The 1910s was an era of alternation between the old and the new. The Qing Dynasty fell, the Russian October Revolution began, and World War I began and ended.
Since its birth in 1887, the automobile industry has spent its ignorant childhood. After stumbling along the way into the second decade of the 20th century, it has gradually begun to develop autonomously and diversified, and also gave birth to the automobile industry. One after another wonderful stories, brought together by fate.
1. When a ship sinks to the bottom of the sea, when a person becomes a mystery
In the early morning of April 15, 1912, the Titanic was immersed in the cold water of the North Atlantic. , a life-and-death scene was going on...
Ms. Caroline Bonnell got into the lifeboat with the help of a male friend and survived. Afterwards, she recalled the man she met while traveling in Europe. Gentleman, the gentle and firm words are still fresh in my ears:
"You will be back with us on the ship soon again (You will be back with us on the ship soon again)"
Washington A. Roebling II, who stood on the deck and smiled at Caroline Bonnell, may not have realized that this was the last moment of his life. With the death of the founder, Mercer cars also declined after a short period of glory until disappear.
Washington A. Roebling II recent photo
Mercer Motors, founded in 1909, was just like Washington himself, young and energetic, pursuing faster, better and safer cars. Washington was born into a family of American engineers. He loved racing and traveled to Europe to learn technology. He founded Mercer Automobile with his partner ***.
Focusing on design with one hand and manufacturing with the other, in 1911, an outstanding masterpiece that spanned the times was produced: Mercer Series 35, also known as Mercer Raceabout, which was really born for racing.
Washington A. Roebling II (right hand)
We often say that one person has a song to become famous. For Mercer cars, 35 can represent everything about the brand.
The Mercer 35 is a leader among the first generation of American sports cars and is also known as one of the most important models of the Brass Age. At a time when the top speed of cars generally did not exceed 50 miles per hour, the Mercer 35 raised this number to 70.
#Frame number 1281?
Sold for US$865,500 at Pebble Beach Auction in 2002
The biggest technical innovation of the 35: the adoption of Finley Robertson Porter designed T-shaped cylinder head engine.
Porter's engine has a higher compression ratio and can produce more power (56 horsepower/1900 rpm) with a small displacement, making the Mercer 35 horsepower more powerful and lighter, making it a The first mass-produced racing car. ?
The 35 Runabout is also a frequent visitor to Pebble Beach
The picture shows the participating vehicles in 2012
In order to achieve better results in the event, Washington’s attitude towards the car body If you can save, save.
There are no doors, windshield and soft top, and it does not even cover the rear of the body. The fenders, running boards and lights are designed as assembly parts and can be installed in 20 minutes, so that the vehicle meets the more stringent requirements of the Grand Prix.
Of course, Mercer also offers a civilian version of the Runabout, equipped with a starter, generator, windshield, soft top and optional doors.
Runabout with complete accessories
In 1903, mankind’s dream of flying into space came true. By 1912, the largest cruise ship, the Titanic, was on trial. In that era, a huge leap occurred in human travel and dreams became reality. . Washington boarded the Titanic with great admiration and looked at the United States in the distance, eager to rely on the power of technology to create greater glory after 35 years, but towering icebergs and ruthless waves buried it all.
We have no way of knowing whether the last sentence he left to Caroline, "You will be back," was for comfort or his belief in the development of science and technology.
However, with the sound of the whistle and the rolling wheels, with the help of institutional changes and scientific progress, the world of the 1910s had already set sail, and change was unstoppable.
2. Flying across the Pacific
Sun Yat-sen was busy in 1924. After summing up his early revolutionary experience and experiencing repeated jumps among warlords, he reinterpreted the Three People's Principles and formed the Nationalist Party. ** cooperated for the first time and founded the Whampoa Military Academy at the same time.
While he was busy working for the revolutionary cause, Sun Yat-sen did not forget to plan for the future of China's industrial development. His eyes crossed the horizon and the ocean and fell on a man from Michigan in the United States. Yes, He was Henry Ford, who was known as the automobile king at that time.
Car King: Henry Ford
Sun Yat-sen thought of attracting foreign investment. On June 24, he wrote to the car king, one of which read:
I understand. And I have read your amazing works in the United States. You can accomplish the same thing on a much grander scale in China. In a sense, it can be said that your career in the United States is more personal, while in China you will have the opportunity to express and realize your ideas and ideals in the form of a new industrial system.
Although this invitation has no results, we can get a glimpse of Henry Ford's global influence. The amazing works mentioned in Mr. Sun's letter are not annotated, but we know that Henry Ford dedicated his life to the world. The most amazing creation is undoubtedly the Ford Model T.
The story of Model T is well known to everyone. Here is a brief review of some details of Model T:
Although Model T was born in 1908, the total production as of 1910 was only 12,000 units. .
Engineer William C. Klein was inspired by a visit to a Chicago slaughterhouse, which led Henry Ford to improve assembly line operations with the "reverse slaughter process" starting in 1910.
