Working Class Manhood

1
Working Class Manhood

• Henry Ford, the Model T and the Five Dollar Day

2
Fordism The Five Dollar Day and the Model T Ford

• Henry Ford developed the Model T Ford, the
  motorcar for the great multitude around 1908
• Standard Design, High Quality, Simple to operate
• By 1916, Ford controlled half of world auto
  production
• Demand required high volume production

3
The Model T Motorcar for the Great Multitude
4
(No Transcript)
5
(No Transcript)
6
Production Principles

• Used Frederick Taylors Method of Scientific
  Management
• The factory was designed as an integrated system
• Work was standardized. Moving assembly line was
  copied from meatpacking industry (which is a
  disassembly line)
• The autoworker was created.

7
Assembling Cars before Ford
8
Fords Assembly Line 1910
9
Fords Assembly Line
10
Assembly Line
11
Assembly LineJoining Engines to Frames, 1914,
Highland Park
12
Fords Highland Park Factory
13
Highland Park Plant
14
Kenilworth Building, UWM
15
The Workforce
16
Problems with the Human Element of Production

• Taylors methods claimed higher rates of
  efficiency than Ford achieved.
• Ford discovered his labor problems.
• absenteeism 10 a day
• high quit rate (300 turnover in 1913)
• soldiering and output restriction
• unionism
• immigrant culture

17
First Attempts at Labor Reform

• Creates an employment office
• Develops a wage classification system
• Institutes a savings and loan system for workers
• These reforms dont achieve necessary
  improvements. So the alternative...

18
Five Dollar Day 1914

• Prevailing auto worker wage was 2.40 /day
• Ford promises 5.00/day if one qualified.
• How did one qualify? Through an investigation of
  ones home life by the Sociological Department.
• Marriage proved
• Good home conditions
• Good personal habits
• Demonstrated thrift
• If single, must be age 22, for profits

19
Questions paternalism .vs individual liberty

• Can ones employer enforce living arrangements
  off the job?
• Can ones employer demand alteration of religious
  practices?
• Can ones employer demand particular family
  arrangements of workers?