Ford rarely uses his office, but today, he formally invited Huang Xuan to the office. The time was an hour later, Huang Xuan proposed it himself.
While Ford was visiting other workshops, Huang Xuan used the remaining 0 cents to buy more than 20 drawings and two pencils, and found a roof to spread them out. Lorraine complained while turning them into into a complete design drawing. Carbon foam was seen flying in the air, and as if it had been agreed, they lined up to land on the drawing, and reproduced its contents according to the information Lorraine found.
Since carbon has strong adsorption, as long as you control the landing point of each toner and arrange it on the drawing according to the data requirements, a complete design drawing is completed. The principle is very similar to laser printing, and more Energy consumption is still due to different planes.
For Lorraine, this kind of work consumes less than directly manipulating Huang Xuan's body. Just the weight varies greatly, not to mention the efficiency issue.
Of course, more than 10 drawings are not even enough to express the engine structure, let alone be used for production, but if it is used for negotiation, it is enough.
Huang Xuan quickly rolled it up, raised his head, and walked to Ford's office.
At this time, not only Edsel, but also several senior executives in the company gathered here. In the later years of Old Ford, they spent a lot of money to acquire Ford's stock, thus turning Ford into a completely family business. Therefore, when Edsel wanted to make a decision, he only needed to ask his father for instructions. —He must also ask his father for instructions.
Entering this 00-square-meter office, Huang Xuan did not speak, but spread the drawings in his hands on the round table in the middle. These were just descriptive drawings, far from the drawings that could actually be used for production.
There were seven people present. After Huang Xuan sat down, everyone gathered in a circle and began to look through the drawings on the table. Everyone looked very serious.
"It's a very good design." Kent, who is Ford's development director, spread his hands and said to Edsel: "But we already have a similar design, so there is no need to spend money to buy it."
Huang Xuan curled his lips, the same design? The same design would take Ford at least another year and a half. He leaned comfortably on the sofa, drinking coffee and keeping silent.
Edsel also remained silent. He knew the situation in his factory better than anyone else. On the other hand, other people spoke up and discussed. However, everyone knows that the real decision-maker is Ford Sr. Henry has never delegated enough power to his son when it comes to the company's political direction.
"Did you design it?" Edsel asked half curiously.
"Of course." Huang Xuan looked at him with unpretentious eyes.
In the early 20th century, it was quite common for one person to design an industrial product. Honda and Ford were both born this way, just like in the second half of the 20th century, a programmer completed a piece of software.
Edsel expressed his appreciation with his eyes. It is said that two people with similar thoughts call each other bosom friends, and the collision of the same thoughts in different planes may be called by the same title.
The V8 may be the Edsel's last legacy.
Huang Xuan feels very sorry for this, but this smart and wealthy gentleman died in an accident. According to the Guardian, this way of death is almost difficult to change because there is too much energy in the plane buffer zone. way to correct such deviations. If the energy fluctuations are too large, thunder may fall from the sky.
Several people sitting opposite Huang Xuan were discussing in low voices. Ford's sales director Stephen pretended to be intimate and asked Huang Xuan: "Have you registered a patent? Don't let others take away such a perfect design."
Huang Xuan smiled indifferently and said, "As long as you are willing to pay, you can take this design and register it however you want."
This statement surprised everyone, and Kent winked at Ford. For these gentlemen who have become accustomed to registering everything as a patent, Huang Xuan's way of doing things is too tempting - maybe it doesn't cost much at all. This is what almost everyone except Huang Xuan thinks. .
Huang Xuan also considered this. But what can be done? Not to mention his own identity, the approval speed of the US Patent Office is enough for him to travel back and forth between the two places more than ten times. In addition, he actually does not expect to be able to get the approval from Ford. How much money did you get? This is 191, and this is modern society. There are so many ways to make money, more profitable than selling patents, and there are many faster ways.
Edsel was silent for a while and said, "Mr. Xuan, maybe we need to discuss it..."
"Mr. Ford." Huang Xuan drank all the coffee in the cup, stood up and said, "Of course you can discuss it, but I can only wait for you for one day. Tomorrow night, I will leave for New York."
"It's impossible in one day." The sales director said in surprise: "We need to verify, and we also need to consider similar designs. Before seeing your complete design information, we don't know how much modifications need to be made to the production line. Likewise, We cannot accurately judge the specific performance of your design. You know, after all, this is one person's design, and there is still a lot of work to be done..."
