The explanation in that link says the switch to black was because it was more durable. True to a point, however many other sources claim that the paint - "Japan Black" was used mainly because it was a much faster drying paint, an important issue as the model T's production time was continually getting faster. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_black
Never heard of Japan black before... thanks! Not quite related to paint color, but I heard that the paint was brushed on, not sprayed, and any that dripped off was then picked up by brush to put on the next car, so none was wasted, and costs were further cut. Someone must have written a book about all the miserly ways and reasons Henry Ford had the model T made, but I've never read it yet. I like that he had the transmissions shipped in crates that he had designed so he could use the crates for floorboards and firewalls. Nothing wasted, not even shipping materials!
And any wood trimmings from the cars were turned into charcoal at Kingsford Charcoal and Fuels, a company co-owned by Henry Ford and his brother-in-law E.G. Kingsford.
yes, I posted about that https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/07/1913-ford-runabout-replica.html about 9 years ago, when I met a guy with a Model T speedster... great guy. Terrific car. He was telling me a lot about the Ford innovations to make the assembly line and production more efficient
The explanation in that link says the switch to black was because it was more durable. True to a point, however many other sources claim that the paint - "Japan Black" was used mainly because it was a much faster drying paint, an important issue as the model T's production time was continually getting faster.
ReplyDeletehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan_black
Never heard of Japan black before... thanks! Not quite related to paint color, but I heard that the paint was brushed on, not sprayed, and any that dripped off was then picked up by brush to put on the next car, so none was wasted, and costs were further cut. Someone must have written a book about all the miserly ways and reasons Henry Ford had the model T made, but I've never read it yet. I like that he had the transmissions shipped in crates that he had designed so he could use the crates for floorboards and firewalls. Nothing wasted, not even shipping materials!
DeleteAnd any wood trimmings from the cars were turned into charcoal at Kingsford Charcoal and Fuels, a company co-owned by Henry Ford and his brother-in-law E.G. Kingsford.
Deleteyes, I posted about that https://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2008/07/1913-ford-runabout-replica.html about 9 years ago, when I met a guy with a Model T speedster... great guy. Terrific car. He was telling me a lot about the Ford innovations to make the assembly line and production more efficient
Delete