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Benz Nr.2? An early attempt at falsifying history? (Upd. photo from July 1925)

Judging by the clothes of the spectators we think this great photo was taken somewhere in the 1920s during a celebration tour. Clearly the man in the dark suit on the right side of the ‘chauffeur’ is Carl Benz, so the picture must have been taken before April 4, 1929 (the date he died). The picture was probably taken in Germany as the photography was done by A. & E. Frankl who had their shop at the Uhlandstrasse 39 in Berlin. Two questions this time: first, does anyone know when, where and on what occasion this photo was taken? And second, the sign on the Benz clearly says it dates from 1891, but today Daimler says the first four-wheeled vehicle, the model "Victoria", dates from 1893. Up to the beginning of the eighteen-nineties Carl Benz made three-wheeled vehicles. With the design of an effective axle-pivot steering (patent nr. DRP 73151 of 28th February 1893) the path was paved for four-wheeled vehicles. So how come the ‘1891’? Was Carl Benz here trying to pre-date his Victoria or has there been an earlier four-wheeled Benz?
(photo from the collection of Hans ’Hispano’ Veenenbos).

Update by Editor Rutger Booy: Thanks to Stefan Ittner we were able to find a report in the Allgemeine Automobil-Zeitung from 1. August 1925, here's also a photo from one of the pages!

Today on PostWarClassic: XK 140 Mille Miglia; celebrations are in order

Comments

#5 Hans Veenenbos 2012-01-19 22:37

Thanks to the article from August 1,1925 in the Allgemeine Automobil Zeitung we now know that we are looking at Dr. Karl Benz, aged 82, and his son in a Benz Viktoria from 1891.

#4 Stefan Ittner 2012-01-19 10:14

The photograph was taken in Munich on July 12, 1925. A parade of 43 historic cars celebrated the 25th anniversary of the "Allgemeiner Schnauferl Club" (which still is active today). Several celebrities took part, including Carl Benz, August Horch, and race driver Christian Lautenschlager.

#3 Anders Svenfelt 2012-01-19 08:35

The patent dates from 1893, but according to H.H. von Fersen the construction and even extensive test-drives started in 1891:
"1893 liess sich Karl Benz eine Lenvorrichtung für vierrädige Fahrzeuge patentieren und konnte nun den Schritt vom dreirädigen zum vierrädigen Fahrzeug vollziehen. Die vorarbeite hierzu hatte Benz schon 1891 begonnen mit diesem neuen Wagen ausgedehnte Probefahren unternommen"
Autos in Deutschland 1885-1920, Stuttgart 1965.
So the earlier date reffers to when the construction of the first four-wheeler Benz begann.

#2 Thomas Rudolf 2012-01-19 06:41

Yes, Benz was a counterfeiter.

There is nothing new. The "Patent-Wagen" was also a fake

The first car ever was built by
Edouard Delamare-Deboutteville and Léon Paul Charles Malandin

http://www.hotchkiss.eu/1er_Brevet_Automobile/index.html

#1 Peter Dew 2012-01-19 05:18

Presumably Benz could have used the steering design prior to the Patent being granted ?

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