New Fords

Henry Ford and Edsel Ford last week relieved their major executives from denying further the manufacture of a new Ford motor car. Plans for the new car had been in process for several years. But in the U. S. motor industry it is considered unpolitic for a manufacturer to say that he will do this or that. When he can produce, he talks. Until then his employes bravely defend his secrets.

Only a few-weeks ago Journalist Samuel Crowther (an official Ford biographer) said that no changes from the present Model T Ford were contemplated.

A fortnight ago Editor William J. Cameron of the Ford Dearborn Independent made similar denial.

Last week Henry Ford himself said: "We began work on this new model several years ago. . . . At present I can say only this about the new model--it has speed, style, flexibility and control in traffic. There is nothing quite like it in quality and price. The new car will cost more to manufacture, but it will be more economical to operate."

He will continue to make parts for the present model Ford, of which he estimates 10,000,000 are in operation.

Besides being thus frank last week, Mr. Ford, hale again after his motor car accident two months ago (TIME, April 11), went with his son Edsel to the Ford assembling plant; watched the 15,000,000th Ford car being completed. Father and son mounted to the seat, Edsel at the wheel, and drove to the Ford museum. There Mr. Ford took the driver's seat of the first motor car that he ever manufactured, a two-cylinder contraption that he made and sold in 1903. He tinkled the doorbell that served Ford Car No. 1 as signal, and he and Edsel were off in their separate vehicles for a brief tour of the museum neighborhood.