Ford Launches Model T: Cars for Everyone
A car that cost $850 when it debuted in 1908 eventually dropped to $260 by the early 1920s, putting personal transportation within reach of factory workers and farmers for the first time. Henry Ford's Model T rolled off the line at the Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit using standardized parts and simplified assembly techniques that would evolve into the moving assembly line by 1913. Over 15 million units sold before production ended in 1927, and the car's influence extended far beyond roads. It spawned gas stations, motels, suburbs, and the commuter lifestyle. Rural Americans could finally reach hospitals and markets without depending on rail schedules. The Model T didn't just change how people drove. It changed where they lived.
October 1, 1908
118 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on October 1
Alexander the Great was outnumbered roughly five to one on a flat plain that Darius III had specifically leveled to give his chariots and cavalry every advantag…
Damasus I became pope on October 1, 366 after his supporters killed 137 followers of his rival Ursinus in a three-day street battle. Both men claimed election. …
During a siege, worshippers packed into the Blachernae church saw the Virgin Mary appear above them, holding her veil over the congregation. St. Andrew witnesse…
Edgar the Peaceable became king of all England in 959 at age 16, but he'd already been king of Mercia for two years. His brother had ruled the south and died my…
John XIII became pope on October 1, 965 after Emperor Otto I forced the Roman nobles to elect him. The nobles hated it. They kidnapped John three months later, …
Gerard de Ridefort fell in battle outside the walls of Acre, ending a contentious five-year tenure as Grandmaster of the Knights Templar. His death during the T…
Talk to History
Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.