Magyar News, 2004. szeptember-2005. augusztus (15. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2004-10-01 / 2. szám
On the left is József Galamb around the time of his retirement.. Below is a check signed by József Galamb on March 24, 1951. Drawn on his account at The Manufacturers National Bank of Detroit, payable to "Collector of Internal Rev. "for $2.61. A Hungarian who helped change America ‘‘Chief of Design” JÓZSEF GALAMB In the following issues of the Magyar News we will print articles on the many Hungarians who’s inventions became part of our lives. We hope you will enjoy these and maybe you could help us out, or get in touch with us with your questions. Editor Bom in 1881, in the city Makó, the world’s onion capital, Galamb finished his education in Budapest. After receiving his diploma in mechanical engineering he worked at the Factory in Diósgyőr as a draftsman, then at the Hungarian Automobile Co., where he won a postgraduate scholarship to Germany. In 1903 he kept busy in many German cities as a skilled worker. When he learned of the American Auto World Fair in 1904, he used his savings to travel to America by ship in October. First he found employment as a toolmaker at the Westinghouse Corporation. On December 10, 1905 he traveled to Detroit to visit for a few days and this 'short visit' turned into four decades of hard work. It turned out that he met Henry Ford during this visit, who had a good eye to recognize talent. Ford convinced him to stay in Detroit and to come and work for him. He entered the two year old Ford Motor Co. as a draftsman, which he did not remain for long. At that time auto manufacturers were selling their cars for $5000, and only the wealthy could afford them. Using a 'push' moving assembly line and interchangeable parts, Henry Ford was able to mass produce his Model T's and sell them for just $850. This was less than a wagon and team of horses cost. In 1913 Henry Ford replaced his 'push' moving assembly line with a conveyor belt assembly line. This way the production was eight times faster Now the model T mechanically moved through each station instead of by hand. Galamb redesigned the cooling system for the model-N, he became the chief designer of the com, pany, and constructed a lot of parts of the famous model-T. At the beginning of the XX. Century the ugly but indestructible Ford T- model literally put America on wheels. 15 million of these rolled of the assembly lines, creating the premier industry which continues to employ - directly and indirectly - the largest number of Americans today. Most still remember the famous T-models with Two examples of the Ford Model T automobiles. The one on the top is from 1906. The bottom one is a later model
