1899 to 1910 Ford and others labor statistics, State of Michigan Dept. of Labor

[Rob]

I thought these numbers interesting. Michigan Department of Labor conducted factory inspections and took a head count each year. Unfortunately they didn't provide a factory breakdown for 1902 and 03. The initial Ford Motor Co. numbers show a low number of employees at the Mack Avenue plant. This inspection occurred in the spring of 1904 (1899 shows Detroit's first automaker, Detroit Automobile Co., which Henry Ford was the plant superintendent and engineer, and I include it on the Ford line). I'll post the capacity numbers page below the spreadsheet. I intend to go back at some point and research the other carmakers (as of 1910) with significant production numbers.

If you look at Ford's total in 1907, you'll see an outlier. While Ford Motor Co. became the worlds largest automaker in terms of total production, the 1907 FMC numbers are lower than 1906 or 1908. I believe the reasons are at least twofold. The factory visit by the State of Michigan Dept. of Labor was made in the late fall to Piquette. This was the slow season, as well as the 1907 fall recession (bank recession) period as well. The other reason may be that Ford was transitioning Ford Manufacturing Co., relocating the equipment to Piquette, and moving Model K production to the former Ford Manufacturing plant.

Regardless, it appears to me Ford was dong "more with less," regarding number of employees.

[Rob]

From the same MI Labor Dept. reports, projected production for 1911.