master llce anglais civilisation moderne cars in the us us civilisation “driving society”...

Master LLCE AnglaisMaster LLCE Anglais

Civilisation Moderne

Cars in the US

US CivilisationUS Civilisation““Driving Society”Driving Society”Charles C. Hadley

http://charleshadley.net

Significant Eras in US Car Culture

≈ 1895 - 1910 …

1920s-30s

1950s-60s

1990s-yesterday afternoon!



Cars in the US



The Beginnings 1890s-1908 Background

• Gilded Age

• industry

• "Robber Barons" e.g.,

• Steel : Andrew Carnegie;

• Petroleum: John D Rockefeller;

• RRs: Ch Crocker, H. E. Huntington, etc.

• Auto: Henry Ford...

• urbanization (→ slums)

• "New Immigration" (xenophobia → Nat'l Origins Act)

• institutional racism (e.g., Plessy vs Ferguson 1896)



Cars in the US



The Beginnings 1890s-1908 Background

• 19C & 20C transportation revolution

• Ships - steam

• RR

• airplane

• car (& truck)

• Other industries & infrastructure

• Steel

• Petroleum

• Roads & highways

Ford Quadricycle Ford Quadricycle 18961896

Wright brothers Wright brothers 19031903



Cars in the US



Carriage (Buggy)

Background

• Tech Characteristics of Carriage, etc.

• wood structure

• high wheels / solid tires

• steering: pivoting front axle

• brake clamps wheel

• suspension: springs (no shock absorbers)

• little passenger protection

• driving skill required: horses

• Manufacture: (often) unique partsSurrey



Cars in the US


http://charleshadley.netBeginnings

Curved-Dash Olds

Dash(board)

Tiller(rather than

steering wheel)

SpringSurrey

Come away w/ me, LucilleCome away w/ me, LucilleIn my merry OldsmobileIn my merry OldsmobileDown the road of life we'll flyDown the road of life we'll flyAll the more bubbly you and IAll the more bubbly you and ITo the church we'll swiftly stealTo the church we'll swiftly stealThen our wedding bells will pealThen our wedding bells will pealYou can go as far as you like w/ You can go as far as you like w/ memeIn my merry OldsmobileIn my merry Oldsmobile

Ransom Olds driving "Pirate" racing car ≈

1897



Cars in the US


http://charleshadley.net Beginnings

De Dion Bouton (French)

““Staten Staten Island” Island”



Cars in the US



NYC

Staten IslandStaten Island

ManhattaManhattann

C.W. Hunt, Jr Date 1901 or 1902

Place - Grimes Hill, Staten Island

Car - De Dion Bouton (Belgian)

Engine 3 ½ HP Single cylinder, vertical, later replaced with one of 5HP when Mrs Hunt got tired of having to hop out and walk up the hills & being sometimes required also to push.

Transmission - two speeds forward & no reverse. When you had to back up, you hopped out and pushed unless you could persuade your passengers to do it, which was unusual.

Brake - inadequate forward and no good at all backward.

Spark plug had to be cleaned every 3 miles.

Top speed - something less than 20 m.p.h. with no head wind, & the top down.

Dog - Collie named “Laddie”. He had cataracts in both eyes and drank beer when he could get it.

•technical advances after 1895• materials (wood gave way to metal, usually steel)• engine components• transmission • brakes • steering gear • suspension• wheels & tires• body style & structure• production procedures, incl interchangeable parts



Cars in the US


http://charleshadley.net Beginnings

• Early power sources

• gasoline (petroleum): internal combustion engine

• electricity e.g., Columbia electric 1904

• steam e.g., Stanley

• Early industrial & marketing strategies

QuickTime™ and aGIF decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

pistonpistonvalvesvalves

spark plugspark plug

crank crank shaftshaft



Cars in the US



Henry Ford’s New Industrial Strategy

• Manufacturing & Marketing

• High volume production

• Low profit per unit

• Customer Appeal

• Cheap, easy-to-maintain & run

Ford Model N 1906



Cars in the US



1908Model T: the “Tin Lizzie”

• Same strategy: one model, reduce production costs...

Ford Model T1908-1927

Henry Ford w/ Model T



Cars in the US


http://charleshadley.netHighland Park & “Fordism”

QuickTime™ and aGIF decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

this photo swaps back & forth between photo & painting

this photo swaps back & forth between photo & painting

got to this exact photo 08/02/2011, start w/ river rouge next time 15/02/2011 (& then go on to e.g., GM?)

got to this exact photo 08/02/2011, start w/ river rouge next time 15/02/2011 (& then go on to e.g., GM?)



Cars in the US


http://charleshadley.netRiver Rouge

small photo is of tool & die shop (i.e., part of factory not for production of cars, but for production of tools to make cars)

small photo is of tool & die shop (i.e., part of factory not for production of cars, but for production of tools to make cars)



Cars in the US



A (Somewhat) Different Approach

• 1908: General Motors founded

• William Durant

• manufactured parts for auto industry

• already sold Fords…

• Buick, Oldsmobile

• Cadillac, Cartercar, Elmore, Ewing, and Oakland (→ Pontiac).

• Reliance Motor Truck Company, Rapid Motor Vehicle Company

• 1911 Chevrolet Motor Company (→ GM 1917)

master llce anglais civilisation moderne cars in the us us civilisation “driving society”...

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