehicle water purification-generation system. Take a look at Ford's pivotal historical achievements below.

Industrial Revolution Leader

Henry Ford was one of the most important figures in the Industrial Revolution. He developed his first "car," called the Quadricycle, while working as an Edison Illuminating Company engineer in Detroit. The gasoline-powered horseless carriage. Per the Henry Ford Museum, Ford sought to make his first car as simple as possible, using materials he had available to him. It boasted an angle iron frame, a buggy seat, four bicycle wheels and a two-cylinder, four-horsepower gasoline engine. He built the vehicle in his shed in 1896 and proudly "drove" it out when he was done.

Like many inventors, Ford was determined to do better. He established Ford Motor Company in Detroit in 1903. In 1908, he introduced the game-changing, history making Model T. It was the first affordable, durable car that would essentially revolutionize transportation. The first Model T sported a 20 horsepower, four-cylinder engine that could reach a top speed of 45 miles per hour. His car ultimately appealed to a mass market of new "drivers" and desire and demand for the automobile was born.

Manufacturing Magic via Ford's Assembly Line

2013 marked the 100th anniversary of the moving assembly line. Ford wanted to find a way to make cars for the masses in a fast, high-quality fashion. He consulted a variety of experts in different fields and they eventually implemented the first assembly line at the Highland Park Assembly Plant. Workers were stationed at different points across a 150-ft line, which used a winch and a rope. Parts were installed on the car's chassis as it was dragged by the winch. Assembly time was cut from 12 hours for a stationary line to under three for the moving line.

By 1916, assembly line adjustments and improved production time eventually led to more than 585,000 cars being produced with a price drop to just $360 per car to the consumer. This moving assembly line production method soon spread like wildfire to other industries around the globe and Henry Ford and Ford Motor Company's innovations had once again changed the world.

Looking Ahead – A Car that Makes Purified Water

Across decades, Ford has perfected its auto-building and design process to build products that change with the times. Fun new features like Ford's in-board Sync system allow hi-tech owners to make a call, listen to music, select apps and more with voice-automated technology.

Per a Car and Driver report, a visionary Ford powertrain controls engineer named Doug Martin is seeking to make safe drinking water from the car's a/c condenser. The water from the system typically empties to the pavement. Martin seeks to collect that water instead, pump it through a 0.1 micron filter and send it to an in-vehicle dispenser. On a large scale, his On-the-Go H2O system could have huge impact on global areas that have cars, but lack clean water. On a smaller scale, drivers could have access fresh, drinkable water right from their car. If the system becomes a reality, Ford will once again prove itself to be a leader in a game-changing area of innovation that also produces a critical natural resource like clean water.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.