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- Ford Reliability Tour at Ford Airport, Dearborn, Michigan, 1930 - From 1925-1931, Ford Motor Company sponsored annual air tours to promote reliability and safety in commercial aircraft. Pilots flew to pre-determined cities, and their airplanes were rated on the ability to take off and land quickly and maintain consistent speeds. The 1930 tour included 18 entries and visited 29 cities in the United States and Canada.
- September 27, 1930
- Collections - Artifact
Ford Reliability Tour at Ford Airport, Dearborn, Michigan, 1930
From 1925-1931, Ford Motor Company sponsored annual air tours to promote reliability and safety in commercial aircraft. Pilots flew to pre-determined cities, and their airplanes were rated on the ability to take off and land quickly and maintain consistent speeds. The 1930 tour included 18 entries and visited 29 cities in the United States and Canada.
- Photograph Album, 1951 Glidden Tour - The original Glidden Tours, sponsored by AAA from 1904-1913, promoted both automobiles and road improvements. AAA and the Veteran Motor Car Club of America revived the annual tours in 1946 for owners of vintage automobiles. This time, the focus was more on pleasure than promotion. Participants often dressed in period costume, and they staged impromptu car shows along the way.
- September 01, 1951
- Collections - Artifact
Photograph Album, 1951 Glidden Tour
The original Glidden Tours, sponsored by AAA from 1904-1913, promoted both automobiles and road improvements. AAA and the Veteran Motor Car Club of America revived the annual tours in 1946 for owners of vintage automobiles. This time, the focus was more on pleasure than promotion. Participants often dressed in period costume, and they staged impromptu car shows along the way.
- 1912 Stoddard-Dayton Touring Car - John and Charles Stoddard formed the Dayton Motor Car Company of Dayton, Ohio, in 1904. They offered a full line of cars by 1908. The company's big engines, like the four-cylinder unit in this 1912 model, had a sophisticated pressure lubrication system at a time when splash oiling was still common. Financial difficulties closed the company in 1913.
- 1912
- Collections - Artifact
1912 Stoddard-Dayton Touring Car
John and Charles Stoddard formed the Dayton Motor Car Company of Dayton, Ohio, in 1904. They offered a full line of cars by 1908. The company's big engines, like the four-cylinder unit in this 1912 model, had a sophisticated pressure lubrication system at a time when splash oiling was still common. Financial difficulties closed the company in 1913.
- 1904 Packard Model L Touring Car - James Ward Packard built his first car in Warren, Ohio, in 1899. By 1903 a group of Detroit investors had purchased the company and moved the operation to a new factory in Detroit. One of the first cars built there was the Model L touring car. It was the first four-cylinder Packard and the first with the tombstone-shaped radiator shell that became a Packard trademark.
- 1904
- Collections - Artifact
1904 Packard Model L Touring Car
James Ward Packard built his first car in Warren, Ohio, in 1899. By 1903 a group of Detroit investors had purchased the company and moved the operation to a new factory in Detroit. One of the first cars built there was the Model L touring car. It was the first four-cylinder Packard and the first with the tombstone-shaped radiator shell that became a Packard trademark.
- 1918 Overland Model 90 B Touring Car - Overland was one of the most successful early car companies. Founded in 1903, Overland had by 1912 become the second-bestselling American car behind Ford. This Model 90 Overland was more stylish, comfortable, and powerful than a Ford Model T, with a six-inch-longer wheelbase and 12 more horsepower. It also cost $345 more.
- 1918
- Collections - Artifact
1918 Overland Model 90 B Touring Car
Overland was one of the most successful early car companies. Founded in 1903, Overland had by 1912 become the second-bestselling American car behind Ford. This Model 90 Overland was more stylish, comfortable, and powerful than a Ford Model T, with a six-inch-longer wheelbase and 12 more horsepower. It also cost $345 more.
