Gottlieb Daimler (1834–1900)

Abstract

ON March 17 the centenary occurs of the birth of Gottlieb Daimler, the distinguished German engineer, to whom we owe the introduction of the light high-speed spirit engine suitable for road vehicles. After a varied practical experience as a mechanical engineer, Daimler in 1872, at the age of thirty-eight years, became associated with Langen and Otto, who were then engaged on the improvement of the gas engine, and Daimler's own contribution to the progress of the internal combustion engine is but an illustration of how invention begets invention. His death took place thirty-four years ago, before motor-cars had ceased to be novelties in the streets, but of the millions of cars to-day every one owes something to Langen, Otto and Daimler and their collaborator, Maybach. Daimler was born at Schorndorf, Wiirttemberg, and at the age of nineteen years began work in a machine tool factory. From 1857 until 1859 he was a student at Stuttgart Polytechnic; from 1861 until 1863 he worked in England and then held positions in works at Geislingen and Karlsruhe. The turning point in his career came when in 1872 he joined Langen and Otto as technical manager of the Gasmotorenfabrik Deutz A.-G., near Cologne. The firm had already achieved considerable success with its atmospheric gas engines and Otto was engaged on the experiments which led him to the invention of the four-stroke engine, patented on August 4, 1877, and to the manufacture of the world-famous ‘Otto’ gas engines.