Much has been written about the Ford Motor Company, and in particular about its establishment in 1903. A number of excellent books are available and are well worth reading by anyone interested in an in-depth study of the subject.

 

Yet, in spite of the wealth of information, we find few Ford enthusiasts who are aware of the interesting beginnings of the manufacturer of their favorite car. Almost universally we hear "Henry Ford founded the company in 1903," or "it was Henry Ford's efforts alone that pushed the company ahead, in spite of the many obstacles in his path." There are many more similar "old-wives’ tales" but the fact remains that very few have heard anything at all about the fascinating early history of the Ford Motor Company.

 

All that has been written has been the result of considerable research, plus a good deal of educated guessing by the many authors. The early days of the Ford Motor Company were no different than they were for the most of us when it comes to detailing the story of our lives. We all go about our daily business without writing things down as they occur. Given the opportunity of reminiscing, we all tend to add and subtracts bits of information as our minds attempt the recreation of a past event. The authors who produced the histories for today's readers have done the same; they have taken the facts they could find and added a bit of "this is probably what took place" to pull the facts together. In addition, some authors have a different viewpoint from others, and the written results reflect their particular views.

 

In the story presented here we have used bits and pieces of information from the listed sources, as well as a few more we have collected over the years. In no way do we suggest that "this is the true story" and that all others are suspect. Far from it; we will just add our conjecture to the collection. The story presented is believed to be as accurate as is possible….....as seen from a vantage point of almost a hundred years after the fact. Where this story might differ from another, it is just our interpretation of the data compared with that of someone else.

Let us first take a look at some of the commonly believed "facts":

• Henry Ford formed the Ford Motor Company, with some help from others.

• Ford pioneered with the first low-priced car for the masses.

• Ford manufactured all of his cars in his own plant.

• Ford alone designed his early cars.

• It was Henry Ford who invested great sums of money to form the company.

There are many more but these will do for a start. Are these statements true? No, they are not..

Prior to 1903 Ford spent much time in developing cars of his own design. His first car, built in his home coal shed, and first driven on about June 1896 (there are conflicting dates on this event) marked the culmination of several years of experiments. During this period, Ford was employed by the Edison Illuminating Company in Detroit as Chief Engineer. He had other jobs as well, but the job with Edison was the most significant.

 

On August 15, 1899, he left Edison to join the Detroit Automobile Company, a newly-formed organization which had been set up to manufacture an automobile based on Henry Ford's designs. The accepted story is that Ford's inability to settle on a fixed design for his car caused the backers to lose interest; the operation disbanded. The company folded in late 1900 and formally ended its operations on February 1, 1901.

 

With the demise of the Detroit Automobile Company, several of the backers, still having faith in Henry Ford's ideas, again supported him for the development of his car.³ By this time Henry Ford had met another mechanically inclined enthusiast, a man named Childe Harold Wills. Wills apparently was not too fond of his first name, using either C. Harold, or C. H. Wills. Wills shared Ford's enthusiasm, and this pair, with the help of others, began to build a race car. Ford apparently had become convinced that the builder of a winning race car would have little trouble finding backers for future automobile manufacturing efforts.

 

The racer was built. It had two cylinders, horizontally opposed, of seven inches bore and stroke. This racer was entered in a race at Grosse Pointe, Michigan, against Alexander Winton on October 10, 1901. Ford won the race.

 

This success encouraged Ford's backers to establish the Henry Ford Company, filing the papers on November 30, 1901. There were six investors involved in this company. Henry Ford was one of the six but contributed no money. The other five⁴ invested $30,500. While these five men may have had grand ideas of future riches, Henry Ford did not, apparently. Rather than getting on with the finalization of his proposed automobile, he continued working on race cars  -  the results of which (later) were the famed "999" and the "Arrow."

After just four months, the Henry Ford Company found its namesake had resigned, or had been forced out. Whatever  -  Ford left the firm on March 10, 1902. He took the rights to his name, as well as his tools and other items with him. The five investors brought in Henry Leland (actually Leland had joined the company before Ford's departure), reorganized the operation, and the company became known as the Cadillac Automobile Company. (The same "Cadillac" that exists to this day.)

