Wilhelm Maybach
From Free net encyclopedia
Wilhelm Maybach (b. February 9, 1846, Heilbronn; d. December 29, 1929, Stuttgart) was an early German engine designer --mainly automobile-- and industrialist. In the 1890s, hailed "King of constructors" of France --first world powerhouse in the matter--.
Since latter 19th century, Wilhelm Maybach and Gottlieb Daimler workaholic union developed light, high-speed internal combustion engines, suitable for any kind of vehicles --land, water and air--; including world's first: motorcycle, motorboat, and shortly after Daimler's death, a "modernly outlined car" --the Mercedes, in 1900--.
Maybach was technical director of the Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, DMG --Daimler Motors Company--, albeit not getting along with its chairmen ever. Maybach left it in 1909, founding the Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH together with his son Karl, manufacturing Zeppelin engines. After the Versailles Treaty, they produced large luxury vehicles, until the 1940s. However, Daimler-Benz retained rights to the trademark, reviving it as a super-luxury make in 2002.
Early life and career beginnings (1846 to 1869)
Wilhem Maybach was son of a carpenter and his wife Luise from the town of Heilbronn, having 5 sisters. By his 8 years old, the family moved from Loewenstein --nearby Heilbronn-- to Stuttgart. Where, in just 3 years (1856 to 1859), his two parents died: his mother first and, after two years, his father too.
After his relatives published an announcement in a newspaper --Stuttgarter Anzeiger--, the philanthropic institution Bruderhaus, "siblings' home", at Reutlingen, welcomed Maybach as student. Its own founder/director, Gustav Werner, discovered his technical inclinations and dedicated to stimulate his career personally, destining Maybach to the school's engineering workshop. At 15 (1861), Maybach was on-track for industrial graphic design already, adding afternoon extra classes of physics and mathematics at Reutlingen 's public high-school.
With 19 years old, he was a qualified designer already, working on static engines and awaking the attention of his workshop manager: Gottlieb Daimler. Daimler was a workaholic industrial designer of 29-years-old. Since then, until 1900 when he died, he adopted Maybach as his main assistant for life.
Daimler and Otto's Four-Stroke engine (1869 to 1880)
In 1869, Maybach (23 years old), as technical designer, followed Daimler, moving to a mechanical manufacturer of heavy-duty locomotives, Maschinenbau-Gesellschaft Karlsruhe AG in Karlsruhe. Daimler was in the Executive Committee. But additionally, both sidekicks spent long nights discussing new designs for engines: pumps, lumber machinery and punching metal panels.
In 1872, Daimler moved to Deutz-AG-Gasmotorenfabrik gas-engines factory, in Cologne, world's largest manufacturer of stationary gas engines. Nicholas Otto, its half-owner, and Daimler focused on engine development together. Obviously, Maybach was there also, as Chief Designer.
In 1876, Nikolaus Otto invented the Four-Stroke-Compression system, also known as the Otto-Stroke, a gas internal combustion engine characterized by pistons (combined with cylinder´s valves) moving alternately in phases of: intake, compression, power and exhaust. But unable to compete against the predominant steam-engines still, because it was primitive and inefficient. Otto's application for a patent on this engine was voided.
This same year, Maybach was commended to present Deutz 's engines at Philadelphia's World Fair(USA). Back in Cologne (1877, 31 years), he concentrated in the Four-Stroke designs to its impending massive commercial launch.
In 1878, Maybach (32) married Bertha Wilhelmine Habermaas --coming from a rich family friend of Daimler's wife, Emma Kunz--. Her family was landowner of Maulbronner and had a post-office also. The next year, was born Karl (July 6, 1879), first son of three.
But Gottlieb Daimler and Nikolaus Otto had serious discussions, culminating with Daimler's firing from Deutz-AG (1880). Daimler received 112.000 gold marks in Deutz-AG shares --as compensation of any patent by him and Maybach--. Later, Maybach renounced too, escorting his friend to a new enterprise at Cannstatt.
