Mercedes-Benz - the name the world knows best. As one of leading automotive manufacturers in the world, Mercedes-Benz has a long history. These German brand built by Gottlieb Daimler, Wilhelm Maybach and Karl Benz, and at the beginning of its establishment was called DMG (Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft). So where is the origin of name currently used by those German car manufacturer coming from?
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| 1901 Mercedes 35 HP, the first DMG's car used name 'Mercedes,' was developed by DMG's chief designer Wilhelm Maybach for Emil Jellinek. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/30LBd6v) |
Many would also know that the name is associated with a little girl whose doting father named a car after her. She was not one of the company founders, nor auto engineer or even not a petrolhead as well. The fact, she was Mercedes Jellinek which in the full name is Mercedes Adrienne Ramona Manuela Jellinek.  |
| Emil Jellinek and his beloved daughter Mercedes who's her name patented by the German automotive manufacturer DMG for its commercially used since 1926, and currently known as Mercedes-Benz. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/32KuhbB) |
It all started, when Emil Jellinek saw an advertisement for the Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft (DMG) car manufacturer in 1896. Eager to learn more about it, he traveled to Cannstatt, Germany to see the factory. In that time, Jellinek purchased one of their product himself and soon decided to start selling them. Moreover he loved to race and then he brought his DMG car into the Nice-La Turbie racing event in 1899. His racing-team competed under the name of his beloved daughter, Mercedes.
Use of the first 'Mercedes' car brand
In the following year, Emil Jellinek has sold more than 30 automobiles, which was a big deals at the time. He constantly prompted the company to build faster, lighter, and better overall vehicles.
Use of the first 'Mercedes' car brand
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| DMG's classic flyer advertisement made for its Mercedes car products. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ZdCa7z) |
On April 2, 1900, Wilhelm Maybach, DMG's chief designer began making the car at the request of Emil Jellinek with the price of 500,000 Goldmarks or if cashed in with current money is roughly the same amount to buy 36 units of Mercedes Benz S500, or more than 100 units of Mercedes Benz C200 Compressor.
And on December 22, 1900, the new Mercedes 35 HP was launched and the name was later patented as a trademark in 1902. Five of those cars were managed to amaze the world and dominating the Nice-La Turbie racing event in 1901.
The Mercedes 35 HP was originally designed as a race car and in the time made as much as 36 unit. It sported a wheelbase of 2,345 m and a track of 1,400 m. Its engine weighed approximately 230 kg with weight-power ratio is 6.6 kg per hp. The engine was mounted above the front axle without additional sub frames to improve its center of gravity. Overall, the car’s weight was estimated to be 1,200 kg.
The vehicle featured non-removable wooden wheels with 12-spoke design, steel covers and pneumatic tires. It had two braking systems. One is the hand brake, and the other is the foot brake. And the engine had four cylinders with a total displacement of 5.918 L. These were arranged in pairs wherein each pair had a spray-nozzle carburetor. It was cooled using Maybach’s tubular radiator or the honeycomb radiator. The engine's peak power output was 35 hp.
And DMG's sales took off, while the newspaper reported: 'We have entered the Mercedes era." When the car named after her became a new craze, little Mercedes was only 11 years old. Finally in 1926, DMG merged with engineer Karl Benz's company then Mercedes-Benz brand emerged leaving Jellinek's name in history once for all. At that time, DMG admitted that the Mercedes name had high selling power and (believe or not) brought some good luck as well. And infact, it was proven to date.
Emil Jellinek once said, "Victories make you world-famous. People buy the winning brand, and always will. It would be commercially suicide to stay away from racing." Perhaps this quotes also inspired and made these German automotive brand keep on compete in the various world's car racing events until this day.
And on December 22, 1900, the new Mercedes 35 HP was launched and the name was later patented as a trademark in 1902. Five of those cars were managed to amaze the world and dominating the Nice-La Turbie racing event in 1901.
The Mercedes 35 HP was originally designed as a race car and in the time made as much as 36 unit. It sported a wheelbase of 2,345 m and a track of 1,400 m. Its engine weighed approximately 230 kg with weight-power ratio is 6.6 kg per hp. The engine was mounted above the front axle without additional sub frames to improve its center of gravity. Overall, the car’s weight was estimated to be 1,200 kg.
The vehicle featured non-removable wooden wheels with 12-spoke design, steel covers and pneumatic tires. It had two braking systems. One is the hand brake, and the other is the foot brake. And the engine had four cylinders with a total displacement of 5.918 L. These were arranged in pairs wherein each pair had a spray-nozzle carburetor. It was cooled using Maybach’s tubular radiator or the honeycomb radiator. The engine's peak power output was 35 hp.
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| Five of Mercedes 35 HP were used to compete in the Nice-La Turbie racing event in March 1901. (Picture from: http://bit.ly/2ZdCa7z) |
Emil Jellinek once said, "Victories make you world-famous. People buy the winning brand, and always will. It would be commercially suicide to stay away from racing." Perhaps this quotes also inspired and made these German automotive brand keep on compete in the various world's car racing events until this day.
Perhaps some of you will ask how's Mercedes and her father destiny? During the 1st World War, Emil was accused of spying activities and all his properties were seized. Then in 1918, he died in exile in Switzerland.
How's Mercedes, she had two failed marriages that gave her two children and was lived in poverty. Once she begged to her neighbours, while her first husband is worked as a civil servant. Her second spouse was a poor sculptor who passed away shortly after their wedding. And tragically she died of bone cancer in 1929 before she reach the age of 40 years old.
Life's not always flat, sometimes going up and sometimes going down. C'est la vie! *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MERCEDES-BENZ | BENZINSIDER]
Life's not always flat, sometimes going up and sometimes going down. C'est la vie! *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | MERCEDES-BENZ | BENZINSIDER]
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