Figure 1.-- This is a fascinting image of litte Earl, we think Earl Wood. (The photogrpher was Mrs. H.K. Wood.) We are nor sure where Earl lived, but probbly the suburb of a northern city. Earl looks to be about 5 years old. We cb see an older boy in the background wering knickers. He is working with a horse and cart suggesting this was early in the 1910s. Earl wears a long pants play suit, a popular garment at the time for younger boys. But what is really interesting here is the Model-T Ford by which Earl is posed. We are not entirely sure what Earl is thinking, but he is clearly attrcted by it. What Earl cann't understand t the tgime as well as adults is tht Earl is standing by the future. The fact tht Americans embraced the the future, meaning mass production, and German industrialists did not would largely determine the history of the 20th century.

This is a fascinting image of litte Earl, we think Earl Wood. (The photogrpher was Mrs. H.K. Wood.) We are nor sure where Earl lived, but probably the suburb of a northern city. Earl looks to be about 5 years old. We cb see an older boy in the background wering knickers. He is working with a horse and cart suggesting this was early in the 1910s. Earl wears a long pants play suit, a popular garment at the time for younger boys. But what is really interesting here is the Model-T Ford by which Earl is posed. We are not entirely sure what Earl is thinking, but he is clearly attrcted by it. What Earl cann't understand at the time as well as adults is that Earl is standing by the future. The fact tht Americans embraced the the future, meaning mass production, and German industrialists did not would largely determine the history of the 20th century. You might conclude that the resulting history was mere chance. But this would be wrong. The development of the American automobile industry was largely determined by Ford and other American industrilists delivering what the average consumer wanted. The Tin Lizzy here as it was asffectionasltely known was inferior in evey way to what German industrialists were producing--except that average people could aford it. The German focus was on finally crafted and thus expensuve automobiles that only affluent consumers could afford. Meaning that very few were produced. Unlike America, the motor vehicle industry was very small part if German industry. As strange as it may seem, the Model-T here would be the foundation of the American Arsenal of Democracy. On that dynamic the future of Wesern civilization turned. Hitler inherited a massive industriasl base, but one which could not produce the implments of war in the quantities needed. The Americans in contrast could produce in staggeing quantity, not only what its own armed forces needed, but what was needed by its fighting allies.

Created: 5:06 AM 6/23/2022
Last edited: 5:06 AM 6/23/2022