Daimler Motors: Fast and small engines (1882)
In 1882, Maybach (36 years) moved to Southern Germany in Taubenheimstrasse -- route 13, upscale suburb--, Cannstatt, Stuttgart. Daimler had purchased a cottage with 75,000 gold marks from their Deutz ' litigation. In its garden, they added a brick-extension to the roomy glass-fronted summerhouse, darkened with curtains --becoming their 24-hours workshop--.
Their hermetic discretion altered the neighbors. Surmising false coining, the police raided the property in absence of Daimler and Maybach with gardener's key, finding only engines obviously. Then, they could continue with their noisy works.
Daimler and Maybach founded the Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft, DMG --Daimler Motor Company--. It was pledged for the construction of internal combustion engines, small and fast, for transportation by either land, water of air. As the modern Mercedes Benz logo is also: a three pointed star each one representing a different way. Maybach was its "Chief Designer".
After spending long hours debating how to fuel Otto's Four-Stroke engine, that didn't allow higher speeds with gas, they discovered the petroleum (until then only a cleaner sold in pharmacies).
In 1884, was born Maybach's second son, Adolf.
The Grandfather's Clock Engine (1885)
By the end of 1885, Maybach and Daimler developed the first of their engines. With its reduced size, it's regarded as a precursor to all modern petrol engines, featuring:
- single-horizontal Four Stroke cylinder
- air cooling
- large Iron-Cast flywheel
- revolutionary hot tube ignition system (Patent 28022)
- exhaust valve regulated by curved groove control (allowing high speeds).
- 600 rpm, overcoming any standard until then (about 120 to 180 rpm)
In 1885, they created the first carburetor also. It injected evaporated gasoline, mixing it with air to allow its use as fuel efficiently. It was used that year on a larger version of the engine ---albeit relatively compact still--, now with a vertical cylinder:
- 1 hp at 600 rpm, something unusual
- 100 cc of engine displacement
- patent DRP-28-022: "non-cooled, heat-insulated engine with unregulated hot-tube ignition"
Daimler baptized it the Grandfather's Clock (Standuhr), because its resemblance with an old pendulum clock.
In November 1885, Daimler installed a smaller version into a wooden bicycle, creating the first motorcycle, patent 36-423: "Vehicle with gas or petroleum drive machine"--. Maybach drove it 3 kilometers from Cannstatt to Untertuerkheim, reaching 7.5 mph (12 km/h).
In March 8, 1886, the inventors took a stagecoach (built by Wilhelm Wimpff & Sohn) inside the house secretly, telling the neighbors that was a birthday gift for Mrs. Daimler. But, in fact, Maybach supervised the installation into it of an enlarged Grandfather's Clock. It became the Reitwagen, reaching 10 mph (15 km/h), with 1.5 hp --power transmitted by a set of belts--, being tested again on the route to Untertuerkheim.
Enthusiastically, Maybach and Daimler proved the engine in many ways since then:
- First on water (1887). It was mounted into a boat --4.5 meters long--, achieving 6 knots (11 km/h); named Neckar, because its testing was carried out on that river --patent DRP 39-367--; becoming their foremost product --until the average of 1900s decade--.
- Several times on land, in street-car demonstrations and in a trolley
- Even by the skies, the first motorized airship, a gasballon. Basing on designs by Dr. Friedrich Hermann Woelfert from Leipzig, they replaced his hand-operated drive system and flew over Seelberg successfully in August 10, 1888.
By 1887, they were selling their first patents abroad. Maybach represented the company in the great Paris' World Design Exhibition (1886 to 1889), showing all those marvels.
 Grandfather´s Clock engine (1885) |
 First motorcycle (1885) |
 Daimler-Maybach Motorized Stagecoach (1886) |
First Daimler-Maybach automobile (1889)
| high speed four stroke petrol engine | |
|---|---|
| fuel vaporization | |
| 2 cylinders V-configured | |
| mushroom shaped valves | |
| water-cooled | |
| 4 speed toothed gearbox | |
| pioneer axle-pivot steering system | |
The sales increased, mostly from the Neckar motorboat. So, in June of 1887, Daimler bought a land in the Seelberg hill of Cannstatt --miles away because Cannstatt's Mayor was bothered by the workshop--. It was of 2,903 square meters --Ludwig Route 67--, costing 30,200 gold marks. They built up pieces for 23 employees.
