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Source: AutoCar
Contrary to what weve been told, Henry Ford wasnt the father of modern mass car production, according to two researchers from Cardiff University.
A new paper by Dr Paul Nieuwenhuis and Dr Pete Wells of the Centre for Automotive Industry Research at Cardiff Business School, suggests that the little-known Edward G Budd of Philadelphia was responsible for the development of the pressed steel car body and mass production.
Ford did develop mass production of key mechanical components and sub assemblies, as well as the moving assembly line. But Fords cars were built around a wooden framework clad with steel, aluminium or plywood, then painted. The paint could take days to dry, and attempts to speed this up often ended in fire.
The answer was to remove wood from the bodies, and by 1914 Budd held a number of patents for a pressed steel car body. Dodge Brothers trialled the technology, though the next major step - using the body to replace the chassis and carry all the mechanical components - was jointly developed by Budd with Citroen in 1934.
Nieuwenhuis and Wells argue that the history of the origins of mass car production was largely written in the 1930s, at a time when Budd's innovations were still embryonic. Historical accounts, they say, have drawn heavily on Ford's own perspective and his focus on assembly line labour, while Budd's input has remained hidden from view.
"Edward Budd was a true innovator. Without him, today's highly automated mass production of cars would not be possible, said Nieuwenhuis. Also, the introduction of the all-steel body resulted in cars which were stiffer, safer, stronger, more durable and easier to paint and repair."
Contrary to what weve been told, Henry Ford wasnt the father of modern mass car production, according to two researchers from Cardiff University.
A new paper by Dr Paul Nieuwenhuis and Dr Pete Wells of the Centre for Automotive Industry Research at Cardiff Business School, suggests that the little-known Edward G Budd of Philadelphia was responsible for the development of the pressed steel car body and mass production.
Ford did develop mass production of key mechanical components and sub assemblies, as well as the moving assembly line. But Fords cars were built around a wooden framework clad with steel, aluminium or plywood, then painted. The paint could take days to dry, and attempts to speed this up often ended in fire.
The answer was to remove wood from the bodies, and by 1914 Budd held a number of patents for a pressed steel car body. Dodge Brothers trialled the technology, though the next major step - using the body to replace the chassis and carry all the mechanical components - was jointly developed by Budd with Citroen in 1934.
Nieuwenhuis and Wells argue that the history of the origins of mass car production was largely written in the 1930s, at a time when Budd's innovations were still embryonic. Historical accounts, they say, have drawn heavily on Ford's own perspective and his focus on assembly line labour, while Budd's input has remained hidden from view.
"Edward Budd was a true innovator. Without him, today's highly automated mass production of cars would not be possible, said Nieuwenhuis. Also, the introduction of the all-steel body resulted in cars which were stiffer, safer, stronger, more durable and easier to paint and repair."