 

Henry Ford moved his material and tools to another location and resumed work on the 999 and Arrow racers. He, Wills, Ed "Spider" Huff, and Oliver Barthel, worked on the projects; no doubt there were others as well. Neither Henry Ford, nor any of the others, had any real money but they found a source of funds in a race driver named Tom Cooper. Cooper made them a deal; he would put up the cash but he would be the owner of one of the cars when they were completed.

 

The two cars were completed by summertime but neither Ford nor Cooper seemed interested in entering the cars in any races. They did run them in demonstrations against the clock but it was not until Cooper brought in Barney Oldfield that a real race was tried. The race was scheduled for October 15, 1902, almost a year after Ford's first race. Oldfield won by over a lap in the five mile event, setting a new American record. The race was for five miles on a one-third mile track. Oldfield's time was 5:28 for a new American record  -  just under sixty miles per hour average! He and Ford became relatively famous; certainly the name Barney Oldfield was to become the very symbol of speed for years to come.

It was at about this time that Ford and a man with the name of Alexander Malcomson joined forces. They had probably known each other for several years; Ford had purchased coal from Malcomson's firm while he, Ford, was chief engineer at Edison, and had continued to do so for his home. Alexander Malcomson was one of the largest coal dealers in Detroit. Using the slogan, "Hotter than Sunshine," he had specialized in quick delivery, using many smaller horse-drawn wagons instead of a few large ones. He apparently had several branches and even owned, or had interest in, a coal field in West Virginia, and a plant in Toledo, Ohio.

 

Malcomson had become interested in the automobile, not as a mechanic, but as a new and additional business endeavor. He had become interested in Henry Ford's efforts and as a result the two formed a partnership. The partnership agreement was drawn up in the law offices of Horace H. Rackham and John W. Anderson, Malcomson's attorneys, on August 16, 1902, and signed on August 20. Malcomson agreed to invest $3,000 towards the development of Ford's car, and began with a payment of $500. The $3,000 grew to about $7,000 during the next six or more months; no doubt a good part of it going into the two race cars.

 

The success of the 999 in October apparently added fire to Malcomson's enthusiasm because he not only made money a bit more available to Ford but he and Ford also formed a business under the name of Ford and Malcomson Company, Ltd. The business was set up with a capital stock of $150,000, divided into 15,000 shares at $100 per share. The two partners took 6,900 shares for their efforts to date, and in addition agreed to invest an additional $3,500. The plan was to now sell the remaining shares to outsiders. The company's bank account was established in the name of James Couzens, Malcomson's business manager. Malcomson was already heavily in debt and apparently did not want his bankers to know of this new adventure.

People were not standing in line in those days with cash in hand to invest in automobiles or their manufacture. Many new firms started and failed in those early days, and investment was generally considered a bad idea. This must have been Malcomson's discovery when he began trying to sell his company's stock.

 

Ford, of course, during this period was working on the two racers and on the proposed production car. Typical of Ford, though, the design never satisfied him and changes were being constantly made  -  at Malcomson's expense.

 

While Ford was working on the car, a number of other items needed attention. The new company would need a building in which the cars could be assembled, parts stored, and so forth. Outside suppliers for items such as bodies, tires, and most important, the running gear must be found.

 

In December of 1902, Malcomson had purchased a small coal business, on the property of which was a cabinet shop owned by Albert Strelow. Strelow was one of the larger building contractors in the city of Detroit at the time; the story being that he had the only equipment in the area necessary to build a building more than two stories high. Strelow, too, had met Ford earlier but the story goes that he was not impressed at the time. One item seems to come through, though; Albert Strelow was not particularly interested in automobiles, or their manufacture. In any event, the Strelow shop looked like an ideal spot for the new automobile plant. It was located on Mack Avenue next to a railroad line.

 

After a sales pitch and perhaps a little pressure, Strelow agreed to rent the building and to remodel it to make it more suitable for automobile assembly. Ford and Malcomson agreed to rent the place for $75 a month for three years. Ford moved into the new plant on April 1, 1903.

