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Henry Ford's Violins
Did you know that Henry liked to fiddle?
Henry Ford grew up on a Michigan garm. During the 1880s, young Henry danced to the lively music of fiddlers at country dances -- in fact, Ford met his future wife, Clara, at a dance. Henry Ford loved the fiddle and even learned to play a little as a young man.
Henry married, moved to Detroit, and focused on building a successful automobile company. For years, Ford had little time for fiddling.
By the mid-1930s, Henry Ford had the urge to fiddle again. So he went shopping for some violins. But not just any "fiddles". This wealthy industrialist wanted -- and could easily afford -- the very best violins. He chose these -- the exquisite, centuries-old classical Italian violins you see here. Ford didn't play classical music on them, though. He picked out some simple old time tunes and enjoyed playing these "fiddles" for hours.
For Henry Ford, his love of fiddle music and country dancing never stopped. |