What Happened on September 27

Detroit Automotive

1908 — Ford Model T Leaves Plant; Mass Motor Age Dawns

The first production machine rolls from Piquette Avenue this morning — 15,000 orders flood in within forty-eight hours — engineers Galamb, Farkas and Wills claim the design.

DETROIT, September 27 — The first production Ford Model T automobile left the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant here this morning, completing its journey from factory floor to open road. The machine, built August 12 and held for final preparation, marks the commencement of what its makers promise will be the mass use of automobiles in the United States.

Within two days of the Model T's release, 15,000 orders have been placed. The demand has astonished even Henry Ford's own salesmen, who had prepared for interest but not for this deluge.

The vehicle was mainly designed by engineers Joseph A. Galamb, Eugene Farkas, and Childe Harold Wills, working under Ford's direction. Its front-mounted 177-cubic-inch inline four-cylinder engine produces 20 horsepower and propels the car to a top speed of 42 miles per hour.

The initial price stands at $780, though company officials hint that mass production savings may lower this figure substantially in years to come. The first Model T stands ready on a Detroit road, its brass radiator gleaming.

• The first production Model T was built on August 12, 1908, and left the factory on September 27, 1908, at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant in Detroit.
• Within two days after the Model T's release, 15,000 orders were placed.
• The Model T was mainly designed by engineers Joseph A. Galamb, Eugene Farkas, and Childe Harold Wills.
• The first Model T had a front-mounted 177-cubic-inch inline four-cylinder engine producing 20 hp, with a top speed of 42 mph.
• The Model T's initial price was $780 in 1910, dropping to $290 by 1924 due to mass production savings.

Source: Wikipedia — Ford Model T

Berlin Diplomatic

1940 — Three Powers Sign Berlin Pact; Axis Alliance Formed Against America

Ribbentrop, Ciano and Kurusu put their names to a ten-year military alliance — Hitler watches from the chamber — Hungary rushes to join before Romania can accede.

BERLIN, September 27 — In the Chancellery here this afternoon, three foreign ministers bent to a table and signed their nations into war's formal embrace. Joachim von Ribbentrop for Germany, Galeazzo Ciano for Italy, and Saburō Kurusu for Japan completed the Tripartite Pact as Adolf Hitler looked on, creating a military alliance now called the Axis.

The pact, signed in triplicate, recognizes Japanese leadership in Greater East Asia and German-Italian leadership in Europe. Its animating target, diplomats here acknowledge, is the United States.

Article 3 binds each signatory to assist the others if attacked by any power not presently engaged in the European War or the Sino-Japanese conflict. The term runs ten years.

Hungary has already moved to become the first adherent. Its ambassador pressed for immediate accession, determined to precede Romania. Representatives of Germany, Italy and Japan sign the Tripartite Pact in Berlin as cameras record the moment.

• The Tripartite Pact was signed in Berlin on 27 September 1940 by Joachim von Ribbentrop, Galeazzo Ciano, and Saburō Kurusu in the presence of Adolf Hitler.
• The pact recognized Japan's leadership in Greater East Asia and Germany and Italy's leadership in Europe, and was directed primarily at the United States.
• Article 3 of the pact required signatories to assist one another if attacked by a power not then involved in the European War or the Japanese-Chinese conflict.
• The pact was to remain in force for ten years and was signed in triplicate at Berlin on the 27th day of September 1940.
• Hungary was the first nation to join the pact after its signing, with its ambassador urging accession before Romania could join.

Source: Wikipedia — World War II

Darlington Steam

1825 — Steam Hauls First Public Train; 300 Tickets, 600 Passengers

Locomotion No. 1 opens the Stockton and Darlington Railway — George Stephenson at the throttle — 80 tons, 400 feet, 12 miles per hour.

DARLINGTON, September 27 — The age of steam-powered public carriage has begun. This morning George Stephenson drove Locomotion No. 1 on the first train of the Stockton and Darlington Railway, the world's first public railway to employ steam locomotives.

The train comprised the locomotive, eleven coal wagons, the passenger coach "Experiment," and twenty additional wagons bearing passengers and workmen. Around 300 tickets had been sold, but observers estimate twice that number crowded aboard.

The entire formation weighed some 80 metric tons and stretched 400 feet. Maximum speed reached 12 miles per hour, though delays reduced the average to 8. A derailed wagon and a blocked feed pump valve slowed progress. The 8.7-mile journey to Darlington required two hours.

Locomotion No 1 hauls the first train on the Stockton and Darlington Railway as spectators line the embankments.

