1.The automobile has been around for 120 years.
2.A patent is "a government authority or license conferring a right or title for a set period, especially the sole right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention."
3.The title Carl Benz uses to describe the automobile, after obtaining a patent is "Vehicle with Gas Engine".
4.The wife of Carl Benz, Berta, drives his invention to Fort Times, without Carl's knowledge, in August of 1888. This is when the first petrol station is born.
5.The "axial pivot steering system" helped solve the issue with steering, and being able to turn both wheels at the same time.
6.The new name of the merged companies is Mercedes Benz.
7.Benz lived to see his dreams come true, this is something that many pioneers in technology never experience.
Henry Ford and the Model T:
1. The assembly line changed from its original position of having the people move down the line, rotating between items, to the lines themselves moving the items around the people.
2. Workers tended to stay longer, and were more committed to Ford's company than others at the time because Henry treated all workers equally. Payments were equal for everyone, and he guaranteed a more “livable wage” than anyone else.
3. The first Model T costed a little over a thousand dollars. It was made for the common folk at the time who couldn't afford carriages, or more expensive forms of transportation.
4. The price of the Model T dropped to eight hundred, then dramatically to about $365.00. I think this drop occurred because of the production of automobiles. Perhaps he began without competition, but later, needed to compete against other companies for business.
5. Model Ts offered people a more efficient form of transportation they could use. They could travel to any place, at any time, without having to wait for train times, etc.
My Video Selections:
Tucker's Dream Impacts Auto Industry
- His vision was to build his own company from the ground up, and create the safest automobile around. It's interesting that safety was a concern for so long.
- Tucker had the idea of a "pop-out windshield". This to me, seems like a really good idea, and I was surprised to hear that he thought of it. I have never really heard of the idea before, until now.
- Another interesting point I found was his idea of a third headlight. A light that moves with the steering wheel to light up the road ahead. This seems like it was a really good idea at the time, but probably unnecessary with the headlights already on both sides of the vehicle.
- The fact that more shares were sold in Tucker's company than actual automobiles is another point I found interesting. It seems that automobiles were not his only concern.
Vulcanized Rubber
- The realization of how much the invention rubber has actually affected our lives is insane! It is in everything we do, or at least a part of our lives in some way.
- Rubber was invented during the industrial revolution. I did not know this, so it was an interesting fact to learn.
- Learning that sulfur is what makes natural rubber matter into the stretchy, usable material we know today, was a interesting point for me.
- It was shocking that rubber became such an important aspect to those during the industrial era. The abuse that occurred to the men who worked for it, and the guarding that was required to protect it is very bizarre.
1911- Electric starter introduced
- Rubber was invented during the industrial revolution. I did not know this, so it was an interesting fact to learn.
- Learning that sulfur is what makes natural rubber matter into the stretchy, usable material we know today, was a interesting point for me.
- It was shocking that rubber became such an important aspect to those during the industrial era. The abuse that occurred to the men who worked for it, and the guarding that was required to protect it is very bizarre.
Automobile Timeline:
Charles Kettering introduces the electric starter. Until this time engines had to be started by hand cranking. Critics believed no one could make an electric starter small enough to fit under a car’s hood yet powerful enough to start the engine. His starters first saw service in 1912 Cadillacs.
- I selected this point from the timeline because this invention was the start of something amazing. Before, starting a vehicle was it's own task itself. Automobiles were invented for efficiency, to go any place, at anytime, but before the electric starter, trying to get there at anytime, was a bigger challenge. You would have to take the time to hand crank the engine, which was also an unnecessary workout. Once this invention was introduced, odds are, the vehicles became more popular in markets, because now, it is even easier than it was before.
1914- First car body made entirely of steel
Dodge introduces the first car body made entirely of steel, fabricated by the Budd Company. The Dodge touring car is made in Hamtramck, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.
- This point was particularly interesting to me because before steel, most cars were made with special types of wood, with some components of steel or other metals. They were easier to damage, and especially dangerous to those who owned one or drove one. The possibility of catching the engine, as well as the body on fire was a greater risk. With the invention of the all body steel vehicle, all of these problems and concerns were resolved.
1922- First American car with four-wheel hydraulic brakes
The Duesenberg, made in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the first American car with four-wheel hydraulic brakes, replacing ones that relied on the pressure of the driver’s foot alone. Hydraulic brakes use a master cylinder in a hydraulic system to keep pressure evenly applied to each wheel of the car as the driver presses on the brake pedal.
- I chose this event on the timeline because I feel it was an essential addition to the automobile. Before the four-wheel hydraulic brakes, the risks of the vehicle were larger. Even today, car accidents are common, where a pedestrian is injured due to a failed stop, or even other passengers of oncoming vehicles. It is hard to even imagine how different, and more dangerous things would have been before this invention of the four-wheel hydraulic brake.
1935- Flashing turn signals introduced
A Delaware company uses a thermal interrupter switch to create flashing turn signals. Electricity flowing through a wire expands it, completing a circuit and allowing current to reach the lightbulb. This short-circuits the wire, which then shrinks and terminates contact with the bulb but is then ready for another cycle. Transistor circuits begin taking over the task of thermal interrupters in the 1960s.
- This invention was one that I found extremely important. Traffic is a terrible thing, and even worse when you are unaware of who's going where. The invention of the flashing turn signals was a solution to the problems of collision. It makes things easier when you can see where the oncoming traffic is headed, so you are aware of where you can, and cannot go.
1914- First car body made entirely of steel
Dodge introduces the first car body made entirely of steel, fabricated by the Budd Company. The Dodge touring car is made in Hamtramck, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.
- This point was particularly interesting to me because before steel, most cars were made with special types of wood, with some components of steel or other metals. They were easier to damage, and especially dangerous to those who owned one or drove one. The possibility of catching the engine, as well as the body on fire was a greater risk. With the invention of the all body steel vehicle, all of these problems and concerns were resolved.
1922- First American car with four-wheel hydraulic brakes
The Duesenberg, made in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the first American car with four-wheel hydraulic brakes, replacing ones that relied on the pressure of the driver’s foot alone. Hydraulic brakes use a master cylinder in a hydraulic system to keep pressure evenly applied to each wheel of the car as the driver presses on the brake pedal.
- I chose this event on the timeline because I feel it was an essential addition to the automobile. Before the four-wheel hydraulic brakes, the risks of the vehicle were larger. Even today, car accidents are common, where a pedestrian is injured due to a failed stop, or even other passengers of oncoming vehicles. It is hard to even imagine how different, and more dangerous things would have been before this invention of the four-wheel hydraulic brake.
1935- Flashing turn signals introduced
A Delaware company uses a thermal interrupter switch to create flashing turn signals. Electricity flowing through a wire expands it, completing a circuit and allowing current to reach the lightbulb. This short-circuits the wire, which then shrinks and terminates contact with the bulb but is then ready for another cycle. Transistor circuits begin taking over the task of thermal interrupters in the 1960s.
- This invention was one that I found extremely important. Traffic is a terrible thing, and even worse when you are unaware of who's going where. The invention of the flashing turn signals was a solution to the problems of collision. It makes things easier when you can see where the oncoming traffic is headed, so you are aware of where you can, and cannot go.
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