Rehabilitating the reputation of a pre-T, this road begins with K and leads to B.

[Rob]

"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Caesar, not to praise him.
The evil that men do lives after them;
The good is oft interred with their bones;
So let it be with Caesar. The noble Brutus
hath told you Caesar was ambitious:
If it were so, it was a grievous fault,
And grievously hath Caesar answer’d it.
Here, under leave of Brutus and the rest–
For Brutus is an honourable man;"
"from Julius Caesar, spoken by Marc Antony"

I am here to praise the Model B. Many Ford historians suggest the B, as will as the Model K, were failures, models that Henry Ford disliked (some go so far as to write "hated"). That both cars were mechanically subpar, and failures in the marketplace.

Years ago, several early Ford enthusiasts, including my late friend Tim Kelly (RIP), took it upon ourselves to disprove this idea. For anyone who read (suffered through) those many threads, we presented information about the competitiveness of the Model K, the records the model set (24 hour world record, 1907), races and hill climbs it won, and number sold (#1 six cylinder in terms of sales, in the world in 1906 and 1907). For this thread, I think I'll start where we had a breakthrough (in my opinion) with the Model K. In other words, I'll "show you the money."

In 1906, Ford Motor Co., embarked on a significant model change. First, the six cylinder Model K was introduced. This was a high end, high powered six cylinder car, one of the first production six cylinder cars made in America. It also featured Ford traits of high horsepower to weight ratio, lowest price in it's class, and high production (in comparison to cars in it's class). Ford also introduced the revolutionary lightweight, inexpensive four cylinder Model N, precursor to the iconic Model T that would follow and put the world on wheels.

At this time, Ford was leaving behind his two cylinder chain drive models, C and F, as well as his first production four cylinder, three point enclosed drive Model B.

This may be where things become murky. I believe many early Ford enthusiasts consider models C and F successes, and Model B less so.

But, back to "show me the money." Let's begin with the independent audit of Ford Motor Co. for Fiscal Year 1906 (Oct 1,1905 - Sep 30, 1906). At the time, just as with models B, C and F, the model year coincided with the FY (Fiscal Year). While

[TXGOAT2]

I think the main thing that limited the early 4 and 6 cylinder-cylinder Ford cars was the fact that Ford (and others) could not build cars as fast as the market, especially the "light car" market, was growing. Ford & Co. was the first to effectively solve that problem. Ford & Co's very early success proceeded from the excellence of Ford & Company's products as compared to the competition, his early recognition of the vast potential market for low priced, functional, dependable cars, and the various effective measures taken to increase production of appealing, low priced cars while maintaining quality. Ford recognized that the luxury car trade would always be limited, and wisely targeted his product and facilities toward meeting the wants and needs of the millions. Olds could have done it, but didn't. Ford did it. The absence of an "income tax" also facilitated the rise of Ford and other auto makers.

[Rob]

Pat, I agree wholeheartedly. Initially in late 1907 Henry Ford announced he would built both the Model T, as well as a "light six" touring car (a prototype motor in a Model N exists today). I believe FMC realized the new Model T met all needs, in all chassis configurations, so why attempt to tool up and build multiple chassis? Instead, build one chassis, and place body styles on to meet market needs.

I digress. I didn't mean for this thread to publish yet, but evidently "launched it" when I left to put more research together.

Soldiering on..........

Show me the money........

For fiscal year 1906, we don't have every months records of sales and profit, but fortunately, we have March through September. That covers the first Model K and first Model N (April and July) through the end of the FY. Model K sold 301 cars, while the N, due in part to production delays, sold 712. As a result, we know the total profits experienced by FMC for all models sold (includes models C, F and B too) for 1906 totaled $120,093. The major portion of the profits (this is net profit, keeping the company in the black) were provided by Model K, at $102.314. The Model K produced over 85% of FMC's new car profits for fiscal year 1906!

I decided to attempt to learn how the Model B did financially for 1905. The question i had was, would it be remotely similar to the surprising performance of the Model K, or would the B in fact be a financial failure or also ran for the company?

[TXGOAT2]

Economic conditions probably affected car sales. The "Panic of 1908" was very disruptive.

[TrentB]

I think you mean “The Panic of 1907”.

The United States economy began to weaken during the summer of 1907, and a full-fledged financial crisis occurred during October 1907. This was an especially sharp downturn in the economy, particularly in the fledgling automobile industry. Ford sales of Model N and the newly launched Model S Runabout slowed significantly after August of 1907. Although the financial crisis ended by November, Ford accounting records show that Ford incurred financial losses for November, December 1907 and January 1908. However sales recovered quickly in the spring of 1908, and the newly introduced Model S Roadster sold became the second best selling Ford automobile until the Model T.

Major economic events produce echos that carry into the future. Prior to 1907, economic downturns were referred to as “Panics” because they were usually accompanied by financial crises in the banking sector. After the Panic of 1907, the term “Panic” was retired and the euphemism “Depression” substituted in its place. After World War II, the word “Recession” was substituted for “Depression”.

Equally significantly, the “Panic of 1907” finally led the United States to give up its policy of not having a central bank. A nation’s central bank’s principal functions include, but are not limited to, serving as a “bankers banks” and a “lender of last resort”, both of which are intended to provide liquidity to the banking system during periods of financial crisis. In the wake of the Panic of 1907 Congress passed The Federal Reserve Act in 1913 which established The Federal Reserve System, the United States’ central bank.

