On May
17, students from Windham High’s social studies classes had the
opportunity to learn how early 20th century advances in technology
and transportation transformed many aspects of life. To support this, Toby Stinson, of Owls Head Transportation
Museum (OHTM), was onsite with three working Model T Fords.
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| Student, Brady Jackson, stands beside a Model T Ford. |
Jeff
Neal, Windham High School U.S. and World History and World Politics teacher organized
the event. Neal stated, “There is nothing like students physically seeing, touching
and smelling a relic. This is something you cannot get with modern technology.
I’m hoping this will inspire the students to experience and preserve the past.”
The Model
T’s on display included an open, 1910, 3-seater, a covered, 1915 5-seater, as
well as a “cut away” enabling students to view the engine and drivetrain
internals of these early automobiles.
Stinson
kicked things off, “In the early 20th century we saw the beginnings
of mass production and at the center of this was Ford’s Model T.” Stinson
reminded the group, “At the time these cars were built, America was a rural
agrarian society and everyone had horses. In fact, there were more blacksmiths
than doctors, as blacksmiths were required to work on wagons and shoe horses.”
The
benefits of these first automobiles were many. Stinson commented, “A horse
takes time to get ready and doesn’t like bad weather. A machine doesn’t get
tired or complain. Once these cars were mass produced you could buy a brand new
one for $240, which was cheaper than outfitting and maintaining a horse.”
Stinson
shared, “My dad used his car as a tractor to haul potatoes and pull boats out
of the water. It was also considered a portable supply of power. My dad could
cut 10 cords of wood in a day, with a saw powered by his car.”
Stinson
then covered the topic on how owners started, operated and drove these early
automobiles.
The first
step was confirming there was enough fuel. This was done by dipping a stick of
wood in the 10-gallon tank, which was found under the seat. Next, you would
check the oil. This was done by opening a valve. If oil dripped out you were
good-to-go and, if not, you needed to add some.
“Realize,
in 1915 these cars were considered non-polluting, compared to a horse,” Stinson
reflected, “For example, on the streets
of New York City, horses excreted over a thousand gallons of urine and
thousands of pounds of manure daily. The biggest health challenges at the time were
diseases of filth, such as diphtheria and cholera. The transportation industry
helped to eliminate that.”
Next,
Stinson shared that Model T’s had a hand throttle with 2 forward speeds (slow
and fast); fast being a relative term. While these cars would only do upwards
of 25 miles per hour, that was fast compared to a horse and buggy.
Starting
the Model T required the most attention. Stinson emphasized the importance of
properly holding the crank, because not doing so may result in a backfire which
could wrench your shoulder or break your wrist.
“From
the beginning, Henry Ford’s goal was to make cars affordable for virtually anyone,”
Stinson noted. “As an example, during early production Ford learned that black
paint dried a little quicker than other colors. Considering the economics of buying
large quantities of paint he determined that sticking with black made the most
sense.”
Stinson
continued, “Ford used the most advanced technology and best materials available
to build the most durable automobiles possible.”
Stinson
reminded the audience, “These cars were built when there were no roads. As
such, Ford designed these cars for a rugged environment, to last long while
remaining cheap. For example, Ford was the first to fully enclose the engine
and drivetrain to prevent dust, dirt and mud from entering and damaging the
internals.” Stinson also explained that what is referred to as a ‘dashboard’
today, was actually a feature to dash away dust and bugs.
The
automobile industry continued to evolve, driven by consumer needs and wants. Once
people had cars, they wanted more: a roof, side curtains and to be fully
enclosed. Later, accessories such as heat and windshield wipers were
introduced. All things we now take for granted.
“The
industrial revolution and more specifically, mass production, resulted in
societal change,” Stinson stated to the students. “Humans had been using horses
for 10,000 years. In the early 1900’s this completely flipped with the
introduction of the automobile. People no longer had the same limitations on the
distances they could travel and things they could accomplish. This all began
with innovation and resulted in explosive technology which literally changed
the world. Due to the impact on society, many consider Henry Ford the single
most powerful person at that time.”
One of
the students asked if they could drive a Model T, to which Stinson responded,
“Come to our museum and we may be able to arrange that. At the museum the cars run,
and the planes fly.”
The
Owls Head Transportation Museum (OHTM) is a nonprofit educational organization.
Its mission is to collect, preserve, exhibit and operate pre-1940 aircraft,
ground vehicles, engines and related technologies significant to the evolution
of transportation for the purpose of education. Learn more about OHTM at: http://owlshead.org.
