Business Movers Henry Ford’s Paradise Lost | A Man and His Machine | 1
Mar 21, 2024
Industrialist Henry Ford seeks alternative rubber sources, leading to a risky venture in the Amazon Rainforest. Ford's ambitious projects at Muscle Shoals and his shift to Brazil highlight his determination and strategic pursuits. The turbulent journey of Willis Reeves Blakely managing Ford's Brazilian plantation project showcases challenges faced in the pursuit of innovation.
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Wickham's Rubber Heist
- Henry Wickham smuggled 70,000 rubber seeds from Brazil to England, starting a successful plantation in Sri Lanka.
- This decimated the Brazilian rubber market and led Henry Ford to seek his own Amazonian rubber venture.
British Rubber Monopoly
- The British controlled the global rubber market in the 1920s, allowing them to dictate prices.
- This frustrated Henry Ford, who sought control over his resources, leading him to consider growing his own rubber.
Firestone's Suggestion
- Harvey Firestone, owner of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, suggested to Henry Ford that he grow his own rubber.
- Ford, initially not planning to, saw merit in the idea to control rubber production and cut off the British monopoly.