Description:

Ford Henry

Two circa 1930s photographs of automobile industrialist Henry Ford (1863-1947), including one press photo of Ford taken at Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts in 1938, and an undated tintype of Ford seated next to his best friend inventor Thomas A. Edison's son Charles Edison. The larger 6" x 7.75" photograph is stamped "International News Photos" verso, and comes with an original typewritten editorial caption. With expected light surface wear, else very good to near fine.

 

1. "Ford Visits at Wayside Inn. Sudbury, Mass…Henry Ford, snapped today on his historic Wayside Inn property, as he pointed out to the newsmen part of the 5000 acres that will be tilled. Unless America goes back to the farm, he warned, the nation may find itself ruled by a dictator. He will pay an informal visit to the President on April 27th, 'to renew an old acquaintance of years standing'..."

 

The black and white photo shows an elderly, well-dressed Ford tipping his hat to reporters. Ford had purchased Longfellow's Wayside Inn in 1923, and spent the next 20 years turning it into a working farm, grist mill, school, history museum, restaurant, hotel, and family retreat. As promised, Ford visited FDR's White House for a private lunch on April 27, 1938. It is unknown what the two discussed, but Ford had been a vociferous critic of the President's New Deal policies.

 

2. The 2.5" x 3.125" tintype with repousse frame shows Ford seated next to Charles Edison (1890-1969), the third son of Ford's mentor and best friend Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931). The two men are dressed in suits and ties with matching boater hats.

 

Henry Ford had worshiped Thomas Edison long before the two met for the first time in 1896. The two soon became fast friends. Between 1916-1924, Ford and Edison, along with boon companions Harvey Firestone and John Burroughs (and occasionally naturalist Luther Burbank and President Warren G. Harding) went on annual camping trips together, calling themselves the "Vagabonds." Ford purchased a retreat in Fort Myers, Florida next to Edison's get-away to better socialize with his friend. The two men exchanged presents, gifting each other Model A prototypes and 50th anniversary commemorative light bulbs. Ford received the ultimate gift in 1931 when Charles Edison presented him with a sealed test tube of Edison's last breath, now in the collection of the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan.

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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