- Tourists Driving through Mariposa Grove, Yosemite Valley, California, circa 1905 - Paying customers could see some of Yosemite National Park's most famous features from the comfort of a seven-passenger Pierce-Arrow automobile. One highlight of taking this "Horseshoe Route" was a ride through the Wawona Tunnel Tree. The Giant Sequoia in Mariposa Grove was cut as a tourist attraction in 1881.
- circa 1905
- Collections - Artifact
Tourists Driving through Mariposa Grove, Yosemite Valley, California, circa 1905
Paying customers could see some of Yosemite National Park's most famous features from the comfort of a seven-passenger Pierce-Arrow automobile. One highlight of taking this "Horseshoe Route" was a ride through the Wawona Tunnel Tree. The Giant Sequoia in Mariposa Grove was cut as a tourist attraction in 1881.
- To Our Local Guests, October 15, 1929 - On October 21, 1929, Henry Ford hosted Light's Golden Jubilee, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of Thomas Edison's invention of a practical incandescent lamp. The event also served as the official dedication of The Edison Institute, Ford's museum complex named in honor of his friend. Local guests received a guidebook, badge, windshield sticker, and directions if they decided to drive to Greenfield Village.
- October 21, 1929
- Collections - Artifact
To Our Local Guests, October 15, 1929
On October 21, 1929, Henry Ford hosted Light's Golden Jubilee, which celebrated the 50th anniversary of Thomas Edison's invention of a practical incandescent lamp. The event also served as the official dedication of The Edison Institute, Ford's museum complex named in honor of his friend. Local guests received a guidebook, badge, windshield sticker, and directions if they decided to drive to Greenfield Village.
- Pilot Phoebe Omlie after Completing the Ford Reliability Air Tour, July 1928 - Phoebe Fairgrave Omlie started her aviation career as a barnstormer, then began flying in air races in the late 1920s. The first woman appointed to a federal aviation post, she served with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics from 1933-1936, and with the Civil Aeronautics Commission from 1941-1952. Omlie flew solo during the 1928 Ford Reliability Air Tour.
- July 28, 1928
- Collections - Artifact
Pilot Phoebe Omlie after Completing the Ford Reliability Air Tour, July 1928
Phoebe Fairgrave Omlie started her aviation career as a barnstormer, then began flying in air races in the late 1920s. The first woman appointed to a federal aviation post, she served with the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics from 1933-1936, and with the Civil Aeronautics Commission from 1941-1952. Omlie flew solo during the 1928 Ford Reliability Air Tour.
- Souvenir Brochure, "Souvenir of Your Trip through the Ford Rouge Plant," August 1939 - Ford Motor Company offered the first public tours of its Rouge plant in 1924. The popular tours stoked the fascination surrounding Henry Ford and his massive factory. Visitors gathered in the Ford Rotunda, where they viewed displays on the automaker's operations, and then boarded a glass-roofed bus for a trip through the 1,300-acre complex.
- August 01, 1939
- Collections - Artifact
Souvenir Brochure, "Souvenir of Your Trip through the Ford Rouge Plant," August 1939
Ford Motor Company offered the first public tours of its Rouge plant in 1924. The popular tours stoked the fascination surrounding Henry Ford and his massive factory. Visitors gathered in the Ford Rotunda, where they viewed displays on the automaker's operations, and then boarded a glass-roofed bus for a trip through the 1,300-acre complex.
- 1910 Buick Model 10 Toy Tonneau - Buick prospered under Billy Durant's leadership, and in 1908 it became the cornerstone of his General Motors empire. Buick's Model 10 competed with Ford's Model T. At around $1,000, the Model 10's price tag compared favorably with the $900 starting price for a Model T. Buick built 27,377 cars for 1910, second only to Ford's production of 34,070.
- 1910
- Collections - Artifact
1910 Buick Model 10 Toy Tonneau
Buick prospered under Billy Durant's leadership, and in 1908 it became the cornerstone of his General Motors empire. Buick's Model 10 competed with Ford's Model T. At around $1,000, the Model 10's price tag compared favorably with the $900 starting price for a Model T. Buick built 27,377 cars for 1910, second only to Ford's production of 34,070.