 

During this same period, the new company approached the two Dodge brothers, John F. and Horace E. The Dodges were quite successful machinists and among other things were producing engines and parts for Oldsmobile. The Dodges were quite impressed with Ford's design (Ford had developed a two-cylinder, horizontally-opposed engine while the Oldsmobile and most other cars in the price range were one-cylinder) and ultimately agreed to supply 650 complete chassis (less bodies, tires and wheels) at $250 each. An agreement was signed on February 28, 1903 in which Ford and Malcomson were to pay $5,000 on March 15 if the Dodges could show they had invested that much in tools and equipment for the Ford car. Another $5,000 was to be paid when the investment had reached $10,000, and so on. After deliveries had begun, payments were to be made twice a month. The agreement also said that if the new company should fail, all tools and product would become the property of Dodge Brothers.

 

Around February 1903, a man named Charles H. Bennett came into town intent on buying a new Oldsmobile. Bennett was the president of the Plymouth Iron Windmill Company, whose principal product was now not windmills, but air rifles  -  Daisy air rifles! He had stopped in at his tailor's shop and during the conversations he mentioned his interest in a new car. In the shop at the same time was a cousin of Malcomson and on hearing parts of the conversation he suggested Bennett look into the new automobile to be produced by Ford. Ford was summoned and arrived with a working sample of his new car. Bennett was impressed enough to hold off his purchase of the Oldsmobile in favor of the new car.

 

In fact he was so impressed with the new car he became interested in joining the venture. While he did not have the kind of money it would take to begin manufacturing, the Plymouth Iron Windmill Company did have. Apparently his associates in the business were not so impressed, or perhaps other interests in the windmill company had misgivings - or it is possible both were interested but the company couldn't afford it - whatever - the deal fell through. Bennett did not lose interest, though, and joined the venture himself. (In later years one writer suggested that had the deal worked out they might have given away a Daisy rifle with each Ford; and later, a Ford with each rifle.) (Or we could have been driving Model T Daisys today!)

Production had begun at the Dodge plant, and the Ford shop was ready for operations. Malcomson, no doubt with the aid of James Couzens, began looking for funds. The total number of persons and firms approached is unknown but the following did have enough interest to agree to invest in the venture.

 

The Ten New Stockholders

John S. Gray

 

Horace H. Rackham, Malcomson's attorney. Rackham had drawn up the Dodge agreement in February, and now agreed to invest $5,000.

 

John W. Anderson, Rackham's partner. Anderson borrowed $5,000 from his father, another doctor. The letter in which he asks for the loan is printed below and is well worth the reading.

 

Vernon C. Fry. Fry was Malcomson's cousin. He agreed to buy fifty shares, making a down payment of $3,000 on June 26, 1903.

 

Charles J. Woodall

 

Charles H. Bennett. While the Plymouth Iron Windmill Company would not or could not invest, he committed himself to fifty shares, using his own money. He made his first payment of $2,500 on March 24, 1904, apparently out of his dividends from the Ford Motor Company.

 

John and Horace Dodge each agreed to take fifty shares.

 

James Couzens. Malcomson's secretary, Couzens was perhaps the man most responsible for the success of the Ford Motor Company in its early years. Couzens had become quite enthusiastic about the new venture but had only been able to save $400 up to that time. In seeking additional funds he went to his sister, Rosetta, a school teacher, who consented to help with $100. Malcomson also had promised him a bonus and he received $500 from this - a total of $1,000.

 

Albert Strelow. Strelow was the owner of the Ford "factory" building. Apparently quite skeptical about the deal, he seemingly was pressured by Malcomson into investing $5,000.

 

These ten men met with Malcomson and Ford on June 13, 1903 at Malcomson's office and agreed to form the new company, taking the name of the Ford Motor Company, apparently after Malcomson's suggestion. Gray offered his $10,000 and the $500 from Dr. Zumstein but the story goes that there was some superstition about thirteen stockholders and the doctor's offer was declined. Gray then raised his contribution to cover the $500, paying $10,500 for 105 shares.

Rackham agreed to pay $3,500 (and did so on the 26th of June), and gave a note for an additional $1,500. He paid the note in three installments: $800 on January 28, 1904; $200 on February 5, 1904; and $500 in July of the same year.

 

Anderson signed up for $5,000, which he paid on June 26, 1903.