After the large-scale production line was officially built in 1913, the production time increased from one vehicle every 12.5 hours to one vehicle every 93 minutes. In 1914, a total of 10 million vehicles were sold worldwide.
Therefore, we are more willing to classify Model T as the star model of the 1910s.
Henry Ford and the 10 Million Sales Commemorative Car
The price of the Model T dropped from $850 when it was launched in 1909 to $550 in 1913, and then dropped to $440 in 1915 US dollars, Ford raised wages for workers, so that their daily wages would reach US$5. This means that they can buy a Model T after four months of work, perfectly realizing a closed loop of production and sales.
"Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black." ——This is the widely circulated Henry Ford for Model T
Only black Quotes that set the tone.
Indeed, Henry Ford himself was very stubborn. He believed that the Model T was good enough to meet all the needs of customers. In addition, in order to further simplify operations and increase production, between 1915 and 1926, the Model T was indeed There is only one color.
In fact, Model T was available in four colors when it was first released: gray, green, red, and blue.
In 1927, when it was discontinued, Model T was restored to five available colors: green, blue, brown, gray, and reddish brown, perhaps realizing the pressure from its peers. But it was too late.
In 1924, Sun Yat-sen may not have thought that the powerful Ford empire in his impression, and its all-conquering Model T, had fallen into a crisis, and it was expected that it would not build a factory in China.
After the launch of Model T, due to its unified and standardized production, dealers in various places also started their own DIY, modifying Model T. The most modified model was the Model T Cargo, which was also very popular.
Model T 1-ton chassis in 1917
Finally, Ford officials couldn't stand it anymore, so they took it upon themselves to launch the Model T 1-ton chassis in 1917 (priced at $600) for the general public to enjoy. Those who customize the body themselves. As a result, various trucks based on its chassis appeared one after another.
In 1925, Ford launched the official version of the Model T Pickup (pickup)—the first pickup truck officially produced by the brand in American history.
During Prohibition in the United States in the 1930s and 1940s, bootleggers often drove trucks through rural fields to evade federal police and tax collectors.
In order to more easily evade government arrest, they modified the horsepower and structure of their cars themselves, and organized competitions to test their drag racing skills. They also gave birth to a car racing brand that is popular in the United States: NASCAR. .
Guess which truck is the most modified? Yes, it’s still the Ford Model T.
3. Goose Goose
The engineers of JW Brooke & Company were a little surprised. After hearing the request of this guest from afar, a thought came into their minds. Big question mark: Why swan?
In 1909, Scottish billionaire Robert Nicholl Matthewson traveled halfway around the world to JW Brooke & Company in Suffolk, England, to customize his personal dream car: the Swan Car.
Compared with the development trend of civilianization of the American automobile industry, European cars at this moment are still following the aristocratic route: private exclusive and hand-made are still the mainstream.
This also explains to a certain extent why assembly line production emerged in the United States rather than Europe, the birthplace of the automobile. In short, it is the solidification of classes and differences in ideas.
As for why Mr. Matthewson chose swans, we only know that the wealthy area where he lives is called Swan Park, which is adjacent to the Calcutta Zoo. There are many birds in the zoo, especially swans...
Seller show (photo of engineers)
Customers are God (really giving too much), JW Brooke & Company accepted the commission and successfully completed the task, manufacturing Introducing this one-of-a-kind animal car: The Brooke Swan Car.
Buyer Show (Robert Nicholl Matthewson)
Although JW Brooke & Company became famous for its marine engines and then became involved in automobile starting systems, this Brooke Swan Car made it famous in the It has left a mark in automotive history because it is truly a masterpiece.
The entire body of the Swan Car is made of thick wood, and the feathers are hand-carved by craftsmen and patched with plaster to create a realistic effect. A swan's neck and head are carved above the engine and radiator, with lightbulb eyes inside the goose's head glowing amber in the dark.
The lower part of the front of the car is decorated with gold and silver half-length fish, and the body part is engraved with golden lotus flowers, depicting a vivid scene of swans swimming in the pond.
In 1910, Mr. Matthewson happily drove this car onto the streets of Calcutta, causing traffic chaos immediately.
Although the local area had ushered in automobiles as early as the end of the 19th century, and people had long been accustomed to the mixed carriages, cars, and rail vehicles on the streets, when the swan car appeared in front of the public, it was ahead of its time. The unique design and shocking momentum leave people at a loss as to what to do.
"The ladies screamed loudly and the carriage drove off the road. Buffaloes, cows, goats, donkeys, elephants, camels and natives, all fled in every direction as fast as the eye could see. "This is how a Calcutta newspaper described the spectacle caused by the Swan Car on the streets in April 1910. The Swan Car was eventually banned from the road by the police.
Mr. Matthewson thought twice and had to bear the pain and sold the Swan Car to a local chief.
After changing hands several times, the restored Swan Car is now in the Louwman Museum in the Netherlands, quietly telling its legendary story to visitors.
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