Today is the 161st birthday of Henry Ford. He was the founder of Ford Motor Company who developed the assembly-line process for mass production.

In 1891, he became an engineer at the Edison Illuminating Company of Detroit. He he received a promotion to Chief Engineer in 1893, he had enough time and money to devote attention to his experiments on engines that would run on gasoline. These experiments culminated in 1896 with the completion of a self-propelled vehicle, which he named the Ford Quadricycle. He first test-drove it on June 4. After various test drives, Be began to brainstorm ways to improve the Quadricycle.

Also in 1896, Ford attended a meeting of Edison executives that would change his life and eventually lead to a lifelong friendship. At the meeting he was introduced to Thomas Edison, who approved of Ford’s automobile experimentation. Encouraged by Edison, Ford designed and built a second vehicle, completing it in 1898.

He founded the Detroit Automobile Company in 1899. Sadly, the automobiles produced were of a lower quality and higher price than Ford wanted. Ultimately, the company was not successful and was dissolved in January 1901. He never stopped trying and on June 16, 1903 (thanks to some new investors) The Ford Motor Company was born. The Model T debuted 5 years later in 1908.

So just how does Henry Ford fit into Tune Tuesday? Well, the great Jerry Reed had a number one country hit with his ditty, Lord, Mr. Ford in 1973. The lyrics bemoan the fact that a seemingly simple invention to assist mankind has instead brought nothing but grief, become increasingly more complex and added to the increasing fast-paced demands of society. Can you imagine what could be said about the cars we drive today??

Happy Birthday, Henry Ford!

Lord, Mr. Ford

Well, if you’re one of the millions who own one of them gas-drinking, piston-clinking, air-polluting, smoke-belching, four-wheeled buggies from Detroit City, then pay attention. I’m about to sing your song son.

Well, I’m not a man appointed judge
To bear ill-will and hold a grudge
But I think it’s time I said me a few choice words
All about that demon automobile
A metal box with the polyglass wheel
The end result to a dream of Henry Ford
Well I’ve got a car that’s mine alone
That me and the finance company own
A ready-made pile of manufactured grief
And if I ain’t out of gas in the pouring rain
I’m a-changin’ a flat in a hurricane
I once spent three days lost on a cloverleaf
Well it ain’t just the smoke and the traffic jam
That makes me the bitter fool I am
But this four-wheel buggy is
A-dollaring me to death
For gas and oils and fluids and grease
And wires and tires and anti freeze
And them accessories
Well honey, that’s something else
Well you can get a stereo tape and a color TV
Get a back-seat bar and reclining seats
And just pay once a month, like you do your rent
Well I figured it up and over a period of time
This four thousand dollar car of mine
Costs fourteen thousand dollars
And ninety-nine cents, well now

Lord Mr. Ford, I just wish that you could see
What your simple horseless carriage has become
Well it seems your contribution to man
To say the least, got a little out of hand
Well Lord Mr. Ford what have you done

Now the average American father and mother
Own one whole car and half another
And I bet that half a car is a
Trick to buy, don’t you
But the thing that amazes me, I guess
Is the way we measure a man’s success
By the kind of automobile he can afford to buy
Well now, red light, green light, traffic cop
Right turn, no turn, must turn, stop
Get out the credit card honey, we’re out of gas
Well now, all the cars placed end to end
Would reach to the moon and back again
And there’d probably be some
Fool pull out to pass
Well now, how I yearn for the good old days
Without that carbon monoxide haze
A-hanging over the roar of the interstate
Well if the Lord that made the moon and stars
Would have meant for me and you to have cars
He’d have seen that we was all born
With a parking space

Lord Mr. Ford, I just wish that you could see
What your simple horseless carriage has become
Well it seems your contribution to man
To say the least, got a little out of hand
Well Lord Mr. Ford what have you done

Come away with me Lucille
In my smoking, choking automobile