On this day in 1888, Bertha Benz drove from Mannheim to Pforzheim with her sons Richard and Eugen, thirteen and fifteen years old respectively, in a Model III Patent-Motorwagen, without telling her husband (Carl Benz His Benz Patent-Motorwagen from 1885 is considered the first practical modern automobile and first car put into series production.) and without permission of the authorities, thus becoming the first person to drive an automobile a significant distance.
She left Mannheim around dawn, solving numerous problems along the way. Bertha demonstrated her significant technical capabilities on this journey. With no fuel tank and only a 4.5-litre supply of petrol in the carburetor, she had to find ligroin, the petroleum solvent needed for the car to run. The solvent was only available at apothecary shops, so she stopped in Wiesloch at the city pharmacy, Stadt-Apotheke, to purchase the fuel. At the time, petrol and other fuels could only be bought from chemists [pharmacists in US English], and so this is how the chemist in Wiesloch became the first fuel station in the world.
She cleaned a blocked fuel line with her hat pin and used her garter as insulation material. A blacksmith had to help mend a chain at one point. When the wooden brakes began to fail, Benz visited a cobbler to install leather, making the world’s first pair of brake linings. An evaporative cooling system was employed to cool the engine, making water supply a big worry along the trip. The trio added water to their supply every time they stopped. The car’s two gears were not enough to surmount uphill inclines and Eugen and Richard often had to push the vehicle up steep roads. Benz reached Pforzheim somewhat after dusk, notifying her husband of her successful journey by telegram. She drove back to Mannheim several days later.
Bertha Benz – Bühler, Mannheim – Automuseum Dr. Carl Benz, Ladenburg
After reading the newspaper…
Quality!!
Hmmm….pork…
BADA BING!
At this age, I’ve come to accept that I will never be old enough to know better.
An Irishman walks into a bar in Toronto and orders a drink. The bartender asks him “What brings you to Canada?” The Irishman says “Well, I was in a pub in Dublin and the coaster under my glass said ‘Drink Canada Dry’, so I thought I’d give it a shot”. (John)
Survival Tip:
If zombies attack, go to Costco. There are cement walls, years worth of food, and tons of supplies. Plus, zombies can’t get in without a membership.
I need to start paying closer attention to stuff. Found out today my wife and I have separate names for the cat.
I think I’m worth every headache I give my girl.
I asked my dad what his favorite joke was. He said, “I can’t pick a favorite. I love you kids equally!”
Why tell me to press 1 for English, then transfer me to someone who barely speaks it?
Do not unfriend people because they have different views than you. Annoy them until they unfriend you. Be the adult here.
Sometimes I talk to myself and we both laugh.
Don’t put your drama on social media and then tell us to mind our business. Listen, I’m on season 3, episode 4 of your nonsense.
Her: What was that noise? Me: My shirt fell. Her: It sounded louder than that. Me: I was in it.
The best way to get back on your feet is to miss a couple of car payments!
This bill collector called me saying, “Your bill is now a year old.” I said, “Tell it Happy Birthday,” and hung up.
My fitness goal is to get down to what I told the DMV I weigh.
I DID A PUSH-UP TODAY. WELL, ACTUALLY I FELL DOWN. BUT I HAD TO USE MY ARMS TO GET BACK UP SO… YOU KNOW, CLOSE ENOUGH.
If you feel lonely, forgotten, or just need someone to cheer you up remember, you can always change your birthday on Facebook.
Fifty Shades of Grey is only romantic because the guy is a billionaire. If he was living in a trailer, it would be a Criminal Minds episode.
After dinner, my wife asked if I could clear the table. I needed a running start, but I made it.
Thinking back to when a new hip joint meant someplace I wanted to go on Friday night.
Well, it’s August and over 100 degrees. Walmart should be putting the Christmas stuff out any day now.
Wife: “I’m pissed”. Husband: “Again or still?”
I used all my sick days. Now I gotta call in dead.
I went for a job interview at UPS. I said, “Sorry I’m late, I went to the wrong address” – and they made me regional manager.
Kid *watching someone ride an elephant*: “How do you get down from an elephant?” Dad: “You don’t. You get down from a Goose!”
My post about rice cakes was removed for being tasteless.
What disease did cured ham actually have?
My bank has informed me that Facebook friends cannot be used as references for a car loan. You guys are useless.
I showed my Facebook page to my psychiatrist, and now she wants to talk to all of you.
If you feel lonely, dim all of your lights and watch a horror movie. After a while, it won’t feel like you’re alone anymore.
I was supposed to get older and wiser, but I’m just getting older and wider.
England sent their religious nuts to America and their criminals to Australia. Aussies got the better deal.
The difference between millennials and boomers? Taylor Swift writes songs about all her ex’s. Stevie Nicks made her ex play guitar while she sang songs about what an asshole he was.
Today is the birthday, in 1942, of Rick Huxley guitarist from English pop rock band, Dave Clark Five, who scored the 1964 UK No.1 single ‘Glad All Over’, and the 1965 US No.1 single ‘Over And Over’ , plus over 15 other UK top 40 singles. He died on 11 February 2013 aged 72. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHtNFaa2ne0
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