 

Vernon Fry paid $3,000 on the 26th of June and gave a note for $2,000 which he paid in two installments: $1,000 in December 1903, and $1,000 in January 1904.

Albert ow, still apparently not too sure, gave his pledge but did not invest any money until July 11, at which time he paid $5,000.

Charles Bennett gave a note for $5,000. Playing it cool, he paid for his shares out of the profits; paying $2,500 on March 24, 1904, and $2,500 on June 22, 1904.

Couzens put in his $1,000, of which $100 was for his sister, Rosetta. He also gave a note for $1,500 and paid this out of his profits on July 31, 1904.

The two Dodges gave notes for $5,000 each. They, of course, had invested heavily in equipment and material and were the principal recipients of the company's money at the time. Their notes were paid on January 28, 1904.

 

Woodall gave a note for ten shares and paid this off on September 17, 1903.

Ford and Malcomson agreed to turn over the assets of the Ford and Malcomson Company in exchange for 255 shares each in the new company. Neither contributed any new money to the venture. Malcomson, of course, had supplied most of the cash to get the Ford automobile up to the production stage, including payments to the Dodge brothers under the terms of their contract. Some of this money he retrieved from the funds of the new company.

 

At this meeting they selected John S. Gray to be the president, Ford as vice-president, Malcomson as treasurer, and James Couzens as secretary.

The Ford Motor Company was officially established on June 16, 1903, with a capital stock of $100,000, at $100 per share. Of this, only $28,000 in cash was paid in initially.

It apparently had been Malcomson's intention to devote his full time to the Ford Motor Company, leaving Couzens in charge of the coal business. Perhaps Gray refused to go along with this because of his concern about Malcomson's debts to the bank, but in any event, Couzens made the move, becoming in effect the secretary-treasurer, and Malcomson went back to the coal business.

Gray, still president of the bank, went back to his profession, leaving Ford as the effective president of the Ford Motor Company. Of the twelve stockholders, only Ford and Couzens were to take an active part in the company. The Dodges, of course, would be working indirectly for the company - profiting not only from Ford, but also from their own business as supplier of Ford chassis.

Beginning with a fund of just $28,000, the roller coaster ride to riches began. It was rough at first. By July 11, 1903, the cash on hand had dropped to just $223.65. It was on that date that Albert Strelow made his first payment of $5,000, preventing perhaps the fastest bankruptcy of all time. On July 15, a Dr. E. Pfennig paid $850 cash for the first Ford automobile to be sold (but not the first one delivered to a customer). From here it was all uphill. By August 20 there was $23,060.67 in the Ford bank account.

 

In October Couzens issued a dividend of two percent. In November, another ten percent. In January, 1904, still another dividend of twenty percent. On June 16, 1904, on the first anniversary of the Ford Motor Company, a dividend of sixty-eight percent was declared  -  a total of $100,000 in dividends in the first year!

 

The early Fords were not particularly good cars. They had a number of faults such as a tendency to overheat, even on level roads. Henry Ford was aware of the problems and apparently was not in favor of selling the cars until they were "perfected." Couzens, on the other hand, knew that the cars must be sold if the company was to survive. "Make the sale and fix them later" was his decision. Had it not been for James Couzens, Henry Ford might have pushed the company over the brink as he had apparently done twice before. Ford was the engineer, and Couzens was the sales manager; the sales manager, fortunately, prevailed.

 

In retrospect, the Ford cars were no worse than a number of others at the time. All automobiles in those days were expected to give trouble. Improvements were made all the time and within just a few years the Ford Motor Company was one of the largest in the country.

 

And profitable! For those who held on to their stock it was a bonanza. Couzens' sister, for example, received $95,000 in dividends and then sold her single share to Ford in 1919 for $260,000. Not bad for an investment of just $100.

 

Thus we set the stage for the evolution of the Model T Ford. The Model T, of course, was not the first Ford automobile, but it was the most significant. The first Ford Motor Company product was the Model A (not to be confused with the Model A of 1928-31), followed by an alphabetical series during the first five years of the company's existence. There are a number of gaps in the alphabetical series; there seems to be no evidence of Models D, G, H, I, J, L, M, O, P, and Q. These designations may have represented experimental models but apparently there is no real evidence that any ever existed.

