Model A Fact or Fiction; Thomas Edison and the first Model A Ford (1927)
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- Опубліковано 26 вер 2024
- There has been a lot of myths and folklore around the Model A since it debuted in 1927 and perhaps the most repeated Model A story is that Thomas Edison was gifted the very first production Model A by Henry Ford.
You've probably heard that the first Model A was a Tudor that was rebodied to a Phaeton at Edison's request. But that's not exactly true.
We spent quite a bit of time researching how this myth got started and whether or not Edison truly received the first Model A produced.
No matter when the car was assembled, Thomas Edison's personal Model A Phaeton is on long term loan to the Model A Ford Foundation Inc's Model A Museum at the Gilmore in Hickory Corners, MI. Seeing this car is worth the trip alone but you won't be disappointed with the dozens of Model A's in the museum as well as several relevant displays they have there. Be sure to visit and support the Model A Ford Foundation Inc www.MAFFI.org
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Sources;
The Model A News (Magazine of the Model A Restorers Club)
The Henry Ford
Newspapers as listed in the video
The People's Tycoon; Henry Ford and the American Century by Steven Watts
Library of Congress Ford Motion Pictures Archives
We reserve the right to moderate comments that we feel fall outside of the scope of the Model A hobby.
#1928 #1929 #1930 #1931 #modelaford #fordmodela #edison
'Kearney' is pronounced as 'car-knee'. My dad worked there for 33 years.
Thanks for the correction, we tried finding the proper way to pronounce it but came up short.
I've never heard Kearney pronounced any other way. There's a Kearney in Neb and Mo and both are pronounced car-knee
My grandfather worked for Western Electric there for 40 years.
@@AModelA while we are at it, I think it is fayton but what do I know?
Another tomato/tomato word. However, checking Merriam Webster's webpage and their audio player for Phaeton they pronounce it fay-a-ton. Thanks for watching!
Well done! You present many well researched examples. In the end, I think it comes down to the quote from the movie The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance - when the legend becomes fact, print the legend.
The legend seems to have taken on a life of its own.
Thanks for watching and commenting!
My grandfather used to talk about the Model A that they had on their farm in Michigan. Great to see this video which tells the history of that automobile. Many thanks for sharing. Liked and CONNECTED!
Glad you liked it, thanks for the like and subscribe!
@@AModelA You are welcome. Consider joining the club!
So, the Gilmore in its showing of this car says “you can see Henry Ford hand stamping serial #1 onto the engine of this car on October 20, 1927.” What does the Gilmore and Henry Ford Museums say to you about this discrepancy? Very curious debate. I very much enjoyed this video. 👍
Using the facts you supplied, I think Edison was given A1, held by Ford and it had several factory level updates. (updates were running production changes on the assembly line before/after a specific date) Then it was delivered in mid 1928, per correspondences OR A special production run for Edison car - see photo of engine serial number added stars. - I believe the later is the more likely.
Dale
The "MECCA" of any fan of the Model A. I'd love to go to that museum someday; It's gotta be an amazing place.
It is a must see destination for Model A enthusiasts! Thanks for watching.
The first Cadillac was built by Henry Ford and Thomas Edison. It is on display at the Forney Car Museum in Denver Colorado
Thomas Edison had nothing to do with operations of Henry Ford's three automobile companies. The first, Detroit Automobile Company fail quickly. The second, Henry Ford Company. was started in 1901 and continued in operation after Ford was forced out by his dissatisfied partners after just three months. Henry Leyland joined as a new partner and the company was re-capitalized under a new name, Cadillac Motor Cars. It was acquired by General Motors in 1909. Ford started Ford Motor Company with new investors in 1903. Ford and members of his family bought out all other investors in 1919.
Awesome Video... Sounds right to Me
Glad you liked it, thanks for watching!
I enjoyed the video, and not sure what I believe about Edison’s Model A. One thing for sure, Edison’s Model T isn’t a 1914. The steel, curved cowl, and curved rear fenders make it 1915 or later. This car is on display at the Edison/Ford Estate in Fort Myers, and we were there with our ‘28 Phaeton last February. I believe the museum states the Firestone car is a 1916.
You did get it right.many cars are still produced before number 1 is produced.
It very much makes sense. Is it possible it was the first Model A "Touring Car" ? As both Ford and Edison knew very well, it is all how you spin it.
Quite likely you are correct. The late 1927 photos of Edison and a two door sedan were the earliest publicity photos, but not the body style Edison ultimately wanted. The claim that a two door sedan was rebodied as a 4-door touring car makes no sense financially. Much more likely that Edison got a newly built touring car when it was available. Some "manipulation" of engine serial number appears likely. Note also that the phaeton shown at 7:20 in the video depicting the car given back to Ford does not look the same as the restored Gilmore Museum car. The accent striping is missing (likely covered by an apparent repaint) and wheel hubs have larger caps from a 1930 or '31 Model A (likely repair parts).
Appreciate your work!
Glad you enjoy these videos.
That is some sort of secret handshake at 36 seconds into the video.
Nice story, in the end it does not matter.
Just watched this video, so my question regarding the very last view of the 2 engine numbers…. Which was stamped in the photo by Henry. With stars or without stars?
The engine without the stars is the one that was stamped by Henry Ford. The film of him stamping the engine shows him using a single punch to stamp the block.
Отличные истории рассказываешь, продолжай пожалуйста.
Deff NOT the same engine blocks. Edisons "1" is stamped higher in the block than the "1" that was the first A engine.
Great video, very informative keep them coming.
Thanks for watching!
You are implying that there is a such thing as a 27 Model A. There is not. The Model A debuted as a 28 model.
I don't believe anyone is implying that there was a 1927 Model A. Records show that the first Model A's were built in late 1927 as model year 1928 cars and were sold as such.
Great video, well researched. However, I fail to understand that Ford was "not in a position to lose a single car as a gift." It certainly was not for a lack of money.
Thanks for watching! Ford had 11,000 US dealers in 1927 and by mid December he had only one or two thousand Model A's built. Most dealers only had a Model A to display for a few hours on one day in December. This meant any car that was sold and in the hands of the customer prolonged the chance for other dealers to have a display car.
In the case of Edison, he didn't seem to be in too much of a rush for the A so by delaying delivery to him it kept another car in circulation for dealer displays.
There were cars sold and delivered in December, most notably to celebrities like Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford but these were delivered later in the month and were part of a larger marketing campaign.
We've been considering doing a video on the history of Model A's in December of 1927 as things like production, delivery, and sales were all very unusual during that period.
1896 Mercedes was first
According to online sources, the Mercedes "Patent wagon" the first gasoline powered vehicle dates back to 1886.
You're forgetting George Selden who filed his first patent on May 8th 1879. A prototype made of brass from 1879 is in the Smithsonian. The Seldon motor wagon was operational in 1877.
The Selden "prototype" you refer to is a scale model slightly less than a foot long. Selden did not create an operational vehicle. His patent was issued in 1895 and he did succeed in collecting royalties from many early automobile startup companies. Ford built his quadracycle prototype in 1896 and various early models after. He refused to pay Selden. Selden sued Ford... the Court ruled that the patent covered only a very limited form of engine and did NOT cover all forms of early internal combustion petroleum fueled engines.
Too bad Edison was such a bad person
Tesla was better.
Well... if your product arrives in the showroom 105 years later, it certainly should be better!
Kar- Nee !! Please!!
yeah...we know.
@@AModelA It's a Jersey thing, like Secaucus NJ. Like your videos good channel!