| THOMAS EDISON AND HENRY FORD And where ingenuity crackled and genius did spark There lived a grand wizard out in old Menlo Park. The day's popping-most brain, its most inspired flair, Thomas A. Edison: bright-guy extraordinaire. Yet Tom oft' demurred at high praise for his mind, Saying the sweat of hard work is really what shined. While an endless array of new gadgets and parts Whirled out his workshops through persistence and smarts. And soon folks at home could collect and enjoy Recordings of music on that phonograph toy. And a new use of film changed our Saturday nights, -- As his movie projector did dazzle the sights. Yet his top source of fame and his sweeping reknown: Was the electric light bulb which so lit up the town. Indeed, what was it like? Can you even suppose The life lit by candles, dripping wax on your toes? And while travel by train was soon joined by street-car, Many wished to go further, to sojourn quickly and far. But that self-moving carriage, that new "auto-mobile", Was far from perfected and still cost a great deal. 'Til the man Henry Ford with a sterling solution Changed the making of cars in a true revolution: His line of assembly and its rapid construction, Started churning 'em out -- ah, yes, mass production. Indeed, his process was keen, efficient and svelte, As each man did one job whilst a conveyor belt Moved the product along from the raw to the cooked, Cutting down on its cost and all the time that it took. Which in turn gave the chance for more people to own That motorized marvel, the new horse-less demon. And so Ford became rich (as surely you guessed), As his system for cars fueled a surge of business... |
| Worksheet # 87 |
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