• On 27 September 1825, Locomotion No. 1 was driven by George Stephenson on the first public railway train.
• The train consisted of the locomotive, eleven wagons of coal, the passenger coach 'Experiment', and 20 more wagons carrying passengers and workmen.
• Around 300 tickets had been sold, but about twice as many people were believed to have been aboard the train.
• The train weighed an estimated 80 metric tons, was 400 feet long, and reached a maximum speed of 12 mph.
• It took two hours to complete the first 8.7 miles to Darlington, slowed by a derailed wagon and a blocked feed pump valve, averaging 8 mph.

Source: Wikipedia — Locomotion No. 1

Rangoon Democracy

1988 — Aung San Suu Kyi Launches National League for Democracy in Burma

The 1988 uprising's aftermath brings a new political force — retired army officials aid the founding — the daughter of the independence hero becomes general secretary.

RANGOON, September 27 — In the trembling aftermath of the 8888 Uprising, pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi has founded the National League for Democracy with assistance from several retired army officials. She assumes the post of general secretary. The party emerges as the military junta's principal civilian challenger.

• Aung San Suu Kyi formed the National League for Democracy on September 27, 1988, with help from several retired army officials.
• She became the general secretary of the NLD upon its founding.
• The NLD was formed during the aftermath of the 8888 Uprising, a pro-democracy movement violently suppressed by the military junta.
• Less than a year later, on July 20, 1989, Aung San Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest.
• In the 1990 general election, the NLD won 81% of parliamentary seats, but the military government nullified the results.

Source: Wikipedia — Aung San Suu Kyi

South Asia Bureau

1996 — Taliban Seize Kabul, Execute Ex-President Najibullah

Rabbani flees as Taliban capture Kabul and establish Islamic Emirate — Najibullah, sheltered at UN mission since April 1992, seized and killed.

KABUL, September 27 — President Burhanuddin Rabbani has fled his capital before advancing Taliban forces who today captured Kabul and established the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.

Former President Mohammad Najibullah, who had sheltered at the United Nations mission here since April 1992, was seized, tortured and murdered by Taliban fighters.

• Taliban captured Kabul on 27 September 1996, establishing the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
• Former president Mohammad Najibullah had taken refuge at the United Nations mission in Kabul since April 1992.
• Kabul's population fell from 2,000,000 to 500,000 during the 1992–1996 war, with 500,000 fleeing in the first four months.
• The Taliban captured Kandahar in late 1994, Herat in 1995, and Jalalabad in early September 1996 before taking Kabul.
• By 1996, the Taliban, supported by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence, seized approximately 90% of Afghanistan.

Source: Wikipedia — Taliban

Medieval Affairs

1066 — Norman Duke William Embarks Upon England

On September 27, the duke and his forces departed the Somme to pursue the English crown.

THE SOMME, September 27 — Duke William of Normandy and his army have put to sea from the river's mouth this day, bound for England's shores to press his claim to the crown. The fleet, riding a favorable wind, carries some seven thousand men and horses. Provisions were loaded at Saint-Valery-sur-Somme after a week of delay. Court astrologers had counseled patience until the autumn gales subsided.

• William the Conqueror and his army set sail from the mouth of the Somme river, beginning the Norman conquest of England.

Source: Wikipedia — William the Conqueror

Science & Letters

1962 — Rachel Carson's 'Silent Spring' Appears Today; Book Spurs Drive for Federal Environmental Protection

Rachel Carson, 55, spent four years researching pesticides after gaining notice with The Sea Around Us in 1951; her new volume's serialization in The New Yorker and publication today have conservation groups reporting surging membership as legislators predict hearings on federal oversight of toxic substances.

NEW YORK, September 27 — Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring has been published today, and its examination of pesticide dangers is already stirring a national environmental movement and calls for creation of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The former marine biologist and author argues that indiscriminate use of chemicals like DDT threatens wildlife and human health alike. Carson, 55, who gained notice with The Sea Around Us in 1951, spent four years researching agricultural spraying and its ecological consequences.

Chemical manufacturers have challenged her science, but the book has serialized in The New Yorker and commands wide attention. Conservation groups report surging membership. Legislators in Washington predict hearings on federal oversight of toxic substances. Carson's critics question her credentials; supporters call her warnings timely and necessary.

The volume takes its title from a spring without bird song.

• Rachel Carson's book Silent Spring is published, inspiring an environmental movement and the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Source: Wikipedia — Silent Spring

Silicon Valley Desk

1998 — Google Declares Today Its Official Founding Date

Stanford graduate students' search engine, now incorporated and operating from a Menlo Park garage, retroactively claims September 27 as its official birthday.

MENLO PARK, September 27 — The Google internet search engine, developed by Stanford graduate students Larry Page and Sergey Brin, has retroactively claimed this date as its official birthday.

The Menlo Park company, now incorporated and operating from a garage on Santa Margarita Avenue, announced the commemorative designation this week.

• The Google internet search engine retroactively claims this date as its birthday.

Source: Wikipedia — Google