Okay, here’s a simple question: Who invented the automobile? Bet most of you, if you’re in the U.S., said Henry Ford who invented the Model T. If you did, you’re wrong. Look, my headline (and the photo here) is a bit of a clue, okay?
In fact, Wikipedia will tell you that a German named Karl Benz invented the first gasoline-powered automobile in 1885. (Ford developed the first mass-produced (assembly line) automobile, the Model T in 1896.)
Wikipedia is a little bit off the mark. It ignores the role played by Benz’s wife, Berta. Karl used Berta’s dowry for his various ventures including the invention of the horseless carriage, but he applied for the patent for his horseless carriage in his own name since back then married women could not apply for patents. Continue reading “The Improbable Journey of Berta Benz: The Movie”