It is said that in 1875, a young Ford saw the operation of a traction engine for the first time, specifically a Nichols and Shepard engine. This event likely caused him to become obsessed with transportation, but prior to that, he worked on clocks; if he had continued in that endeavour, he might have established himself as a reputable horologist and possibly invented something akin to the steam clock that is currently in use in Vancouver. His absence in the Auto Industry is more important, there's a shocking lack of discussion around him simply not being there.