In those years, Daimler managed the commercial issues and Maybach the design department.
In 1889, influenced by the bicycle´s outline, they built their first automobile designed in its entirety. It was publicly presented by both inventors in Paris (October 1889) and its license was mass-marketed along France.
By those years, Daimler engines' licenses began to sow the world, originating modern car industry from :
- France, 1890, Panhard & Levassor and Peugeot
- United Kingdom, 1896, Daimler Coventry
- United States of America, 1891, Steinway
Gottlieb Daimler's "devil pact" and The Phoenix engine (1890 to 1900)
The resources were scant to keep the business going. Neither the selling of units nor the worldwide harvesting from their patent yielding weren't enough. They injected fresh capital bringing the financiers Max von Duttenhofer and William Lorenz --former ammunition makers--, associated with the influential banker Kilian Steiner --owner of a German Investment Bank, converting companies into corporations--.
The company's refoundation took place in November 28, 1890. Albeit it's regarded as "devil pact" by some serious German historians[1], at the following chaotic decade to Daimler and Maybach. While DMG was effectively expanded, selling engines --static, stationary, or mobile-- from Moscow to New York, additional static engines departments were created, since the mercantile logic dictated that automobile production wouldn't be profitable. The new chairmen planned to merge DMG and Deutz-AG also, even after Gottlieb's extremely mean rapport with Nicholaus Otto.
Against all this, Daimler and Maybach --Chief Engineer-- preferred to produce automobiles and reacted against Duttenhofer and Lorenz particularly. Short time later, Maybach (45) was rejected as member of the Board of Management, abandoning the company formally (February 11, 1891), continuing his design work roaming around Cannstatt: from his own house --financed by Gottlieb Daimler-- and, later (since 1892's fall), inside the former Hermann Hotel, at both its ballroom and winter garden, gathering 12 workers and 5 apprentices --again on Gottlieb's behalf--.
Cloistered, Maybach --together with Daimler and his son Paul-- designed their third engine model: the Phoenix in 1894, that DMG produced since. It awoke worldwide attention, pioneering four cylinders into an automobile and featuring:
- one-block-cast cylinders, vertical and parallel
- camshaft aiding the exhaust valves
- spray-nozzle carburetor (Maybach's, patented in 1893)
- belt drive system improvements.
Some of these cars arrived first in the first race of history, Paris to Rouen 1894, in their petrol engine category.
Maybach's creations are considered the best of the second half of the 1800s. His devices resulted indispensable for any model of any automaker in the World; becoming the recognizably technological backbone of France's early automobile industry. There, Maybach was hailed as the "King of Constructors".
As discussions with Lorenz increased, Daimler had been forced out of his charge as Technical Director, resigning too in 1893. The technical dubiousness decried DMG 's prestige. Until 1894, when a British industrial, Fredrick Simms, conditioned his purchase --350,000 marks, which also stabilized the finances-- of the Phoenix rights to Daimler's reinstating, as eventually happened. In 1895 --when DMG assembled its 1,000th engine--, Maybach returned also, as Chief of Engineers, obtaining 30,000 gold marks in shares, through his original contract with Gottlieb Daimler. Both inventors left the Hermann Hotel then.
Maybach kept patenting automobile marvels, creating:
- a revolutionary cooling system, tubular radiator with fan
- subsequent honeycomb radiator
- Viktoria car model (1897), 4-cylinder engine mounted on front axle (in 1897), in five models achieving 6 to 23 hp (1898-99).
But, by those years, Maybach suffered double afflictions. In 1900, Gottlieb Daimler died by a heart disease. Also, his teen-aged second son, Adolf, suffered a Schizophrenia attack and was cloistered for life in diverse institutions --until 1940, when murdered because the Euthanasia Program by the Nazis.