"Okay." Huang Xuan was a little impatient and said, "Tonight, I will stay at the nearby Elis Hotel until noon tomorrow. If you really want this drawing, just before noon tomorrow, Bring cash to trade with me. When the time comes, you will naturally see everything you want in detail. If you are not interested, I will find another company. You can bring as many bodyguards as you want, but I want to see To cash, understand?”
Edsel was a little dissatisfied and said: "We can't decide the design and production of a model so simply..."
"That's your problem." The English he learned for many days finally came in handy. Huang Xuan bit the back of his tongue and said: "If you want it, just bring money. I want 100,000 US dollars. It's unimaginably small. no?"
In terms of purchasing power, 100,000 U.S. dollars in 191 was about as much as 1 million U.S. dollars today. Current U.S. President Hoover’s annual presidential salary is 75,000 yuan. It will not be until 18 years later, when World War II is over, that Truman can Got $100,000. For ordinary Americans, a monthly salary of US$00 is a rare high salary, which usually requires the consumption of a family of 10 people. As for the middle class - the favorite term of the Chinese people in the new century - this is only a class that is still in its infancy. According to some authoritative sayings, it was the emergence of the Ford Model T that gave birth to the middle class. If so, If you believe this, then a Model T, or a similar sedan, one of the symbols of the middle class, now only costs $60.
However, on the other hand, $100,000 is a lot of money. Not to mention that it is equivalent to the hard work of hundreds of workers for a year, just think about the American economy during the Great Depression, and you can understand how huge US$100,000 was in an era when a sheep was worth only US$1.
Of course, after all is said and done, huge sums of money are relative to the poor. Ford's average annual profit is 0 million US dollars, and in the process of developing the Model A car, the loss caused by shutting down the entire production line for half a year was also Well over $15 million. As for the direct funding for their own V8 development, it is far more than 1 million US dollars.
Therefore, $100,000 is still a very tempting figure for Edsel.
When Huang Xuan turned around and left the office, the room suddenly became noisy. Stephen, the sales director who had worked for 10 years, agreed to buy Huang Xuan's design. As long as it can complete 80% of the design requirements, he can spend money.
Kent immediately retorted: "How can we tell from the drawings whether it can complete 80% of the design requirements."
Stephen was immediately speechless. After all, his major is still not car manufacturing. Next to him, Bron also objected: "It is troublesome to withdraw 100,000 cash without an appointment. Moreover, gentlemen who believe in cash transactions always have too many quirks." Here. Of course, the eccentricity mentioned was derogatory. He actually wanted to say the word "robber", but in the end he still didn't say it.
Of course, in 1911, Americans' trust in banks had reached a freezing point. In two years, in 2019, a large-scale bank run would bankrupt countless dignitaries on Wall Street. However, this distrust of banks has not yet spread to gentlemen with huge assets, because they need banks more than ordinary people. On the other hand, the requirement for cash payment is also considered to be a concern for the poor.
Edsel listened quietly. He would ask Old Ford for instructions at night, but before that, he needed to understand both sides' perspectives as much as possible.
However, from the heart, Edsel is more inclined to buy a set of blueprints. Even during the Great Depression, the sales of Model A cars were still good, but the advantages brought by technology will soon be lost, and that Eastern The human design coincides with Ford's production, and it should be possible to organize production without much modification. If there are no problems with the design itself, $100,000 is almost like giving it away.
The discussion gradually faded, and Edsel put down the coffee in his hand and said seriously: "Bron, find a way to withdraw 100,000 in cash. Notify the bank now, and you must get it before 9 o'clock tomorrow."
"OK."
"Mr Brown?"
"Yes." Brown is a rugged Westerner with rough skin and bright eyes.
Edsel changed his posture, stroked the brim of his hat and said, "Inform your people and be ready at any time."
After Brown nodded in agreement, he named Kent again and said: "Find a few professional designers and bring information. Maybe we can see this gentleman's knowledge on the spot."
"OK."
Edsel gave two more orders, finally relaxed, leaned back on the chair, and said: "I will think about it again and inform you of the results tomorrow morning."
Everyone present knew that Edsel's so-called consultation was to ask his wife and father for instructions, but everyone had long been accustomed to it. Only Bron once again expressed doubts: "Mr. Ford, maybe those drawings were stolen by them? We might get a lawsuit over this.”
"Who cares about him? We bought it with money." Stephen sneered. (To be continued)