Tag Archives: Ford Motor Company

Henry Ford’s Surprising BBQ Brick Invention

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Did You Know Henry Ford Helped Invent BBQ Bricks?

When you think of Henry Ford, your mind probably jumps to cars and assembly lines—not summer cookouts. But here’s a fun twist on history: Henry Ford played a key role in the invention of the charcoal briquet, better known today as the BBQ brick.

In the 1920s, Ford was looking for a way to repurpose the wood scraps and sawdust left over from manufacturing Model T automobiles. Always one to hate waste, he wanted to make the most of every part of the process. With a little ingenuity—and some help from his friend Thomas Edison—he came up with a way to compress those scraps into small, uniform blocks using charred wood, starch, and other natural binders.

The result? The modern charcoal briquet. Ford even sold them at his dealerships alongside cars and picnic supplies, encouraging Americans to hit the road and enjoy outdoor cooking. His invention caught on quickly, helping spark a backyard grilling tradition that’s still going strong today.

And here’s a fun fact: the original Ford Charcoal Company was later renamed Kingsford, in honor of Edward G. Kingsford—a relative of Ford who helped secure the land and build the first briquette plant in Michigan. So yes, that familiar blue-and-white bag of Kingsford® charcoal many of us use today traces directly back to Henry Ford’s inventive thinking.

And what better time to share this little slice of history? Tomorrow is the 4th of July, and many of us will be gathering with friends and family to fire up the grill, enjoy some great food, and soak up the sunshine. Whether you’re flipping burgers, roasting veggies, or crafting the perfect s’more, it’s fun to think that a bit of Ford’s legacy might be glowing beneath the grate.

Do you have a favorite BBQ recipe or backyard tradition? I’d love to hear how you celebrate—feel free to share your favorites in the comments!

Wishing you a safe, joyful, and flavor-filled 4th of July—and here’s to the inventions that bring us together over good food, laughter, and sunshine.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  • Firestone, Ford, Edison & Kingsford
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Thoughtful Thursday Henry Ford: Revolutionizing the Automobile Industry

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Henry Ford, born in 1863, forever changed the way we think about transportation and manufacturing. He is best known for founding the Ford Motor Company and introducing the Model T, an affordable car that made vehicle ownership accessible to millions of Americans. But Ford’s real genius lay in his innovation of the moving assembly line, which transformed industrial production. This method drastically reduced the time it took to build a car, making it more efficient and cost-effective.

Ford’s vision extended beyond just creating cars. He believed in fair wages and introduced the $5 workday, which was double the average wage at the time. This helped foster a loyal workforce and made his employees potential customers of the very cars they were producing. Ford’s legacy is not just in the automobiles we drive today, but in the modern manufacturing practices that have influenced industries worldwide.

Beyond business, Henry Ford had a profound influence on American society. His focus on efficiency, innovation, and improving the lives of his workers set new standards in labor and industrial relations. His push for mass production reshaped the economy, turning America into a nation of consumers, and his forward-thinking ideas continue to impact how industries operate to this day.

Ford’s legacy lives on, not just in the cars we drive but in the very principles that guide modern business and manufacturing. His ability to merge innovation with accessibility remains a powerful example of how one individual can reshape an entire industry and leave a lasting imprint on society.

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into history—thanks so much for stopping by!

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“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” ~Henry Ford

  • Ford Model T
  • Henry Ford