 

John Anderson's Letter

 

The following is a reproduction of John Anderson's letter to his father, in which he outlines the structure of the newly-formed Ford Motor Company, and its proposed car. Dad was apparently convinced, and furnished the money.

Detroit, June 4, 1903

Dear Father:
Horace and I have an opportunity to make an investment that is of such character that I cannot refrain from laying the details before you for consideration.

He then turned his attention to the designing and patenting of an entirely new machine. Mr. Malcomson, the coal man, backed him with money and the result is they have now perfected and are about to place on the market an automobile (gasoline) that is far and away ahead of anything that has yet come out. He has had applications taken out on every new point he has designed and has just received word of 17 of them have been allowed, everyone of which are incorporated in the machine and, of course, cannot be duplicated in any other.

 

Having perfected the machine in all its parts, and demonstrated to their complete satisfaction and to the satisfaction of automobile experts, and cycle journal representatives from all over the country who came here to inspect it that it was superior to anything that had been designed in the way of an automobile, and that it was a sure winner, the next problem was how to best and most economically place it on the market. After canvassing the matter thoroughly, instead of forming a company with big capital, erecting a factory and installing an expensive plant of machinery to manufacture it themselves, they determined to enter into contracts with various concerns to supply the different parts and simply do the assembling themselves.es.

So they entered into contract with the Dodge Bros. here to manufacture the automobile complete - less wheels and bodies - for $250 apiece, or $162,500.00 for the 650 machines, which were to be delivered at the rate of 10 per day, commencing July 1st if possible, and all by Oct. 1st. I drew the contract, so know all about it.

 

Now, in order to comply with this contract, which was made last Oct., Dodge Bros. had to decline all outside orders and devote the entire resources of their machine shop to the turning out of these automobiles. They were only paid $10,000 on account, and had to take all the rest of the risk themselves. They had to borrow $40,000, place orders for castings all over the country, pay their men from last October (they have a large force) and do everything necessary to manufacture all the machines before they could hope to get a cent back. I go into this fully, so that you may understand the faith that these experts and successful machinists have in the machine itself, in staking their whole business, practically, on the outcome, because under the contract if Mr. F. and Mr. M. did not pay for them, Dodge Bros. were to have the machines in lieu of the money  -  thus making the risk entirely theirs.

 

In addition to this, contracts for the remaining parts of the automobile - the bodies, seat cushions, wheels and tires - were made so that they are supplied as wanted. The bodies and cushions, by the C.R. Wilson carriage Co. at $52 apiece and $16 apiece respectively. The wheels by a Lansing, Mich. firm at $26. per set (4 wheels). The tires by the Hartford Rubber Co. at $46.00 per set (4 wheels).

 

They found a man from whom Mr. M. rents a coal yard on the belt-line R.R., with a spur track running into it. He agreed to erect a building, designed by Mr. Ford for their special use, for assembling purposes (which will cost between 3 & 4 thousand dollars) and rent it for three yrs. to Mr. F. and Mr. M. at $75. per month. This building has been all completed and is a dandy. I went through it today. It is large, light and airy, about 250 feet long by fifty ft. wide, fitted up with machinery necessary to be used incidental to assembling the parts, and all ready for business. To this assembling plant are shipped the bodies, wheels, tires, and the machine from Dodge Bros., and here the workmen, ten to a dozen boys at $1.50 a day, and a foreman fit the bodies on the machine, put the cushions in place, put the tires on the wheels, the wheels on the machine and paint it and test it to see that it runs "o.k.," and is all ready for delivery. Now this is all there is to the whole proposition.

 

Now, as to the investment feature. You will see there is absolutely no money, to speak of, tied up in a big factory. There is the $75 a month rent for 3 years, and the few machines necessary in the assembling factory. All the rest is done outside and supplied as ordered, and this of course is a big savings in capital outlay to start with.

