As we entered the museum, we bought the ticket and were briefed. The museum showcases the beginnings of automobile. Among the items which I considered the highlights are the first spark plug in the world and the first ever automobile in the world which was invented by Dr. Carl Benz in 1886.
The first spark plug in the world.A brief history:
Karl Benz (Carl Benz) In 1885, German mechanical engineer, Karl Benz designed and built the world's first practical automobile to be powered by an internal-combustion engine. On January 29, 1886, Benz received the first patent (DRP No. 37435) for a gas-fueled car. It was a three-wheeler; Benz built his first four-wheeled car in 1891. Benz & Company, the company started by the inventor, became the world's largest manufacturer of automobiles by 1900.
Biography Karl Friedrich Benz was born in 1844 in Baden Muehlburg, Germany (now part of Karlsruhe). He was the son of an engine driver. Benz attended the Karlsruhe grammar school and later the Karlsruhe Polytechnic University. In 1871, He founded his first company with partner August Ritter, the "Iron Foundry and Machine Shop" a supplier of building materials.
Benz began his work on a two-stroke engine, in hopes of finding a new income. He received his first patent in 1879. In 1883, he founded Benz & Company to produce industrial engines in Mannheim, Germany. He then began designing a "motor carriage", with a four-stroke engine (based on Nicolaus Otto's patent). Benz designed his engine (958cc, 0.75hp) and the body for the three-wheel vehicle with an electric ignition, differential gears, and water-cooling. The car was first driven in Mannheim in 1885. On January 29, 1886, he was granted a patent for his gas-fueled automobile (DRP 37435) and in July, he began selling his automobile to the public.
Source: http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blbenz.htm
The first automobile.
The patent of the first automobile.In one corner of the museum are the machines, tools and other equipments in their work place. A line of lamps caught my attention. It’s mentioned that there workplace at that time had very small and few windows as the glass was then so expensive, so they have to use these lamps.
Among the displays are the first four models of automobile, 1900 models of Benz tour automobiles, 1920, 30s, 50s generation of cars and limousines, and also the early and new generation of racing cars. The museum is really very interesting. A big and new Benz museum is now open in Stuttgart City. As this moment, Mercedes Benz is manufacturing cars in Stuttgart, buses in Mannheim and in Ladenburg the spare parts.
As we were going around the place, we were wondering where we can find/read how the Mercedes Benz brand came into a "Brand" because the Benz companies we have been seeing from the displays are: Daimler Benz, C.Benz and Söhne (C.Benz’s sons). All along I thought that the name “Mercedes” is from Carl Benz’s daughter. So we asked the staff of the museum where we could find such information and he pointed it out to us. I was completely wrong; the fact is that, on March 21, 1899, a car-racing driver Emil Jellinek with his 16PS Daimler race car won. He named his car after his daughter “Mercedes”. In April 1900 he placed an order for 36 Daimler cars worth 550,000 Goldmark and he demanded that these cars will be named “Mercedes”. On December 22 of the same year, the first Mercedes 35 PS car was delivered. In March 26, 1902, the brand “Mercedes” was protected. In 1926 through the merging of the company “Daimler-Motoren-Gesellshaft” with the “Benz & Cie” came the brand name “Mercedes Benz”.
Later on, we were given direction how to get to the villa of Dr. Carl Benz and his garage (the very first garage in the world). We got there on foot as it was just some meters away from the museum. Oh! That was really interesting. I can’t believe I have seen this very remarkable site.
The garage is just few meters away from his villa (within his garden). As indicated, the members of the car club are convening in this garage until to date.
The villa of Dr. Carl Benz
His garage, the first garage in the world. The first floor was his work place and second floor was his studio place.
For more details, please check out this website. I’m sorry, it’s in German but at least you can see some awesome pictures.
http://www.automuseum-ladenburg.de/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4&Itemid=5
More old timer Benz cars:
Posted by:
Jernie
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