Toyota Museum

Yes, it is about cars.  But not at the beginning, because Mr. Toyoda (yes, I spelled that correctly) didn't start out making cars.  He was an inventor of looms. And Toyoda Company (They didn't change their name to Toyota until 1930's.)  produced fabric.

The museum had everything anyone would want to know about
making cloth, and I was fascinated.  We even got to try our hand at spinning.

This is an early spinning machine that does multiple strands at a time.

Then we moved to an early weaving machine.  They had on display almost all stages of advancement in weaving.
It was actually really fascinating.

This weaving machine was invented by Mr. Toyoda.  It really sped up the process because
built into this machine was the ability to sense when a thread broke and automatically
stop the machine to fix it.  Otherwise there would be a flaw in the fabric.

And we got to see a thoroughly modern weaving machine, weaving an intricately beautiful piece of fabric with a scene in the fabric.  Things have really changed, but we were fascinated seeing all the steps they went through over the years to
get to where we are now.

It was called Toyoda Automatic Loom Works, and I'm not sure if they are still in business or not.

In 1926, when the Emperor of Japan stopped allowing foreign trade,  they formed Toyota Industries.  (They changed the name slightly here, because it sounded better and the Chinese characters in the word meant wealth and good fortune.)  Mr. Toyoda's son asked his father if he could look into making automobiles.  His father granted him permission.  His son traveled to the United States and England and other countries to learn how to do it, and really started the industry from scratch.  They couldn't get the machinery together fast enough build a prototype from metal, so men made it of wood, and then formed the metal over it.  

Prototype of the first car built by Toyoda Company.

This (I think) is their  Model A.  Pretty Luxurious!

This part of the museum was interesting, showing various models of cars over the years and
how they are constructed today.

Toyota made good money producing trucks for the war in WW II.  See the one to the right?
And this spiffy new truck--notice the horn on the lower side.

Another great addition to the new truck:
Splash guards!

And this is the latest new invention of the time:
a turn signal.

There was lots more.  It's the kind of museum you can spent all day at, especially men.  It was really fun to watch how they assemble cars now--all automatic.  Cool to see how they come together.  You can also go to the factory and take a tour, but everyone says the museum is much more interesting.

Hair salon names:  Hair Make Stork, Garden Hair Design, and Hair medical Salon Infinite.