HOME MADE

The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: Home Made. A Story of Ready-Made House Building. “House hunting has become the leading American pastime. House finding is one of our greatest problems.” “‘Own your own home’ read the advertisements. ‘But where will I get it?’ asks the reader of the ad.” “The purpose of this picture is to supply an answer to the question of countless Americans.” “Same old story.” Boy and girl beside tree, boy carving initials, boy and girl kissing. “Having found the girl it is up to him to find a home. But homes are scarce, rents high, evictions frequent.” Men piling household goods on sidewalk in front of house, family watching, woman crying. “They consult an old friend for advice.” Young couple approaching man in chair on porch - man showing them newspaper. “The evening paper offers a happy solution.” Close-up of ad for ‘Sterling Homes’ - man and couple entering house, leaving. “They discovered that you can have a home, ready-made, delivered and set out to investigate.” Group entering office, shaking hands with man behind desk, leaving with salesman. “Hundreds of plans for hundreds of homes.” Group entering office, women workers at desks. “Planning homes.” Group in drafting room, men at drawing boards. “Selecting one.” Couple looking at photographs, making selection, looking at brochure with detailed plans. “They order their home.” Talking to man in office, leaving. “They decide to see their home built.” Couple entering plant. “Logs today. Homes tomorrow.” Logs and stacks of lumber in plant yard - logs rolling into boom from flatcar - logs moving up conveyor from boom. “One log makes many boards.” Worker on saw platform, log being sawed - workers loading lumber into freight cars. “Now for the house the factory builds.” Boards on conveyor inside plant - boards being sanded by machinery - boards on conveyors - worker cutting boards with small electric saw - milling machine in operation, shaping trim pieces - drill cutting square holes in edge of board - couple watching worker at machine - door coming out of machine - worker cutting stair support. “Gluing under ten-ton pressure.” Worker operating press - women workers sorting small pieces, placing them on shelves. “All packed, their house is ready for shipping.” Workers moving crates. “Now to find a place for the house.” Couple getting into car. “On the way they see some factory built homes.” Couple in back seat looking at brochure, two men in front - views of several houses - couple walking around vacant lot, sign, ‘Lots for Sale.’ “They pick a lot.” Foundation construction, workers, horse-drawn earth moving equipment. “The next day building starts.” Views of construction. “Watch it grow.” Close-up of calendar, ‘1919, June 28, Saturday’ - putting up prefabricated studding - calendar, ‘July 1’ - second floor studding being placed - calendar, house in several stages of construction. “The logs are now a house.” View of Dutch colonial style house. “And now this story can end happily.” Boy placing ring on girl’s finger. “Wedding bells, rice, shoes, tin ware.” Wedding party leaving church, bride and groom being driven away in car with tin cans tied behind, ‘Just Married’ sign on back. [1919]