It was a mixture of history and humor as three of America’s first captains of industry addressed a crowd Monday evening at the Oxford Public Library.
Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and Harvey Firestone answered a whole laundry list of questions about their professional and personal lives as part of ‘The Way We Worked,? a Smithsonian Institute traveling exhibition at the library through Feb. 1.
Portraying these giants of American business in the early 20th century were Northville resident Russell Dor? (Edison), Clawson resident Rob Chrenko (Ford) and Livonia resident John Hall (Firestone). The interactive production was created and written by Dor?.
They transported the audience back to 1925 when these gentlemen were at the height of their wealth, power and influence.
Transporting the audience was no problem for Ford, who founded the Ford Motor Co. and developed the first automobile that was within the reach of many middle class Americans.
‘My goal has always been to offer reliable transportation at a price that everyone can afford ? and the key words there are ‘a Ford,?? he said.
In 1925, it was possible to get one of his Model T cars for under $300, Ford said.
Ford sold so many Model T cars that he actually financed one of his competitors.
Back in 1903, John and Horace Dodge invested $10,000 in the Ford Motor Company. When Ford bought them out in 1919, he paid the brothers $25 million.
‘Well, those sons of . . . Mrs. Dodge decided to use that money for their own automobile company,? Ford said.
Over the years, Edison, Ford and Firestone became famous for the camping trips they took together across the country.
Ford and Firestone enjoyed hiking and chopping firewood, but Edison, an inventor with more than 1,000 patents to his name, did not partake in such physical activities.
‘My philosophy is the sole purpose of the body is to support the brain and therefore, it shouldn’t be agitated,? said Edison, who created such things as the phonograph, the motion picture camera and projector, and the first commercially practical electric light.
Whenever the trio went camping, they didn’t exactly rough it.
Edison explained how a staff traveled with them to set up and tear down the camp, which included amenities such as electric lights and a battery-powered refrigerator. Ford’s executive chef even cooked them gourmet meals.
‘Under those circumstances, why would a man of my age not want to go camping?? Edison quipped.
Before they left, each of the iconic figures shared their opinion as to the most important characteristic a person can possess.
Ford highly admires enthusiasm.
‘With enthusiasm, you can do anything,? he said. ‘Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes rise to the stars. It’s the sparkle in your eye. It’s the swing in your gate. It’s the grip in your hand. Enthusiasts have fortitude. They get things done. Enthusiasm is at the bottom of all progress.?
For Firestone, founder of the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, loyalty is crucial, especially in business relationships like the one he has with Ford. Firestone has been providing tires for Ford’s cars from the beginning.
‘If you’re loyal to each other, to me, you will always be successful because you’re working as partners,? he said.
To Edison, it’s important for people to be both patient and persistent. As a prolific inventor, those traits served him well.
‘It takes a long time and a lot of hard work for these inventions to come to the point where they’re useful and patentable,? he said. ‘For instance, it took us over 10,000 tries to get the right filament for the electric lamp . . . Everything I try, every mistake I make, I say that’s progress . . . We’re one step closer to the right answer.?
‘I like to say that invention is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration,? Edison noted.