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Thomas Edison Looking at a Concrete House Unit, circa 1911

1910/1912

The Henry Ford

The Henry Ford
Dearborn, MI, United States

In 1899, after a failed attempt at ore mining, Thomas Edison formed the Edison Portland Cement Company. At his plant, Edison combined his mining operation's rock-crushing technology with new machinery he developed, like a more efficient cement kiln. These innovations drove overproduction in the cement industry, leading Edison to propose a radical use for the excess product -- concrete houses for working class families.

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  • Title: Thomas Edison Looking at a Concrete House Unit, circa 1911
  • Date: 1910/1912
  • Subject Keywords: Edison, Thomas A. (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931, Edison Portland Cement Company, Architectural elements, Houses, Portland cement, Photographic prints, Photographs
  • Type: Photographs
  • Contributor: The Henry Ford
  • Original Source: Digital Collections
  • Object Name: Photographic print
  • Object ID: 84.1.1630.P.B.47518
  • Inventor: Thomas Edison
  • Invention: Concrete House
  • Image ID: THF267121
  • Field: Housing
  • Credit: From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
The Henry Ford

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