biography
| sex:
| male
|
| lived:
| (1881–1968)
|
| biography:
| Engineer and automobile executive, born in Copenhagen, Denmark. Brought to the USA as a child, he began working in Henry Ford's pattern department (1904), rising to become plant superintendent (1925) and vice-president (1941). He helped develop the assembly line (1909–13), the Model T and Model A cars, and the Ford V-8 engine. During World War 1 he was involved in aeroplane production. During World War 2 he was blamed for production problems with planes, so he resigned (1944) and went to work for Willys-Overland. He had a reputation as a harsh, even ruthless administrator. |
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