On this date March 1, 1924, the HENRY FORD II was launched at Lorain, Ohio.
HENRY FORD II – launching March 1924
Built by the American Shipbuilding Company for the Ford Motor Company she measured 597 feet in length by 62 feet in beam. She was the first to be launched on the Great Lakes electrically by means of a switch. This new cutting edge technology was described by Marine Review of May 1924 as:
“Three guillotines were placed over the releasing ropes at the bow of the ship and three over those at the stern. The knives were weighted and suspended by means of ropes passing over sheaves at the top of the guillotines. These ropes were secured by a bolt attached to connecting rods working upon eccentrics on a shaft common to all three connecting rods. This shaft was rotated through gears by a motor at a speed of 60 revolutions per minute. At this speed it can readily be seen that the motors did not reach their maximum speed before the knives had been released. The starting of the motors was under the control of the sponsor of the ship.”
Henry Ford II, Mr. Ford’s grandson, was expected to do the launching but due to illness he gave the command over the phone to W. B. Mayo, Ford Motor Co.’s chief engineer. “Let her go!” And within 3 seconds, all six ropes were cut and the ship was on its way to the water.
Photo at top of page: HENRY FORD II dated July 8, 1937
HENRY FORD II in the Detroit River around 1937
HENRY FORD II with FORD smokestack, August 23, 1948
The HENRY FORD II was built to carry iron ore, coal and coke between the Ford plant at River Rouge, Michigan, and the northern iron ore district. During the winter of 1973-74, she was converted from a straight decker into a self-unloader by American Ship Building in Lorain and received a high strength steel bow for winter navigation. The conversion cost around $5 million.
HENRY FORD II with the mail boat O. F. MOOR along side
She was laid up at the end of 1981 and then became part of the Rouge Steel Company in 1982.
In 1986 she was removed from her role as a coal carrier and was placed in the salt and limestone trades.
On April 5, 1986, she arrived in Milwaukee for the first time ever, bringing salt from Cleveland.
In 1989 the HENRY FORD II was sold by Ford Motor Company’s subsidiary Rouge Steel to Interlake Steamship Company of Cleveland. She was renamed SAMUEL MATHER after one of the founders of the Cleveland Cliffs/Pickands Mather Co. and reconditioned for the stone trade.
She was sold to International Marine Salvage in 1994 and scrapped the next year at Port Maitland, Ontario.
Suzette Lopez
PHOTO CREDIT: Great Lakes Marine Collection of the Milwaukee Public Library and Wisconsin Marine Historical Society.
