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BIRTH AND REBIRTH

Meanwhile, Daimler was busy exploring every conceivable application that could possibly use an internal combustion engine—on land, in the air, or on the water—which is why his company, Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, created a three-pointed star as its emblem. Daimler himself died in March of 1890, and the vision of his company ended up in the hands of Emil Jellinek, who distrib- uted Daimler automobiles throughout Austria-Hungary, France, and Belgium. Jellinek believed the public would embrace the automobile if it could be made faster and more stylish, but Daimler’s conservative board members didn’t see things that way. An appropriate design had been penned by Paul Daimler, son of the founder, but the board hadn’t given it the green light for production. To bring leverage to the new concept, Jellinek proposed buying the first thirty-six vehicles produced, but he did impose a unique condition: that they be named after his daughter, Mercedes. The board capitulated, and what resulted was the first modern automobile. It had the engine in the front, a radiator in front of the engine, four wheels, and was built on a frame of steel instead of wood. These first Mercedes automobiles were hard to beat for innovation in design and performance. At the time the Mercedes 40 hp model boasted the most powerful engine one could buy in 1902, and offered innovations such as water- cooled rear brakes, a honeycomb radiator, and a four-speed transmission.

Mercedes history

The Patent-Motor- wagen’s internal com- bustion engine was started by spinning its weighted flywheel.

Gearing between the Patent- Motorwagen’s

flywheel and drive pulley

shows the high degree of crafts- manship exer- cised by Benz’ crew of bicycle mechanics in creating what is regarded as the very first automobile.

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