When I decided to do a Creators podcast episode on Karl Benz and the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, I didn’t realize I would learn about one of the most positive, optimistic, and courageous inventors and businessmen of all-time.
I was lucky enough to stumble on a really great book, published way back in 1957, titled, “From Engines to Autos,’ written by Friedrich Schilberger, Eugen Diesel, and Gustav Goldbeck. The book was originally published in Germany, then later translated to English and published in 1960.
The book was phenomenal, but even better was the creators story of Karl Benz, and his amazing determination to invent a working engine that would power a horseless carriage. Then develop a Motorwagen that would be mass-produced and sold to the public before anyone else.
Karl Benz
When young Karl Benz was only two years old, his father died while working on the railroad as an engineer. His mother was determined to give her young son the finest education she could find, and did everything in her power to provide for her family.
All the way to his last days, Karl Benz spoke fondly of his mother, saying that, “she lived only for me, absolutely and completely.”
With an interest in the railroads, and engineering, just like his father, Karl Benz gravitated toward his schoolwork and excelled in his classes. This hard work earned him a place at the Karlsruhe Polytechnical school, which happened to include some of the greatest engineering minds of the time.
Ferdinand Redtenbacher, a professor at the school, had a huge influence on Benz, mentoring him on the fundamentals of science and engineering. He would be regarded as the founder of science-based mechanical engineering.
Ferdinand Redtenbacher
Benz recalls that his great professor, Redtenbacher, was determined to discover the type of engine that would replace the steam engine. Something smaller, more powerful, and much more efficient. The problem was heat, he would say, and once that was solved, he was looking forward to getting rid of the steam engine for good.
It turns out, the invention that Ferdinand Redtenbacher was referring to was the internal combustion engine. In proportion to the size and weight, it had much more power than the steam engine.
Redtenbacher passed away without seeing his visions come to reality. But his fellow students and faculty would carry the torch. As a student, even Karl Benz was one of the pall-bearers to carried him to his final resting place.
As a successor, Karl Benz had Franz Grashof, who was also another pioneer of the internal combustion engine technology. And Benz would remember both mentors very fondly the rest of his life.
Karl Benz and the New Engine
Fast forward to New Year’s Eve, 1879. Karl Benz and his wife Bertha, venture out the the small shop behind their house to try the engine one more time. They stare at it for a while, then turn the crank. The engine fires up. Put-put-put, is how Benz remembers the sound.
As he said, “music of the future sounded with regular rhythm. We both listened to it run for a full hour, fascinated, never tiring of the single tone of its song.”
So now we know that Karl and Bertha Benz have a fine running engine in the tiny little workshop, but how did they do it? And what comes next? Let’s dive into the amazing creators story of Karl and Bertha Benz.
The Long Road for Karl Benz and His Motorwagen
We need to remember that Karl Benz finished his engineering schooling, but now he needed a job to make money. He didn’t go directly into creating his own engine and automobile.
He first needed to survive.
So Benz worked at several different companies. Performing well, but quickly moving on the the next company when he realized there was no more to learn.
All the while, gaining valuable experience, and learning everything he possibly could about his various positions. He knew he wanted to have his own workshop.
And I really love this quote from the book, “From Engines to Autos,” where it says,
“Benz’s lack of funds seem hopelessly depressing had it not been for his youthful drive, his strong will to live, and his confidence in himself. His work for Benckiser taught him bridge construction and gave him experience as a plant foreman. It also enabled him to save for such time as he could go into business for himself.”
And of course, we need to remember Benz met his wife while working at one of these companies, before he was able to set off on his own. Bertha Ringer, who would soon become Bertha Benz, was the most important partner he could have found.
The book describes it as finding the foundation of his life’s happiness. These are the words of Benz looking back at his wife, Bertha,
“It was like a second mainspring for my creative drives, giving me a constantly renewing source of energy with which to overcome frustrating obstacles.”
Benz and His Partnerships
Now Benz strikes out on his own, determined to invent on his own terms. He would need partners because the cost of running his own shop was too great.
Even with the lack of financial resources, Benz continues his optimistic spirit. The book quotes, “Uncertainty, doubt, and despair were overcome by Benz’s innate positive attitude toward life.”
And it’s a good thing Benz had such a great positive spirit, otherwise he wouldn’t have made it through.
Economic turmoil strikes with the Vienna stock market crash of 1873, and now Benz is running low on cash. He’s got to take a stand, and pull off something really great.
This is a period that both Karl and Bertha remember the rest of their lives. It’s at this time they decide to go all-in on the internal combustion engine.
The Two-Stroke Engine
It was obvious the two-stroke engine was the path forward. There was a recent patent filed by Nikolaus August Otto for the four-cycle engine, so to avoid infringing on that patent, Benz moves forward with his work on the two-cycle engine.
