On This Date-Maya Creamer

      On October 1st, 1908, Henry Ford introduced the Ford Model T car, the first mass-produced automobile, to the market. This car revolutionized travel and production. It was an innovation in transportation; the Model T was the first car marketed to the American middle class and a working family's salary, costing just $825, and allowed these working Americans to travel easier and more affordably. Before the introduction of the Model T, owning a car was an expensive luxury reserved for the upper class.
      The Ford Model T was also an innovation in mass-production; it was the first automobile produced on a moving assembly line with interchangeable parts, with each worker performing one specific job over and over again. This allowed cars to be produced much more quickly and efficiently, contributing to the low price of the Model T. Before this, cars were usually built one-by-one by hand, and the production of cars was very time-consuming and slow.
      I am very appreciative of this event, because without the introduction of the Model T, cars today probably wouldn't be nearly as widespread, and may still be far too expensive/rare for the middle class to own. Because of the introduction of the Model T, we can travel from place to place quickly and easily; I appreciate being able to get to school in 7 minutes by car instead of having to walk for 30-45 minutes, as well as not having to walk in the rain/snow/etc.