Bertha Benz
Personal Information
Born: 1849
Died: 1944
Country of Birth: Germany
Nationality: Germany
Ethnicity: White
Education
Unknown
Professional Life
Field of Study: Entrepreneur
Institution/Corporation: Daimler-Benz
Degrees & Memberships: none
Awards & Achievements
Awards: 2008, Bertha Benz Memorial route established, tracing the route of her car ride; 2011, Bertha Benz Challenge First Run, a car race tracing the route of her ride; inducted into Automotive Hall of Fame, 2016; 1944, proclaimed an honorary senator by Technical University of Karlsruhe; 1987, Bertha Benz Lecture & Prize Award established by Daimler-Benz Foundation
Achievements: invented brake lining and insulation of ignition wiring
Invented brake lining & insulation for ignition wiring
1888, took the 1st long distance (66 miles) car ride in a combustion powered engine vehicle
Used her dowry to finance her husband (Carl's) automotive business
Helped design &financed the development of the Motorwagen
Took sons (Richard 13 & Eugen 15) on her trip without telling her husband or getting permission from the authorities
Took the trip to convince the public autos could be useful & to promote Carl's business
The car had no fuel tank; there was 4.5 liters of ligroin (the fuel) in the carburetor; fuel could only be purchased in pharmacies she had to find along the way
On the trip she cleaned a clogged fuel line with her hat pin, used her garter as insulation material, when the brakes started to fail she had a cobbler install leather creating the 1st brake lining, her sons had to push the car up steep hills, a blacksmith had to repair a chain; these problems resulted in her making several suggestions for improvement including a 3rd gear for climbing hills, brake linings & insulation