Bertha Benz

Bertha Benz
  • Surname
    Benz
  • First name
    Cäcilie Bertha
  • Date of birth
    03.05.1849
  • Date of death
    05.05.1944
Bertha Benz (Bertha Ringer)  im Alter von 18 Jahren.
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Bertha Benz, 1867
Bertha Benz, 1870
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Bertha Benz
Bertha Benz, born as Bertha Ringer in Pforzheim on May 3rd 1849, died May 5th 1944 in Ladenburg. In 1888 she went for the first long-distance automobile journey in the world from Mannheim to Pforzheim.
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Bertha Benz
Benz family in 1883. 
Bertha Benz - from left: Thilde, Klara and the sons Eugen and Richard.
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Benz family
On the first long-distance trip (from Mannheim to Pforzheim) the Benz patent motor car had to be filled up. This scene from a movie shows the stop of Bertha Benz and her sons (Eugen and Richard), to fill up the petrol at a pharmacy in Wiesloch in the year 1888.
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Long-distance trip, 1888
In 1888 Bertha Benz dared together with her sons (Eugen and Richard), to do the first long-distance trip with the patent motor car. During the journey from Mannheim to Pforzheim the brake pads had to be replaced. - Scene from a movie.
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Long-distance trip, 1888
The first long-distance trip from Mannheim to Pforzheim with the patent motor car in 1888 was not an easy car journey. Bertha Benz and her sons (Eugen and Richard) some time "helped their vehicle" to climb up the hills. - Scene from a movie.
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Long-distance trip, 1888
Portrayal, 1888. Bertha Benz with her sons Eugen and Richard during their long-distance journey from Mannheim to Pforzheim with the Benz Patent Motor Car
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Long-distance journey, 1888
Benz Victoria with Bertha and Carl Benz on a trip to Worms. The Benz Victoria is the first automobile with Benz's patented steering knuckle steering, which makes its development possible.
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Carl and Bertha Benz on a Benz Victoria, model 1894
Bertha Benz plays a key role in the development of the automobile. She fully supports her husband Carl Benz and, just like him, she strongly believes in the future of the automobile. During the economically critical first years she uses her dowry to safe the first company. In August 1888 and without further ado, Bertha Benz drives the Benz-patented motorcar from Mannheim to Pforzheim. She indeed manages to arrive there with her two sons Eugen and Richard. The framework conditions of this world’s first long-distance trip in an automobile – such as petrol supply from the chemist’s – are legendary and went down in the annals of automobile history. Thus, Bertha Benz and her sons play a key role in the triumph of petrol-driven automobiles.
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Benz patent motor car
Carl Benz in later years on his first type I Patent Motor Car.
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Benz Patent-Motorwagen, Carl Benz in München, 1925
First contemporary photographic report about a journey with the Benz patent motor car model 3 (1886 - 1894). 
It was published in "Illustrierte Zeitung" (Leipzig) in September 1888.
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Benz patent-motorcar, model 3
Carl and Bertha Benz on the rear bench of a Benz Victoria 1893, the first car with a double-pivot steering. In front are his daughter Klara and Fritz Held.
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Carl and Bertha Benz with Benz-Victoria
Bertha Benz, anläßlich des 90. Geburtstages, am 3.5.1939.
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Bertha Benz
Bertha Benz shortly after her 95th birthday in 1944.
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Bertha Benz, 1944
Excursion in 1895 (from Weinheim to Schrießheim along the Bergstraße). On the move in the small Benz "Velo" (right) - Benz's daughters Klara (at the wheel) and Thilde. At the wheel of the Benz Patent Motor Car "Phaeton" is Benz's son Richard. At the time he was doing military service, hence the uniform. The other passengers are relatives of the Benz family.
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Country drive, 1895
Mercedes Jellinek (left) and Bertha Benz (right)
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Mercedes Jellinek and Bertha Benz
Presentation of the honorary citizenship letter of the city of Ladenburg to Carl Benz.
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Presentation of the honorary citizenship letter to Carl Benz
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