The Visionary Engineer: Carl Benz and the Birth of Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is one of the biggest premium car manufacturers in the world and is a well-known name today. But it’s been a long journey for the automaker to reach this level. The car company went through many hardships, mergers, and immense struggles to reach the level that it is today. In this article, we will see the story of Mercedes-Benz and how it became what it is today.
The Story Of Carl Benz
Carl Benz is one of the biggest icons in the automobile industry. Karl Benz is widely recognized as the inventor of the gasoline-powered automobile. He was born in November 1844. He had a very tough childhood, but he received a good education and excelled in the fields of Physics and Mechanics. He later pursued Mechanical Engineering at the University of Karlsruhe. During his time at the university, he had a teacher named Ferdinand Redtenbacher who was instrumental in developing his interest in the subjects. At that time, only the steam engine existed, but he truly believed that another type of engine was necessary with his professor’s guidance. After graduating from college, he spent the next 7 years working in various jobs.
Gasmotorenfabrik Mannheim
In 1871, he started his own venture with August Ritter, who was a mechanic. They operated an iron foundry and mechanical workshop. During this time, Benz kept working on his side project to develop a motorized carriage, so he thought having a partner would help him. However, his partner was not fulfilling his responsibilities properly.
During this time, he met Bertha Ringer, who would become his wife in a few years. Bertha Ringer was instrumental in Carl Benz’s success. Coming from a wealthy family, she used up all of her savings to buy August Ritter’s share in the business, and the couple turned the business around. Despite the struggles in business, Carl was able to showcase his genius when he found a gasoline two-stroke engine in 1879. He also patented this and many other inventions during that time.
He founded the “Gasmotorenfabrik Mannheim” (Mannheim Gas Engine Factory) as a shareholding company in October 1882. This decision was made due to pressure from banks to include other investors. However, Benz’s share in the company amounted to a mere 5 percent, and he had only limited influence in technical areas. His backers were primarily concerned with the safe business of stationary gas engines. As his thoughts and ideas were not taken into account, he eventually left the company.
Benz & Cie
Benz left the company in January 1883 and joined forces with new business partners Max Rose and Friedrich Wilhelm Esslinger, who owned a bicycle repair shop. Together, they founded the company “Benz & Cie. Rheinische Gasmotoren-Fabrik Mannheim” (Benz & Co. Rhine Gas Engine Factory Mannheim) and launched the two-stroke “System Benz” engine. The company focused on manufacturing industrial machines and stationary gas engines.
In 1885, the Benz Patent Motorwagen was introduced. This two-seater vehicle ran on three wire wheels forming a tricycle and was powered by a gasoline four-stroke motor. Its single cylinder engine produced two-thirds of a horsepower and could reach speeds of around 7 miles per hour. Benz knew that this was a revolutionary invention, and after testing and refining his vehicle, he drove his “Wonder car” out to the public in the summer of 1886. However, many people were skeptical of the vehicle and didn’t want him driving around them in it.
During this time, his wife was his major supporter. The vehicle could only be bought by the elites, but most of them weren’t interested in purchasing it. So, his wife did an act that would change the entire public’s perception of the vehicle.
The long distance journey
Bertha Ringer is the first person to undertake a long-distance journey with a petrol-driven automobile. To demonstrate the everyday suitability of the motor car in practice, she drove with her sons Eugen (15) and Richard (14) the 100 km distance from Mannheim to Pforzheim to visit her mother. She did not let her husband or the police know about this.Her vehicle was the third version of the “Patent Motor Car”, equipped with solid wood spoked wheels and a more powerful engine. Starting at daybreak and following an adventurous drive that requires considerable improvisational talent from Mrs. Benz and her sons on numerous occasions, the travellers arrive in Pforzheim. The return drive five days later leads through Bretten, Bruchsal and Schwetzingen back to Mannheim.The word of this sensation got out in no time and Bertha Benz had achieved her goal. The critics now knew of the vehicle’s reliability and the Benz Patent Motor Car was the talk of the town.
Finding new Partners for Benz & Cie
While Carl Benz was striving to implement his automotive vision, his business partners Rose and Esslinger grew increasingly skeptical of the outcome. Due to the growing demand for stationary engines, Benz & Co. Rheinische Gasmotoren-Fabrik had to relocate to more spacious factory premises. As Carl Benz focused vigorously on developing a car engine, his partners became more uncertain about the future prospects of his invention.
Carl Benz once again had to seek new investors, and in May 1890, he brought on Julius Ganss and Friedrich von Fischer to replace Rose and Esslinger. The two new partners took care of the business and marketing side, allowing Benz to focus solely on the engineering aspect. The company held numerous patents.
At the recommendation of his business partners, Benz designed and manufactured a new and improved automobile that hit the market in 1893. He named it the Benz Victoria, a more luxurious two-passenger vehicle equipped with a three-horsepower engine capable of reaching speeds of 11 miles per hour. Thanks to its reliability, the Benz Victoria sold fairly well. However, it was Benz’s follow-up design, the cheaper Benz Velo, that truly took off. With a total production of about 1,200 units, the Benz Velo became the world’s first large-scale production car in history, establishing Benz & Co. as the largest automobile company in the world during the 1890s and early 1900s.
Despite this successful period, the company faced competition from Daimler Motors.
Next Stage
During the early 1900s, Daimler Motors changed its name to Mercedes and began producing race cars under its new name. Benz’s partners recognized the growing trend and hired French designers to work on race car development. However, Carl Benz disagreed with the idea of creating race cars as he believed they were not safe. Despite his disagreement, he left the company but remained on its board.
Ironically, these race cars turned out to be instrumental in Benz achieving even greater success. They helped elevate the reputation and performance of the Mercedes brand. In 1912, Carl Benz resigned as Managing Director and transferred sole management control to his sons, indicating a transition of leadership within the company.
Creation Mercedes Benz
Later in 1926, Mercedes and Benz joined together to form Mercedes-Benz Automobil GmbH. In his final years, Carl Benz, who was once ridiculed and misunderstood as an inventor, began to receive accolades and recognition from around the world. From 1926 to 1929, he remained active as a Board Member of the newly formed Daimler-Benz AG company.
Sadly, Carl Benz passed away at his home in Ladenburg on April 4, 1929. He left behind an enduring legacy in the automobile industry and is rightfully regarded as one of its true pioneers. His contributions and inventions have shaped the automotive world and continue to impact it to this day.
Some Other Resources
Next article
The story of Carl Benz is indeed an inspiration to entrepreneurs everywhere. However, to truly understand the complete Benz story, we must also explore the story of Mercedes or Gottlieb Daimler. You can find the link to the story once it is published here.
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