 

The machines sell for $750., without a tonneau. With a tonneau, $850. This is the price for all medium priced machines and is standard. It is what the Cadillac and Great Northern sell for here, and what other machines elsewhere sell for. Now the cost, figured on the most liberal possible estimate, is as follows:

 

Machineine 250.00 Fixed by contract Body 50.00 Fixed by contract Wheels 26.00 Fixed by contract Upholstering 16.00 Fixed by contract Tires 40.00 (all these fixed by contract) Cost of assembling 20.00 This includes wages, rent, insurance and all incidentals at factory Cost of selling 150.00 This includes advertising, all salaries, commissions, etc. 20% on each (It will be nearer 10 or 12%.) Total cost 554.00 Cost of tonneau 50.00   604.00 Selling price, with tonneau 850.00 Without tonneau 750.00 Cost price 604.00   554.00 (Difference) 246.00   196.00 Throwing off $46 (For any possible extra contingency) 46.00   46.00 Profit 200.00   $150.00

 

On the seasons output of 650 machines it means a profit of $97,000, without a tonneau, and more in proportion to those sold with tonneau, and of course the latter is almost always bought, as it adds so much to the capacity of [the] vehicle.

 

Now, the demand of automobiles is a perfect craze. Every factory here, (there are 3, including the "Olds" - the largest in this country - and you know Detroit is the largest automobile in the U.S.) [sic] has its entire output sold and cannot begin to fill its orders. Mr. M. has already begun to be deluged with orders, although not a machine has been put on the market and will not until July 1st. Buyers have heard of it and go out to Dodge Bros. and inspect it, test it and give their orders. One dealer from Buffalo was here last week and ordered twenty-five; three were ordered today, and other orders have begun to come in every day, so there is not the slightest doubt as to the market or the demand. And it is all spot cash on delivery, and no guarantee or string attached of any kind.

 

Mr. Malcomson has instructed us to draw up articles of incorporation for a $100,000.00 limited liability company, of which he and Mr. Ford will take at least $51,000.00 (controlling interest) and the balance he is going to distribute among a few of his friends and business associates, and is anxious that Horace and myself go in with him. Mr. Couzens, whom Spencer met, is going to leave the coal business, for the present at least, and devote his entire time to the office end and management of the automobile business - and he is a crackerjack. He is going to invest, as he expresses it, "all the money he can beg, borrow or steal" in stock. Mr. Dodge, of Dodge Bros., is going to take 5 or 10 thousand, and two or three others, like amounts. Horace is going to put in all he can raise, and I want to do the same if I can, because I honestly believe it is a wonderful opportunity, and a chance not likely to occur again. Mr. M. is successful in everything he does, is such a good business man and hustler, and his ability in this direction, coupled with Mr. Ford's inventive and mechanical genius, and Mr. Couzens' office ability, together with fixed contracts which absolutely show what the cost will be, and orders already commencing to pour in, showing the demand that exists, makes it one of the very most promising and surest industrial investments that could be made. At a conservative estimate the profits will be 50%, with a good sinking fund in addition. The machines are turned into money as fast as delivered and indicate a return on the whole original investment practically by Winter, if nothing were turned into the surplus account. It is a well known fact that the Oldsmobile Works, with a capital of $500,000, cleared up a million dollars last year and are now preparing plans to double their capacity for next year, which indicates, as strong as anything can, what the demand is throughout the country.

 

I went over the Dodge Bros. plant and the assembling rooms today, and even into the room where the half dozen draughsmen are kept under lock and key, (all the plans, drawings and specifications are secret you know) making drawings and blue-prints of every part, even to the individual screws, and was amazed at what has been accomplished since last October. Not another Automobile Co. has started and got its product on the market inside of three years before this.

 

More on the Original Investors

 

Alexander Y. Malcomson. The real founder of the Ford Motor Company. He and Henry Ford each took 255 shares in June 1903 in exchange for their interest in the Ford and Malcomson Company. Neither contributed any cash to the Ford Motor Company. Malcomson took no active part in the management of the company. He was later forced out in 1906, and sold his 255 shares to Ford on July 12, 1906 for $175,000.

 

Albert Strelow.  

John F. and Horace E. Dodge. The two Dodge brothers gave notes for $5,000 each, for fifty shares each. The notes were paid on January 28, 1904. The Dodges were the major suppliers of Ford chassis and parts (except for bodies, tires and wheels) until about 1913 when they brought out their own automobile. Ford purchased the Dodge Brothers stock in 1919 for twenty-five million dollars.

