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Text 3
Henry Ford and the Automobile Revolution
I.
First Thoughts
Who is Henry Ford?
What do you know about him?
II. Study these words. Make sure you know them.
demonstration, publicity, problem, market, company.
III. Read the text and say why the Model-T dominated US car
sales.
In 1896 an American named Henry Ford exhibited a 4-cycle,
2-cylinder, 4- wheeled cart in Detroit's Bagley Avenue. After his
first demonstration, he began to build "racing cars" for
publicity. Then in 1903, Ford Motor Company sold its first car:
a 2- cylinder car for $2,500. Nonetheless, Ford felt that the price
was too much for a consumer vehicle. 'The market for a low
priced car," Ford once said, "is unlimited." A few later in 1908,
Ford Motor Company unveiled its $850 Model T, which
included a folding windshield, a removable top, horn, and gas
lamps. The 22.5 horsepower engine had a top speed of 35 miles
per hour. When asked about the limited color choice for the
Model T, Ford jokingly replied, "You can have any color - so
long as it’s black".
By the time production of the "flivver" or "tin Lizzie," as the
Model T was called, ended in 1927 Ford had sold over 15
million of them. Prices of the car steadily dropped as it became
more popular; in 1923 it reached a low of $265. Many
companies sprang up in wake of the Model T’s popularity. To
help solve the problem of the engine "kicking" when it was
cranked, a Wisconsin based company sold an automatic spark
retarder. Other companies tried to improve the simple design of
the car by selling "1-man tops," rear-view mirrors, electric
lamps, and various other accessories.
The Model Twos introduced on October 1, 1908 and so
technically may be considered a 1909 model in line with the
industry practice of dating cars by model year. Over the next
18 years, the Model T would dominate US car sales. In 1911-
15, 1918 and 1921. F
:
ord earned more than all other
automakers combined.
IV. Comprehension Check.
1. Match the words and their meanings by placing a proper
letter on each blank.
_1. engine a. thing that is helpful,
useful but not an essential
part
_2. design b. machine that converts
energy into power or
motion
_3. vehicle c. drawing from which
something may be made
_4. accessory d. thing to be copied
_5. model e. a means of transportation
2. Use the words from box to make word partnerships.
racing, various,
automatic, simple,
limited, electric
choice, retarder, lamps,
design, car, accessories.
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