Thanks to Bertha Benz, Karl Benz is often given credit for inventing the automobile.
Photo: Daimler
Bertha Benz took an active role in her husbands business.
When Karl moved onto a new manufacturing venture, Bertha continued to finance her husbands investments.
Although Karl was a brilliant engineer, he was not much of a businessman.
It is regarded as the world’s first automobile.
Karl unveiled his invention to the public in July 1886.
The publics response to Karls invention was disappointingly lukewarm, and this bothered Bertha more than it did Karl.
Karl also improved the chassis.
He added wooden-spoke wheels, a fuel tank, and a manual leather shoe brake on the rear wheels.
Bertha Benz at age 18.
Meanwhile, Bertha was getting restless.
Bertha knew perfectly well that we can’t perfect a design before we field-test it.
And she had more faith in Karl’s auto than he did.
So she hatched up a plan.
They quietly pushed the vehicle out of the workshop and only started it once they were out of earshot.
She didnt mention the motor car, and Karl assumed they took the train.
Bertha herself was not sure of the route.
From Weinheim, they headed south, to Wiesloch.
A source of great concern was gasoline.
The vehicle did not have a gas tank.
In those days, gasoline was sold in apothecaries as a cleaning agent under the name ligorine.
Bertha filled her car in Wiesloch and then again in Langenbrucken and Bruchsal during their journey.
Keeping the engine cool was another worrying factor.
Bertha and her sons reached Pforzheim at dusk, exhausted but happy.
They quickly telegrammed Karl and informed him about their safe arrival.
A few days later, the travelers began the return journey to Mannheim.
That was my wife.
Bravely and resolutely she set the new sails of hope.
