Model T and the Spanish Flu Pandemic

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mknox21
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Model T and the Spanish Flu Pandemic

Post by mknox21 » Thu Oct 07, 2021 4:01 pm

Hi everyone!

A museum visitor asked a great question today: "How did influenza impact the production of the Model T?"

I hadn't thought about this before. The influenza pandemic was during 1918-1919. During a quick cursory Google search, I could only find some information about the fact that the Dodge brothers contracted the disease.

Does anyone know any websites, books, newspapers I can reference? Any photos? Family stories from the time? Anything and everything is appreciated! Feel free to respond to this thread or send me an email micaela@mtfca.com
Micaela Knox
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Don D
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Re: Model T and the Spanish Flu Pandemic

Post by Don D » Thu Oct 07, 2021 8:22 pm

1918 Spanish Flu with Model T Ford in the background. I am not sure the manufacturer of the Ambulance.
Spanish Flu Ambulance 1918.JPG
Spanish Flu Public Notice.JPG
Spanish Flu Public Notice.JPG (79.15 KiB) Viewed 2253 times
Flu Masks or go to jail.JPG

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DLodge
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Re: Model T and the Spanish Flu Pandemic

Post by DLodge » Thu Oct 07, 2021 8:58 pm

Dom Denio wrote:
Thu Oct 07, 2021 8:22 pm
1918 Spanish Flu with Model T Ford in the background.
Dom, I have seen that photo often before. It was taken in St. Louis.

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Rich Eagle
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Re: Model T and the Spanish Flu Pandemic

Post by Rich Eagle » Thu Oct 07, 2021 9:28 pm

Both the ambulance in the foreground and the one behind it are likely White Model 20's. They made many for the war effort and several features match those.
Rich
When did I do that?


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mknox21
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Re: Model T and the Spanish Flu Pandemic

Post by mknox21 » Thu Oct 14, 2021 4:54 pm

Dom Denio wrote:
Thu Oct 07, 2021 8:22 pm
1918 Spanish Flu with Model T Ford in the background. I am not sure the manufacturer of the Ambulance.
Thank you for posting these photos Dom! These are an excellent starting point.

I'm wondering if Henry Ford experienced influenza within his circle. The Dodge Brothers both contracted it. I wonder...
Micaela Knox
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John kuehn
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Re: Model T and the Spanish Flu Pandemic

Post by John kuehn » Thu Oct 14, 2021 9:27 pm

Concerning the question about how the Spanish flu affected Model T production in 1918-19 there was some mention of the Dodge Brothers getting sick during that time on the History Channel’s series The Men who built America. Besides mentioning them getting sick they was some production that slowed. I guess the news media at the time wasn’t preoccupied with it in those days as they are now. But two things in the group picture sort of stuck out that would fit in today’s world. The center woman wearing a mask but not covering her nose and the guy wearing a sign saying wear a mask or go to jail. Same way how a lot of people think of things today! Going from one extreme to another!

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Re: Model T and the Spanish Flu Pandemic

Post by Retro54 » Fri Oct 15, 2021 6:17 am

John, the US news media at the time did not extensively report on the flu pandemic because they were not allowed to or decided not to carry coverage. See the Sedition Act of 1918. The US was near the end of WWI and the federal government was losing soldiers to the flu and it was considered essentially a national society risk for the numbers of dead and ailing US citizens to be reported on. Same in other allied countries.. Plus the US media didn't want to tip and cards of what the US was experiencing to our enemies. Spain was a neutral country and was one of the few countries whom allowed reporting, therefore it became known as the Spanish Flu due to it seeming as though the flu originated from there. Plus, the 1918 influenza was a fast hitter. It would strike a particular city and within between 6 to 8 weeks, it was gone.. in and out. Not months and months like we are experiencing now. The effect on Ford production likely would have been brief and then over... IF Detroit got hit hard. Here is an article describing this in greater detail than I am able to relay.

https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/ot ... -the-media

I think the original poster will have difficulty finding much detail regarding the affect on mode t production due to the lack of media coverage unless he finds information gathered by a later historian. It would be interesting to see ford ledgers showing production numbers and /or board of director minutes from this time that may shed light onto the affects.


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Re: Model T and the Spanish Flu Pandemic

Post by Don D » Fri Oct 15, 2021 8:53 am

Micaela,

I am preparing and packing to leave for The Fall Tour in Manchester, TN early tomorrow morning so I don't have time to do a search. However I have a suggestion for you. In the "Model T Ford" by Bruce McCalley on page 515 through page 518 are the production figures for Model T's in 1918 listed by day. They can be compared to the previous year and later year. You could chose day by day or month by month totals to see if there is a drop off.

Best of luck,

Dom

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Re: Model T and the Spanish Flu Pandemic

Post by KWTownsend » Fri Oct 15, 2021 9:58 am

facebook_1605923060779_6735729517519635400.jpg
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mknox21
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Re: Model T and the Spanish Flu Pandemic

Post by mknox21 » Fri Oct 15, 2021 1:19 pm

Retro54
ford ledgers showing production numbers and /or board of director minutes from this time that may shed light onto the affects
Dom Denio
In the "Model T Ford" by Bruce McCalley on page 515 through page 518 are the production figures for Model T's in 1918 listed by day. They can be compared to the previous year and later year. You could chose day by day or month by month totals to see if there is a drop off.
Thank you for pointing me in a specific research direction! This is great information.
Micaela Knox
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Model T Museum
309 N 8th St, Richmond, IN 47374
mtfca.com/museum
facebook.com/ModelTMuseum
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Re: Model T and the Spanish Flu Pandemic

Post by kmatt2 » Fri Oct 15, 2021 1:40 pm

Remember that Ford's Model T production fell off mainly due to war time material's priorities making for shortages for car production. There was labor shortages due to the flu,
and war, but the material shortages was the major problem. A look at the 1919 production going back up while the flu continued will show this.

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