 Third Daimler-Maybach engine: the Phoenix |
 DMG Car (1894) |
 DMG Car (1896) |
The Mercedes (1900)
| Large wheelbase. Wide track. | |
|---|---|
| Press steel framework. Lightweight metals. Trimmed amount of frames. | |
| Low center of gravity (lower engine). | |
| 75 km/h (45 mph). 35 hp (950 rpm). 300 to 1000 rpm (driver controlled). | |
| Light and high performance engine: 4 In line-cylinders. Bore/stroke ratio: 116x140 mm. Displacement: 5918 cc. Cylinder heads part of the castings. Two carburetors, one for each cylinder-pair. Driver-controlled intake-valves's throttling. Two camshafts. | |
| 4-forward/1-reverse transmission. | |
| Low-voltage ignition magnetos. | |
| Aluminium crankcase (pioneer), horizontally divided. | |
| Honeycomb radiator. | |
| Comfortable wheel-drive. | |
In 1900, among April and October, Maybach designed a whole new kind of car inspired on the races: the Mercedes featuring :
It was baptized Mercedes (Spanish for mercies) after Mercedes Jellinek --ten years old child of French-Sepharadi maternal cradle--.
Meanwhile, Mercedes Jellinek's father was Emil Jellinek, a successful Austrian dealer along the French Riviera, race driver and one of Maybach's assistants. He had pledged beforehand the purchase of a huge shipment of Mercedes cars --36 units, 550,000 gold marks-- if Maybach (54) could design a great racecar.
Among other important things, it should be named Daimler-Mercedes. DMG allowed this because, in France, its engines were exclusively trademarked as Daimler by Panhard & Levasor already.
The Mercedes prototype was finally built in 1900. In 1901, with a stunning streak of racing prowesses, the Mercedes was hailed worldwidely. The European societal cream approached to the DMG also. The car was the commercial success that definitively turned the company's production to automobiles. After leaping its productive rate greatly, in barely half of a decade, DMG multiplied its size and number of employees. DMG officially registered the new trademark later, in June 1902.
In 1902, a great blaze razed DMG 's Cannstatt facilities. The company moved to Stuttgart-Untertuerkheim. Nonetheless, Maybach continued developing mechanical marvels:
- a 6-cylinder/70 hp engine (1903-04)
- the origin of the aviation with a high-speed racing engine of 120 hp, with overhead intake, exhaust valves and double ignition (1906, at 60)
But, anew, DMG despised him to an insignificant "Inventor's Office". He responded the grievance, abandoning the company in 1907 (61). DMG replaced him with Paul Daimler.
 First Mercedes (1900) |
 Mercedes Simplex (1906) |
Zeppelin engines (1908)
Image:LZ4 after Echterdingen disaster.jpg
In the year 1900, Maybach had had first contact with Count Ferdinand Von Zeppelin --who sought to improve the engine of the Zeppelin-LZ1 (12 hp)--. Maybach built engines for him, basing on some sketches of a futuristic one --rendering 150hp-- created by his son Karl --graduated as technician already--, in behalf of DMG.
Years later, 1908, Count Zeppelin attempted to sell his models LZ3 and LZ4 to the government. Unfortunately, the LZ4 suffered a catastrophe when tested. Failing its engines, it attempted an emergency landing but exploded against a row of trees --August 5, at Echterdingen--.
Far from stuck, Zeppelin's project abetted Germans to donate 6.25 million Gold-Marks spontaneously. Count Zeppelin founded the Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH company then --Company Builder of Zeppelin Airships--.
Maybach approached to Zeppelin, offering the devise of new airship engines. When Maybach held off for a while --still in litigation with the DMG--, Karl took his place. In March 23, 1909, a deal was finally inked, creating the subsidiary Luftschiffbau Zeppelin GmbH --anonymous company-- at Bissingen/Enz --Württemberg German region--. It replaced the DMG therefore. Wilhelm Maybach was Technical Assistant and Karl was Technical Manager. Their first designs reached 20 m/seg.
