In the late 19th century, Chicago meatpackers used overhead trolleys to move carcasses along as they cut them, while food canners used conveyor belts to process food. But Henry Ford took the concept to a higher level. When he introduced the first moving assembly line in 1913 at his Model T plant in Highland Park, Mich., Ford was aiming for efficiency, speed, and a mass market. Different conveyor systems carried subcomponents to the main assembly line in a finely orchestrated manner. Before the advent of the assembly line, a Model T took more than 12 hours to produce and cost $950. By 1927, after numerous refinements, Model Ts were being turned out in less than half that time, with a price tag of $290 apiece. Here, workers assemble the Model A in 1928 at Ford's River Rouge plant.

Related Links
Ford: The First 100 Years -- A Short History of the Model T