 

John S. Gray. The man with the greatest financial investment in the Ford Motor Company. He purchased 105 shares for $10,500 in June 1903. Malcomson guaranteed Gray's money, assuring Gray that he would give him his $10,500 back in a year if he wanted out. Gray died on July 6, 1906. The Gray estate kept his stock until Ford purchased it in 1919 for $26,250,000.

 

Horace H. Rackham. John Anderson's partner in the law office that handled Malcomson's affairs, as well as the legal affairs of the newly-formed Ford Motor Company. Rackham borrowed $5,000 on some property he owned and took fifty shares. He paid $3,500 on June 26, 1903, and gave a note for $1,500. He paid $800 on January 28, 1904; $200 on February 5; and the balance in July 1904. He sold out to Ford in 1919 for $12,500,000. He and Anderson each collected $4,935,700 in dividends during the sixteen years they held the stock.

 

John W. Anderson. Malcomson's attorney, and partner of Horace Rackham. Anderson borrowed $5,000 from his father (see accompanying letter) and paid this amount for fifty shares on June 26, 1903. Anderson sold out to Ford in 1919 for $12,500,000. It has been said that Anderson never owned a Ford automobile.

 

Vernon C. Fry. Fry was Malcomson's cousin. He paid $3,000 on June 26, 1903, and gave a note for another $2,000, for fifty shares. He paid $1,000 in December 1903 and another $1,000 in January 1904. He sold his stock to Ford on September 1, 1907, for an amount unknown to this writer.

 

Charles H. Bennett. Bennett was president of the Plymouth Iron Windmill Company, Plymouth, Michigan, makers of the Daisy air rifle. He played it as safe as possible, giving a note for $5,000 for fifty shares. He made his first payment of $2,500 on March 24, 1904, and another of $2,500 on June 22, 1904, all of this apparently out of dividends from the Ford Motor Company. He sold out on September 1, 1907, selling thirty-five shares to Couzens and fifteen shares to Ford for an unknown amount.

 

Charles J. Woodall. Woodall was Malcomson's bookkeeper at the coal office. He gave a note for $1,000 for ten shares, which he paid on September 17, 1903. Woodall sold to Ford in September 1906 for an unknown amount.*

* Bennett, Fry, and Woodall were close friends of Alexander Malcomson, and probably left because of Malcomson's forced departure. One story is that Malcomson later tried to buy back into the Ford company by taking (buying) this trio's stock. The initial agreement among the founders was that none could sell without first offering his shares to another stockholder. Malcomson, of course, had sold his shares to Ford earlier and was no longer a member of the firm, so the purchase was illegal. The three then sold out as indicated to Ford and Couzens.

 

James Couzens. Initially purchased twenty-five shares, paying $1,000 (of which $100 was for his sister, Rosetta Couzens) on June 26, 1903, and the balance of $1,500 out of his profits on August 31, 1904. He later bought Strelow's fifty shares (in 1905) for $25,000, and thirty-five shares from Bennett in 1907 for $24,500. Couzens sold out to Ford in 1919 for thirty million dollars (approximately: other sources list this figure at $29,308,858, and also at $13,444 per share), the highest price per share of all the stockholders.

(In October 1908 the capitalization of the Ford Motor Company was increased to $2,000,000, divided into 20,000 shares of $100 each. This action multiplied the number of shares held by the stockholders by a factor of twenty since no new stockholders were allowed to invest. Couzens' original 110 shares now became 2,200, and it is this number of shares that Ford purchased in 1919.)

 

Henry Ford. Ford took 255 shares in the company in June of 1903, in exchange for his patents and expertise. He contributed no money. Ford purchased Malcomson's 255 shares on July 12, 1906, for $175,000. In September 1907 he took Woodall's ten shares for an unknown amount. On September 1, 1907, Ford purchased fifteen of Bennett's shares for $10,500 (Couzens took Bennett's thirty-five other shares), and Fry's fifty shares. The price of these shares is unknown to this writer.

Ford now had controlling interest in the company, with a total of 585 shares. He bought out the remaining stockholders in 1919, paying $12,500 per share except to Couzens, who held out for and received some $13,000 per share (also see figures listed under Couzens.).

 

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