The Load Factor

Although the Ford-founded assembly line is an institution that Detroit takes dead seriously, Detroiters proved last week that they could joke about it.

A story about the Henry Ford funeral (TIME, April 21) was making the rounds. As the motormaker's body lay in state at Greenfield Village, single lines of mourners were passing the casket at the rate of 3,000 an hour. As the waiting crowd piled up, a Ford executive gave a low-voiced order. "At 3 o'clock," said he, "we'll put Plan B info operation. Get it set."

Promptly at 3, the casket was moved a few feet, the mourners were formed into double lines--and now 8,000 an hour filed by.

"Worked fine," said the Ford executive. "More than doubled the load factor."

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