MTFCA Forum

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

1918 Spanish Flu with Model T Ford in the background. I am not sure the manufacturer of the Ambulance.

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.

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

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...

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!

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.

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

: ^ )

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.

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.