Against DMG 's experience, Wilhelm Maybach assured Karl's commercial future also, moving the company to Friedrichshafen and rebaptizing it Luftfahrzeug-Motoren-GmbH--still anonymous--. Each one, father and son, assured 20% of shares. Karl would inherit it so. They kept serving Zeppelin, while working in other airship engines also. In 1912, the company adopted the name Maybach-Motorenbau GmbH finally --Maybach engine construction society--. During the war, 1916, they developed a 160hp aircraft engine. It sold 2000 units until the end of the conflict.
Maybach cars (1922)
Image:Zzzzzzus-MaybZeppelin.jpg
After the war, the Versailles Treaty (1919) filibustered any airship production over Germany. Therefore, Maybach was forced to produce both diesel high-speed engines, for naval and railroad use, and petrol engines, for automobiles --albeit not building the rest of the car--.
But the small automakers in Germany used to build their own engines instead, because costing reasons. Only the Spyker company was interested, in 1920. But Wilhelm Maybach (74) turned down the contract because inadequate conditions. Then, he opted to build complete automobiles.
Since 1921, the factory began to produce Maybach opulent automobiles inspired on the latest Rolls Royce 's models.
The first model, the admired W3, was presented in 1921 Automobile Exposition of Berlin:
- 6 cylinders
- brakes in 4 wheels
- new transmission system
- 105 km/h
It was produced until 1928, with 300 units sold --mostly sedan and luxury, against the unsuccessful sport two-seat version--. The Maybach W5 followed --135 km/h--, being produced between 1927 and 1929, with 250 units sold.
In August 1929, Count Zeppelin flew over high altitudes --almost orbital-- with a Maybach-V12 engine --of 550 HP--. Then, Maybach produced the Maybach V12 car, of 150hp (2800 RPM):
- first 12-cylinder German automobile
- lightweight engine of aluminum --related to airships--
- pistons of light alloy
- 7 litres of capacity
- great torque
Though, it sold a few dozens of units only, due to the German postwar-crisis. In 1930, its successor was the DS7-Zeppelin --featuring 12 cylinders (7 liters) also--.
Last years (1924-1929)
By those times, far in Stuttgart, the DMG had suffered the post-war economic crisis and banking pressure. Therefore, in 1926, it merged with the Karl Benz's Benz & Co.--Benz & Cie., Rheinische Gasmotorenfabrik Mannheim--, constituting the Daimler Benz AG. It became DaimlerChrysler enterprise nowadays.
Wilhelm Maybach died at 83, in December 29, 1929.
Trivia
- Ironically, in 1907, the same year he left the DMG, the German Engineers Association (VDI) recognized Wilhelm Maybach as honorary member.
- Amid the war, in 1916, Wilhelm Maybach (70) was honored by the Technical University of Stuttgart also, with a Honorary Doctorate.
- Wilhelm Maybach was accepted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in 1996.
- Three technical Schools over Germany are named Wilhelm Maybach: Stuttgart, Heilbronn and Berlin-Spandau.
- In 2002, Mercedes Benz began to produce its limousine models under the original (1919-1940) Maybach brand.
 Maybach Logo |
See also
- Gottlieb Daimler
- Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft
- Mercedes 35hp (1900)
- Mercedes Simplex
- Maybach
- Mercedes Benz
- Karl Benz
Bibliography
- Niemann, Harry: Mythos Maybach, 4. Aufl., Stuttgart 2002
- Niemann, Harry: Maybach - der Vater des Mercedes, 3. Aufl., Stuttgart 2000
- Niemann, Harry: Wilhelm Maybach - König der Konstrukteure, 1. Aufl., Stuttgart 1995
- Rathke, Kurt: Wilhelm Maybach - Anbruch eines neuen Zeitalters, 1. Aufl., Friedrichshafen 1953
- Rauck, Max J.: Wilhelm Maybach: der grosse Automobilkonstrukteur. Baar 1979.cs:Wilhelm Maybach
de:Wilhelm Maybach fr:Wilhelm Maybach ja:ウィルヘルム・マイバッハ nl:Wilhelm Maybach pl:Wilhelm Maybach sv:Wilhelm Maybach zh:威廉·梅巴赫