Brand "Opel" is familiar to every motorist. But not everyone knows that the founder of the corporation, Adam Opel, began his career in business with the production of sewing machines and bicycles. By the end of the XIX century, his products were completely assembled in Germany and were popular throughout the world. The determination of the German industrialist and the help of his sons pushed him to create an affordable car for every family.
early years
The biography of the great industrialist began in 1837 in the German city of Rüsselsheim near Frankfurt. He was the eldest son in a farmer's family and had to continue his father's work. From an early age, the boy showed a craving for technology, so the father decided that the best thing for his son would be to learn plumbing. At twenty, the young man went to Belgium and got a job as an apprentice. After that, he studied craftsmanship in England, and then in France. In 1858, at an exhibition in Paris, he first saw a sewing machine. An innovative mechanism struck him, and in order to get to know him better, Opel got a job.
Sewing machine manufacturing
When in 1862 Adam returned to Germany, he brought with him the dream - to begin production of sewing machines in his homeland. His uncle gave an empty barn, which housed workshops, and then a store. The inventor set about creating a mechanism that once hit him. A year later, his younger brother George returned from Paris and was actively involved in the production process. After the death of his father in 1867, the brothers significantly expanded their production capacities by erecting a new building. The changes in personal life and dowry that the young family received after Adam married Sophie Marie Sceller helped to complete the construction. The girl was from a wealthy family and supported her husband's endeavors in everything.
In 1870, the company first introduced a model of a new sewing machine called "Sofia". Production, gaining momentum in the first few years, increased the growth of manufactured products every year. The curiosity was readily bought not only in Europe, but also in America, Russia and India. For twenty-five years, the company has become the largest exporter of sewing machines, bringing their number to half a million units.
Bicycle Release
When traveling in Europe, Opel first saw a bicycle and decided to make it popular in his homeland. Adam launched the release of another novelty in 1886. This year he introduced the first prototype bike. The development of this industry was prompted by two reasons. Firstly, the manufacture of sewing machines ceased to bring the desired income, and secondly, the children of the industrialist were seriously interested in cycling. The eldest son of Opel spent a long time in England studying the construction of a vehicle. In general, all five sons of Adam and Sophie: Karl, Wilhelm, Heinrich, Friedrich and Ludwig were actively involved in the family business. Young people were enthusiasts of cycling, so they supplemented the existing model with the best and most advanced ideas.
The design of the Opel bike was different in that it was the first to use innovation - the wheels were equipped with tires that were filled with air. The novelty was highly appreciated by customers, this allowed the dynasty to become the largest global manufacturer of bicycles, their annual production amounted to two thousand units. After the death of Adam in 1895, his children continued his business, they expanded production and mastered a new industry.
