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Old 11-24-2014, 12:06 AM   #1
Y-Blockhead
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Default Books about FORD

Do any of you have any suggestions for good books about Ford cars, The Factory or Henry Ford. Not talking about repair manuals as such. I’m thinking of history or novels about Ford.

I just finished Fordlandia: The Rise and Fall of Henry Ford's Forgotten Jungle City a book about Fords failed attempt to start a rubber plantation in Brazil in 1927. Very insightful about the power and vision of Henry Ford.

Also just finished Fordlandia, a Novel about the same lost city.

Any other suggested books?

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Old 11-24-2014, 12:24 AM   #2
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Default Re: Books about FORD

I liked Fordlandia.
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Old 11-24-2014, 12:36 AM   #3
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Default Re: Books about FORD

"Ford, the Men and the Machine" by Robert Lacy tells the story of Henry Ford, the Ford Motor Company and the Ford family from Henry's youth until the early 1980's. It's not a feel-good book by any means but it does tell the back story about the early days and some of the men that helped get FoMoCo going. Henry didn't do every single thing on any car alone as some believe.
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Old 11-24-2014, 01:21 AM   #4
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Default Re: Books about FORD

John S, Sounds good. I just ordered it from Amazon.com... used 1¢ plus shipping. Thanks
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Old 11-24-2014, 01:23 AM   #5
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Default Re: Books about FORD

"We never called him Henry" by Harry Bennett if you can find the book, it is the story of Fords hachet man Harry Bennett. tells the story of how Ford thought
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Old 11-24-2014, 09:12 AM   #6
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Default Re: Books about FORD

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Old 11-24-2014, 09:29 AM   #7
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Default Re: Books about FORD

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showth...ana#post945407

Silverado Publishing put out quite a number of excellent Ford related books, and one in particular is titled "The Ford Factory".
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Old 11-24-2014, 10:09 AM   #8
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Default Re: Books about FORD

Here is another Ford Barn thread on the subject:

http://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131088
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Old 11-24-2014, 11:46 AM   #9
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Default Re: Books about FORD

Years ago I read a book by Charles Sorensen, known as Cast Iron Charlie. There were many people who helped Ford succeed, but Charlie was there the longest and really put Henry's, and his own, ideas into practice. It was called My Forty Years with Ford. My memory is hazy, but I think he really objected to the way Henry treated Edsel. He finally got fed up and left. I remember loving the book at the time. I got it from the library and never owned a copy myself.
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Old 11-24-2014, 12:18 PM   #10
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Default Re: Books about FORD

The People's Tycoon

Henry's Lieutenants

My Life & Work was also an interesting book if for no other reason than historical perspective.

And I'll also throw my support for Fordlandia.

-Tim
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Old 11-24-2014, 01:00 PM   #11
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Default Re: Books about FORD

The one I like (and I have many of the books mentioned above I my library) is Ford Methods & Ford Shops. It gives insight just how the workers were instructed to manufacture each of the different items including the operation of many machines used in manufacturing parts. It is with this book that you realize how mistakes were handled and it disqualifies the notion that Ford employees just used random pieces during the assembly.
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Old 11-24-2014, 01:52 PM   #12
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Default Re: Books about FORD

Quote:
Originally Posted by mhsprecher View Post
Years ago I read a book by Charles Sorensen, known as Cast Iron Charlie. There were many people who helped Ford succeed, but Charlie was there the longest and really put Henry's, and his own, ideas into practice. It was called My Forty Years with Ford. My memory is hazy, but I think he really objected to the way Henry treated Edsel. He finally got fed up and left. I remember loving the book at the time. I got it from the library and never owned a copy myself.
If I can get a copy, I want to read this one too. Sorensen was the main manufacturing force behind Henry, the guy that put his ideas into mass production.
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Old 11-24-2014, 03:29 PM   #13
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Default Re: Books about FORD

Sorensen's book is out in paperback and can be bought at Amazon and other outlets.

Upon further reflection, I think Henry II got rid of Sorensen as a relic of a prior time and his grandfather's days. He might also have also held a grudge about the way his father was treated, even though Sorensen supported Edsel and lobbied to have Henry II put in place during WWII. Lots and lots of drama in that whole sad story. Henry was a brilliant, complex and deeply flawed individual.
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Old 11-24-2014, 04:05 PM   #14
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Default Re: Books about FORD

Go to amazon.com and look for books by Loren Sorensen. Maybe check out Silverado Publishing also. There are a lot of books Mr. Sorensen wrote. Our club has received several that he signed. There are also a series of videos that were put out on tapes that feature Ford cars and assembly methods. They are made up from old sales movies that were made to promote the new models as they came out. We have several and I'm sure they could also be found on Amazon fairly cheaply priced. (I haven't looked)
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Old 11-24-2014, 04:18 PM   #15
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Default Re: Books about FORD

Ebay also has Ford DVD's really cheap. About $10 including shipping.
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Old 11-24-2014, 10:47 PM   #16
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Default Re: Books about FORD

Y-Blockhead - when you have finished reading all the books in print (as listed above, as well as many others), drop me an email, or PM me on the Forum, and I will provide you with about thirty more titles that have been long out of print, from the 1914 to 1950 period.

I have been collecting out of print books on Henry Ford and the Ford Motor Company since 1960, and have quite a large collection of out-of-print books.

- Doug Vieyra, Docent Librarian, Eureka Ford Plant
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Old 11-25-2014, 12:39 AM   #17
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Default Re: Books about FORD

Thanks Doug. And everyone for the suggestions. Looks like I have some reading to do.

I read Fordlandia on my Kindle. Our local Library now has ebooks so I'm going to see if they have any of the suggested titles and upload them to my Kindle.

Do you store your books at the Eureka Ford Plant Library??
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Old 11-25-2014, 02:06 AM   #18
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Default Re: Books about FORD

No, Y-Blockhead, since the Eureka FORD Branch plant closed right after Model A production ended ( March 1932 ) , the plant sits idle, now over-grown with redwood trees.

I keep the Ford Library at my home, and 1886 Eastlake Victorian Mansion, along with my two Model A's - a December 1928 Phaeton and a February 1932 Model A Deluxe Coupe. The Victorian Mansion has (as they all did in the 1800's) a formal 'Library'. There I have my collection of out-of-print books dealing with all of U.S. Automotive History, specializing on Ford.
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Old 11-25-2014, 06:54 AM   #19
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Default Re: Books about FORD

The Ford Methods and Ford Shops is available for free. Just the click the title.

The Fordlandia book had a very interesting chapter highlighting the fact Ford used such precision methods that is slowed the development of the Model A factory set up.
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