Bertha Benz - a bit of automotive history

[Basil]

 

[NutmegCT]

I wonder if we'd know the marque "Mercedes-Benz" today, if Berthe hadn't made that trip.

 

[Basil]

I wonder if we'd know the marque "Mercedes-Benz" today, if Berthe hadn't made that trip.

Hard to say, but her trip certainly didn't hurt the prospects. Seems like this story would be a good plot for a full length movie.

 

[DrEntropy]

Intrepid lady. And a bit of an engineer in her own right, too.

 

[NutmegCT]

Another take on Berthe's "awareness tour" -

https://youtu.be/JBL_G-C51Dk

Berthe funded Karl's experiments even before they married. Under German law, an unmarried woman's property, including stock and investments, remained in her name *until she married* - when all items of value became only her husband's property. She had a "personal interest" in seeing his inventions become popular with the public.

Hey - who needs a noisy stinking self-propelled carriage, when there are horses everywhere?

Tom M.

 

[PAUL161]

Where did the name Mercedes come from? Didn't they have a daughter named Mercedes? PJ

 

[NutmegCT]

Where did the name Mercedes come from? Didn't they have a daughter named Mercedes? PJ

Paul - great question, with interesting side story:

From Mercedes-Benz Chicago website:

"The Mercedes-Benz name is a combination of two names: Mercedes Jellinek and Karl Benz. Originally, Mercedes-Benz was founded by Karl Benz and Gottlieb Wilhelm Daimler and was part of Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, better known as DMG. The company was first known by the name Daimler-Benz, as an homage to the founders.

After Gottlieb Wilhelm Daimler passed away, entrepreneur and racing enthusiast Emil Jellinek was brought on by chief engineer Wilhelm Maybach. Emil went on to help create the Mercedes 35hp in 1900. Jellinek named the new cars after his daughter, Mercédès Jellinek, whose Spanish name translated to “mercy.” The company later went on to have the “Mercedes” name trademarked 1902. While the company continued to trade as Daimler-Benz, the car line began to carry the Mercedes-Benz name."

(Maybach engines powered the early Zeppelins. And you might know the importance of "Maybach" today!)

Tom M.

 

[Basil]

Where did the name Mercedes come from? Didn't they have a daughter named Mercedes? PJ

The daughter of an entrepreneur who worked with the company:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz

Lucky her name wasn't Gertrude! Who would want to drive around in a Gertrude-Benze?

 

[PAUL161]

Thanks Tom, I always wondered where the name Mercedes came from, now I know! Being a history buff I enjoyed the story. Thanks Basil for posting the story.

 

[JPSmit]

The daughter of an entrepreneur who worked with the company:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz

Lucky her name wasn't Gertrude! Who would want to drive around in a Gertrude-Benze?

I would of course - <he says huffily!>

My mother's name, my grandmother's name, my great grandmother's name

harumph harumph harumph

:grin:

 

[Basil]

I would of course - <he says huffily!>

My mother's name, my grandmother's name, my great grandmother's name

harumph harumph harumph

:grin:

Gertrude is a fine name for a lady - it just doesn't fit for a car! Imagine driving around in a 1967 Basil :glee: or a 1972 Fred!

 

[JPSmit]

Gertrude is a fine name for a lady - it just doesn't fit for a car! Imagine driving around in a 1967 Basil :glee: or a 1972 Fred!

Oh I know, just messin' though i bet back in the day someone cocked an eyebrow at a car named Mercedes - we've just heard it for 100 years so it sounds right. Similar to a car called Edsel.

 

[Basil]

Similar to a car called Edsel.

LOL

 

[John Turney]

So, it's her fault.