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Bill for bicycle chain purchase by Henry Ford from the Indianapolis Chain and Stamping Co., Indianapolis, IN, 5/28/1896 |
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Seven days after this purchase from the Indianapolis Chain and Stamping Co., Henry Ford would make automobile history by driving his first car, the quadricycle, down the streets of Detroit. Scholars believe that this is the chain Ford used to propel his first automobile. Ford had been working every night in the last days of May, 1896 to complete his vision.
Under a warm rain, between the hours of 2 and 4 am on June 4, 1896, he was ready. Ironically, in his enthusiasm Ford neglected to notice that the vehicle was too wide for the doors to his Bagley Avenue shop, so he promptly broke a hole through the wall and pushed the quadricycle into the alley. He then drove the car onto Grand River Avenue and headed towards Washington Boulevard. The vehicle had no brakes and no reverse gear, and actually broke down in front of the Cadillac hotel, but Ford at last had created his own self-propelled horseless vehicle. Invoice reads: 1 1/2 x 120 Bright
6 1/2 Bolts + Nuts
10 ft. at 25c a ft. $2.50
C.O.D. .35
$2.85
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