Even though Benz didn’t need to start from scratch, as there was already a patent for the two cycle by Dugald Clerk of Glasgow in 1878, Benz knew he could improve on what he saw.
A few giant steps forward in the Benz engine design was the method of exchanging air during the intake and exhaust phase. Also, the timing of this important exchange would be a big improvement to what was already known.
From the book, I really love this description of what it took to come up with these solutions for the Benz engine –
“At this time Karl Benz also drew upon all his powers in his creative task. It was economic life or death. External circumstances, however oppressive, could not cut into his creative performance or diminish his wife’s faith in his ultimate success.”
By 1879, Karl and Bertha Benz have a working two cycle engine that’s arguably better than any other design out there.
But even with a superior design, Benz still needs to attract partners who can help fund his operation. He gets lucky with a timely offer. Emil Buhler, a photographer, was struck by the Benz operation and quickly made an offer for financial support.
The partnership didn’t last long, and Benz would meet the owners of a bicycle shop, Max Kaspar Rose and Friedrich Wilhelm Esslinger.
The cost of entering and exiting partnerships would hurt Benz financially. But he was always focused on development of his engine, and started to work on a Motorwagen that would be powered by the same engine.
Even though he was determined to connect his engine with a carriage, his partners didn’t always see things in the same light. They wanted him to simply focus on the engine so they could market it to customers. Surely, there was no market for a carriage that would be powered by anything other than a horse!
Creating the Karl Benz Motorwagen
Even with partners who were not very enthusiastic about creating a motor vehicle, Benz continued on in his work.
Reports of his test drives around town began to surface in the local newspapers. Another big break for Benz came when the patent for the four cycle engine expired in 1884. Benz would switch his new vehicle to a four cycle, a much more efficient powerplant.
By July 3, 1886, a local newspaper reported the following,
“A velocipede drived by Ligroin gas, built by the Rheinische Gasmotorenfabrik of Benz & Cie., already reported in these pages on June 4, was tested this morning early on the Ringstrasse, during which it operated satisfactorily.”
Not exactly the grand exclamations you might expect for one of the very first sightings of a motor vehicle in the history of the world, interest by the public was very subdued.
But this gave Benz some hope, and much needed testing to improve on what he had created.
Interest, and coverage by newspapers slowly increased. But the general opinion was still skeptical. Here’s the newspaper summary of what they believed the potential could be for the Benz motorcar from the Mannheim newspaper Generalanzeiger, published on September 15, 1886 –
“We believe this wagon has a good future because it can be put in use without much trouble and because when the speed is made sufficient, it will be the most inexpensive promotional tool for travelling salesmen, as well as a way for tourists to get around.”
It took so much time for the general public to realize the potential of a carriage powered by an internal combustion engine. Years, decades, before people could see the light. But Benz powered ahead, discouraged by the huge challenge.
Success for Karl Benz
By the late 1890s, finally, we can say Karl Benz achieved success. By 1899, he had built 2,000, and 572 for that year alone. His best production year, making him the largest auto manufacture in the world.
Year after year, Benz worked to evolve, and improve the designs of his cars. He quickly realized through the sport of racing, innovation and advancement in the industry would greatly improve.
Even into the 1900s, the auto industry was full of continuous ups and downs. Benz remained optimistic, positive, and motivated to solve whatever was thrown at him. Just like always.
I really love this passage from the book, where they quote directly from Karl Benz on his 80th birthday in 1924.
From his memoirs, Benz looked back on his life and wrote –
“On days such as that, memory runs along with all bells ringing… I have spent too much of my life fighting in the front firing line against superannuated period attitudes and public prejudices to care much about external dignities and decorations…. Anyone who has had to make his own way, as I have, working since he was a little boy, has a more natural understanding for the joys and sorrows of a working man than do others, who know of want and anxiety among the poorer classes only from hearsay. Meeting fidelity with fidelity has always been a cardinal principle of life for me.”
I would very strongly encourage you to check out the book, “From Engines to Autos,” and read the entire creators story of Karl Benz.
There’s another great book I read on Benz from 1936 that you should also read. It’s titled, “The Invention of the Automobile,” by author St. John C. Nixon. The author does a great job of making sure people understand the contribution that Karl Benz made to the industry as one of the first automobile creators.
As crazy as it sounded, back in the day, to have a carriage without a horse attached to it, the idea prevailed because of strong-willed, optimistic inventors and creators like Karl Benz.
And once you finish learning about Karl Benz, there’s dozens-more auto creators following right behind him. Gottlieb Daimler, Wilhelm Maybach, of course Henry Ford, and so many others!