It’s one of the most well-known brands in the business, and its logo is one of the most well-known as well. And just like the brand, the logo is full of meaning and history. Keep reading to find out more about the history of the Ford logo.
The History of the Ford Logo
When Henry Ford started the Ford Motor Company in 1903, the logo wasn’t blue. In reality, it was green and didn’t have the famous text you see today.
In fact, the first Ford logo was a lot more complicated. It had an embroidered edge and some extra text in it.
Even though Henry Ford didn’t put the famous Ford script on the first Ford Model A, the company often used it in business letters. Even though most people think it’s Henry Ford’s signature, it was designed by Childe Harold Wills, Ford’s first chief engineer and designer.
In 1907, the name “Ford” was written on a logo for the first time in the famous way we all know. Since then, it has been a part of every Ford logo, with only minor changes to the text.
Ford didn’t change its logo to one that looks like the one it uses now until 1927, 24 years after it was founded. Even though Ford’s logo has changed three times since then, they are all very similar to how it looks now.
All of them have small differences, like making the oval more round and making small changes to the Ford lettering.
What Does the Ford Logo Mean?
Contrary to what many sites will try to tell you, the Ford logo doesn’t have some complicated deep meaning. The blue doesn’t stand for anything in particular, and the name “Ford” comes from the founder of the company, Henry Ford.
Other than that, the logo doesn’t really mean anything. The oval shape was chosen for its style, and it has changed into the “3-D” shape that is popular today. The Ford logo has a long history, but it doesn’t have a lot of hidden meanings.
It’s more about marketing and branding. Ford wanted a well-known logo that would be easy to put on their cars and be easy for people to recognise. The simple “Ford” letters on a blue oval background work well.
The Iconic Ford Brand
Ford is the only brand that makes you think of American innovation and entrepreneurship. They changed the way the assembly line worked, made the first mass-produced car, made working conditions better for employees, and helped change the course of the second world war.
The Assembly Line and Mass Production
In 1903, Ford made its first car, the Model A. But they only made a few a day, and that was how it was until 1908, when Ford introduced the Model T. Then, Ford began to improve the assembly line, which was a new idea at the time.
It was so popular that in 1909, the first full year of Model T production, 10,000 cars were made. Ford kept improving its revolutionary way of putting together cars, and by 1912, they had made 170,211 Model Ts.
Then, Ford did something else for the first time. He made the assembly line move. It took Ford’s assembly line processes, which were already working well, and sped them up. This made it possible to make 202,667 cars in a year.
This was a first for the United States. It lowered the cost of making cars and made them more affordable for the average American for the first time. Before that, cars were so expensive that only people with a lot of money could buy them.
Employee Conditions
When the moving assembly line was invented, conditions for workers got a lot worse. This caused a lot of people to come and go, which slowed down production and made costs go up.
Henry Ford did something about this in 1914 by doubling his factory workers’ pay to $5 a day. Also, he cut shifts from nine hours to eight hours and made everyone work a 40-hour week.
As a result, the number of employees who stayed with the company went through the roof. This helped Ford cut costs and improve efficiency. Because the workers’ pay went up and the price of a Model T went down, it was the first time they could buy one of the cars they had helped make.
Ford and World War II
After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, Ford increased production to help win the war. They made 390,000 tanks, 27,000 engines, 270,000 jeeps, 8,000 B24 Liberators, and a lot of other parts and machines to help the war effort.
Ford had the third most valuable wartime contracts of any company in the United States. This made a profitable business model possible and made Ford an even more famous American brand.
Post-WWII
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After the second world war, Ford settled down and became a more typical car company. They tried owning parts of Mazda, Volvo, and Land Rover, but in the end, they sold all of their shares in those companies.
Ford made the first Mustang in 1964. The brand has been so popular that Ford sold its ten-millionth Mustang in 2018. In 1966 Ford released the Bronco, and in 1991 they released the Ford Explorer.
None of these things happened during the time Henry Ford was alive. He died in 1947, and Henry Ford II, his son, took over as chairman of the company.
Modern Developments/Future Vision
If you’re not moving forward, you’re going backward. Ford has done this in the past when they didn’t do much after the success of the Model T, but they’re not doing it anymore.
Mach E
Are electric cars the future for American muscle cars? Most likely not, but that doesn’t mean that the market for them isn’t growing. The Mach E is the first all-electric Mustang that Ford has made, and it doesn’t disappoint. Ford hasn’t made it public yet, but the fully-loaded Mach E should be able to go from 0 to 60 mph in about 3.5 seconds.
Even its base model should be able to go from 0 to 60 mph in about 6 seconds. Not everyone will like an all-electric muscle car, but that won’t matter if it beats them on the track.
The Ford Bronco looks like it will be a real blast from the past. The base model starts at less than $30,000, and it has a seven-speed manual transmission.
The Bronco will have a unique look thanks to its fully removable doors, top, and four-wheel drive. This will give people who want a real off-road vehicle another choice besides a Jeep.
Bringing back the Bronco
It was an important part of the company for more than 30 years, but Ford suddenly stopped making it in 1996. They will bring it back in 2021. This SUV will stand out from the rest because of its style, performance, and ties to the past.
All-Electric Transit
The all-electric Ford Transit will be the company’s first all-electric van, but it won’t be available until 2022. Considering how popular the old Transit was with businesses, it’s not hard to see how this will fit into the next generation of business vehicles.
Summary
Ford is the car that best shows what the American auto industry is all about. They’ve been making cars for more than 115 years, and their logo hasn’t changed much in that time. The story of Henry Ford is the most famous example of an American entrepreneur.
Sources: https://micdot.com
Category: Car
