Henry Ford Compare And Contrast Essay

Thomas Edison and Henry Ford: Two different men

Henry Ford and Thomas Edison were two famous American inventors. Ford and Edison were best friends, who spent a lot of time together. They inspired one another and learned from each other. Their inventions changed the world. Ford changed the manufacturing process for cars and Edison changed night to day with the invention of the light bulb. These two minds contrasted remarkably in their ways of working, their originality, and their business styles.
The first point of contrast is their ways of working. Ford was hands on. If you had cut off his hands, you would have crippled his mind. Unlike Ford, Edison had no brains in his hands. Edison was intellectual. The contrast was noticeable when

they walked among moving machines. Ford could not look at a machine without feeling it in his hands, sympathetically, and if he touched one it was as if he touched a living thing. Edison in contrast, noticed how the machine was constructed and was interested in learning how the machine worked. One worked with his hands and the other worked with his mind.
The second point of contrast is their originality. Ford's way was to let his mind run free, like a puckish servant; although his imagination made many unnecessary and willful excursions he generally came back with the idea he was sent to bring. He was original, creative and imaginative. Unlike Ford, Edison bridled his mind and made it answerable to his will. He was a man of wisdom and a critical thinker. Although he followed the book, he did not follow the rules. He had to be in control. He was very cautious when it came to his inventions. Ford was a free thinker whereas Edison controlled his mind.
The third point of contrast between Edison and Ford is their business.

Ford’s initial venture into automobile manufacturing was the Detroit Automobile Company. The company was founded in 1901 as the Henry Ford Company. After falling out with his financial backers, Ford left the company with the rights to his name for only 900 dollars. Edison, on the other hand, moved to New York City, where he created his first invention. He improved the stock ticker, later known as The Universal Stock Printer, which synchronized several stock tickers' transactions. The Telegraph Company was so impressed that they paid Edison over $40,000 for the rights. He was only twenty-two years old at the time. From his achievement, he quit his job as a telegrapher to dedicate himself full-time to inventing. Ford sold his company for a low price whereas Edison was able to quit his job and become a full-time inventor.
Henry Ford and Thomas Edison have left great inventions that we still use today. Ford changed manufacturing and Edison gave us the light bulb. They differed in personal characteristics, Ford made his inventions physically and Edison made his inventions mentally. Their ways of thinking were different. Ford was practical and Edison was theoretical. Unfortunately, their business acumen was also different. Henry Ford was not rich whereas Thomas Edison was. These two men were two of the greatest inventers of all

time.