Ford and GM were the last holdouts that were reluctant to adopt the Hotchkiss drive system that the bulk of the automotive industry had been using since the early '30's. It's a mystery.

 

I'm sure it had to do with money. Having to pay royalties to use the system. Holding out to wait for the patent to expire isn't always the best business plan, but they got away with it. This was also about the same time Henry Ford and Harry Ferguson was arguing over the rights to the design of Harry's tractor, that Henry 'stole'. They started as partners, but later became legal adversaries. I don't recall all the details of the outcome, but there's a tag on some N tractors that say Ferguson system, and the Ferguson TE20 tractor was born.

 

I gotta say, I've never seen a roadside bakery quite like that. I'll bet that bread was tasty.

 

Out here in New Mexico you can get something similar. Most of the Indian pueblos will sell fresh Indian bread. They are baked in "hornos" which are igloo shaped clay ovens (similar to whats shown in the pic)
As a kid whenever we took a road trip with my grandmother she'd always run through the pueblo and pick up a couple of loaves of bread. We'd tear off chunks and eat it as we drove down the road.

Good times
Bobby

 

Big truck!