True or False: Did Henry Ford really say “Any color the customer wants, as long as it’s black”?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 พ.ค. 2024
- For years this quote has been repeated but is it true? If he did say it then why? What would have been his reason for doing for just one color and why black? Did Henry Ford really say the customer can have a Model T in any color the customer wants, as long as it’s black? Find out the truth and the story behind this very controversial story as I uncover the layers behind this statement based on facts that I document in this video.
My video on the Ford Piquette plant also reveals several Model T automobiles that support my findings. You can see that video here. • This 1904 Automobile F...
Want to know more about the Model T and what Henry did with floorboards? Check out this video here. • Did Henry Ford Use Old...
Check out this video to see the inside of the original Model T Factory plant that is now a museum. • This 1904 Automobile F...
Did you know that Henry Ford was being sued for patent violations when he was building the Model T? Watch my video and you will see it for yourself! • Did Henry Ford Build T...
Curious how Ford Motor Company got started with just one race that Henry Ford actually drove a car in? Watch my video here. • Henry Ford Drove This ...
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According to what I found out the reason they painted the cats black was because it was the fastest drying paint.
I heard that too. However, I came across this site which changed my perspective. Since Ford or Ford motor company did not mention black drying faster than other colors, I opted to believe in cost. Black paint was the most cost effective color at that time. Here is the link. skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/44352/was-the-ford-model-t-black-because-of-the-speed-black-paint-dries
and that was with the T, when the A came out, there was color
Yes, he did say it in 1909. However, at the time black wasn't even an option. That he said it is also collaborated by C Harold Wills, who was at that meeting. But color wasn't really the issue- it was whether Ford would expand the model line or just stick with the T. Both sides gave their arguments, and Ford won the day. Once the moving assembly line began, Black paint proved to dry faster and thus speed things along. I did a video on the subject myself and heck- maybe we can do a collab sometime...
Some points I would disagree with you on while others I certainly agree with you. I believe Ford chose black more for simplicity and productivity. While I have heard the arguments about drying time, I don't necessarily agree with it. I'll post a link that I found while researching that topic. The other thing that makes me disagree with drying time is when color was re-introduced in 1927, Ford still cranked out nearly 400,000 units prior to shutting the plant down for re-tooling for the upcoming Model A. Even the 15th Millionth Ford was green with black fenders. Perhaps that was setting the groundwork for the Model A. Great arguing points for sure! I certainly would love to consider doing a collab!
Here is the link. skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/44352/was-the-ford-model-t-black-because-of-the-speed-black-paint-dries
@@kensmithgallery4432 I have shouted you channel out on my channel in one of my Ye Ol' Garage episodes, as I appreciate the work that you do. And that's the funny thing about Ford (as you mentioned) much of his early work is the stuff of legend- Selden trials being a primary source. It is hard to get to the truth in researching if we'll ever find it.
Well, Ken, I personally have not delved into that subject, so I will not comment either way. You brought up some interesting facts about the color choices available during specific periods of the "T" so that's good enough for me. I have seen locally here in Utah a '27 T painted green, but whether it came from the factory that color I don't know, nor do I care. The fact that it is still being driven after more than 100 years is all I need to know. Mr. Ford indeed set the standard back then.
Well said my friend! I could not agree more!
Ken, good evening!
Ken your story confirms it all.
My Grandfather’s brother was the local Ford dealer during the Model T era, and yes, my father that married my mother and Mr Gilbert de Jongh uncle of my mother, in those days the purchasing public here on the island was eager to get an other color than the black color.
And that was not at all the case, only black painted model T arrived here, crated and my father a young boy that time was always there during assembly and prep of the arrived vehicles at the wharf, where the huge boxes with the model T’s arrived in. Black and only black was for export and that’s it.
Fantastic video Ken and thanks!
Hi Myron! Glad to hear it was the same on the island! Ford was pretty consistent in what he did around the world. Enjoy your evening!
Fascinating! But I heard it was because the roads were so muddy and dusty back then, that cars practically HAD to be painted black.
Thanks for watching the video and for your comment. I had not heard of this as a possibility before. However, I could see how this could have some validity to it. Great comment!
Hi Ken. In no way am I disputing your conclusion but I did read once in a magazine that it wasn't black but blue was the colour that Henry Ford said. No way am I saying blue is the correct wording but I thought you might find that interesting.
Some information that you might not know is that Australian Model T Fords were imported from the Canadian plant. Australia had the policy of prioritising their imports from other Commonwealth countries the same as the other Commonwealth countries within the empire. Henry Ford knew this and is one of the reasons he set up a plant in Canada. Also Australia had the policy of imposing import tariffs on fully built cars so most cars imported in the early years were just a rolling chassis with the body locally made. A company called Holden Motor Body Builders who mainly built bodies for GM vehicles also made Model T bodies. Holden Motor Body Builders was eventually bought out by GM and the company later became Holden which stopped making cars here in 2017 and the brand killed off in 2020.
Hi Tom, I do find that the magazine article indicated blue as the color interesting. I wonder how they came about that information.
I did know the Australian T's came from Canada. I didn't know about what Ford knew, so that also is interesting. It makes sense though as we both know how smart Henry Ford was when it came to marketing and sales.
When I was a boy whenever my dad went shopping for a new car he always told me that I could choose the color. And he added that I could choose any color I wanted just so long as it was red.
Now for an unrelated question. Is there anywhere I can go to drive an actual Model T? I'd love to do that.
I like red so that's a cool story! I believe that you can at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, MI. You could also check with a local Model T club. I found that it certainly takes a bit of a learning curve as it is nothing like a regular manual transmission.
Ford was astute, he knew how to grab headlines so I believe that if he didn’t say that then his marketing team did.
I agree with you Kenneth. Ford completely understood the power of the press. Probably even better than most if not all his competition did. Hence the reason he raced, fought Selden in a patent suit, and created travelling billboards of his umpteenth million Ford cars.
When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.
I like that!
I'd heard that the black color available at the time wa the only paint that dried fast enough for the speed of the production line. Jayman...
I heard that too. However, I came across this site which changed my perspective. Since Ford or Ford motor company did not mention black drying faster than other colors, I opted to believe in cost. Black paint was the most cost effective color at that time. I thought it was a good read. Let me know what you think! Here is the link. skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/44352/was-the-ford-model-t-black-because-of-the-speed-black-paint-dries
Black was the cheapest color and using a single color meant the assembly line didn't have to be shut down for a change of paint color.
Sounds right to me!
Im a new sub
Love your channel
And i vote YES
Welcome to the channel and thanks for subbing!
True
I think so. Thanks for watching!
Not all the t s were black when they were it was Japanese black ink
Yes
Thanks for your comment and for watching!