Respectfully Submitted,

Trent Boggess

[TXGOAT2]

Central banks seem to provide inflation.

[Rob]

Trent,
Thank you for the background information. As I research our early cars, it's always good to attempt to put the events of the day into context. I'll attempt to get back on track on this thread. As I mentioned earlier, the initial post really wasn't ready, and I must have inadvertently "sent" it before I was ready.
Cheers,
Rob

[TXGOAT2]

Murray Fahnstock suggested that Henry Ford was sour on six cylinder engines due to inherent flaws in the inline six configuration. However, that was in his book extolling the virtues of the 1928-'31 Model A, and was probably aimed more at swaying potential Chevrolet buyers (post-1929) toward Ford's four cylinder Model A than at reporting any actual disdain on Ford's part toward sixes. According to my scanty knowledge of Ford's pre-Model T activities, he had good success with building, selling, and racing six cylinder cars, and around 1940, Ford Motor Co. designed and marketed an excellent six cylinder engine. Henry still ran the company in those days, and the six sold well and remained in production through 1951. Ford's affinity for the inline four cylinder in a "light" car was well-justified, and the configuration is still popular today. It's unfortunate that Ford did not incorporate a counterweighted crankshaft in the Model A, but that was probably related to Hudson patents on the design.

[Wayne Sheldon]

Rob,
Your inadvertent unfinished post may have been the result of "automatic updates" we are forced to accept on our computers these days. While one used to have to click a mouse and icon for a posting to take place, now the mouse and cursor have free reign to perform functions under "hover" or "pause" modes without your permission!
As a "used to was an engineer", one with no degree on the wall, but well trained by actual engineers to do the work of a real engineer? I can tell you that no good real engineer forty years ago would have considered the current state of engineering to be proper in any way, shape, or form. We had a sort of a code, I mention this often on several forums. We were designing and building things to WORK, to be as SAFE as reasonably possible, to LAST for a reasonable amount of time, and to be USABLE BY NORMAL EVERYDAY PEOPLE! NOT just engineers.
Today, I am told that my "issues" with my computer are MY FAULT for not keeping up with all the changes I don't get told about or give my permission for.
"Engineers" today are really gamers, and I am tired of being their asteroid.

When I am working on a post? I am sick and tired of dodging the minefield trying to find a safe place to park the cursor so that the "hover" or "pause" or "swipe" modes of activating functions NOT yet desired don't activate themselves!

My apologies for my rant. Really just wanted to offer an explanation for the odd post. Let us all leave that alone now, and move on back to the much more interesting research (I have been looking forward to this!) into early Ford history and the real truth about Henry and those "hated" expensive cars!

[Rob]

Thanks Wayne. I was really at a loss. Sometimes I’ve “lost” a post I was working on and left, but never had one post without my knowledge. Imagine my surprise when I saw someone had posted a thread with the same title as the one I thought was in suspense….

[hull 433]

Looking forward to revelations with the B.

[Rob]

I was tied up with a few things today. I’ll put up a few “B” pics, and get back “on track” tomorrow.


This first “B” is an early running board style. Running boards appeared shortly after Jan 1, 1905 (about 50-60 B were built/sold prior to Jan 1, 1905). The first B with running boards I’ve seen in photos was at the NY auto show in mid January 1905. This car still has the early straight front cross member and early straight side radiator:

Another early running board B with early radiator and straight crossmember:

Mrs C. H. Wills driving the only runabout B I’ve seen. This may be the prototype B used to demonstrate the B for Cycle and Automobile magazine in September, 1904. That B had only one step plate for a front seat and no body.

0A67FC8D-0C60-4E7D-B6A7-1F621DD012AB.jpeg (75.08 KiB) Viewed 2783 times

This is a later 1905 B, with curved front crossmember, curved sides radiator and running boards:

Early step plate B. Straight crossmember and early radiator:

[Rich Eagle]

Those are great photos of a great Model. There seem to be good photos of restored ones and nice old photographs when they were fairly new. I would love to see some photographs of "as found" Model Bs with distressed paint and upholstery. Does anyone know if there are any like that.
It could make a great painting.
Thanks
Rich

[Rob]

Richard,
Unfortunately, I don't have photos of Model B that have languished prior to being restored. I know B #1, Porter Collection, now on display at Piquette, has photos of it lying in "repose" in several locations on a farm in Missouri. However, the pieces may be enough to interest you for painting. I believe they may be online, otherwise, I believe Tim M., who often posts, has copies of some of those black and white pics.

I'll get back my "B" research today. Trent B., or others may have other opinions, and certainly more relavent information, but I'll try to show what I believe B and it's companion 1905 models, C and F, generated for income to Ford Motor Co..
cheers,
Rob

[Rob]

Richard,
My mistake. I believe this is our car when it was located and moved in the mid 1960's. Sorry I don't have another shot of it (preferably from the front):

[KimDobbins]

Rob, that photo was taken when your car was delivered to me.

[Rich Eagle]

Wow! That's a good start. Thanks.
I would be grateful if anything else shows up.
Kim, would you have any objections if I worked from that photo?
Rich

[MWalker]

Even that rear view of the car has plenty of interesting things going on.