Paul Daimler

Paul Daimler (13 September 1869 – 15 December 1945) was a German mechanical engineer who designed automobiles. He was the eldest child of Gottlieb Daimler who founded Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft and (with Wilhelm Maybach) invented the petrol engine.

The Austro-Daimler armoured car
Horch 8 Type 303 (1927) in museum mobile

After studying at the Technische Hochschule Stuttgart, he worked in his father's factory in Cannstatt. On 10 November 1885 he travelled with his father in the "riding car"—the world's first motorcycle—from Cannstatt to Untertürkheim. In 1902, Paul was sent to the general partners of Austro-Daimler, where he became the technical director. In 1903, he designed an armoured car. His successor at Austro-Daimler was Ferdinand Porsche.

From 1907 to 1922 he was Technical Director of Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft with factories in Untertürkheim, Sindelfingen and Berlin-Marienfelde. Under Hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic, the Daimler company soon merged with Benz to form Daimler-Benz, but over 50 year old Paul Daimler was not part of the merger. His successor was once again Ferdinand Porsche.

Instead, on 1 July 1923, he joined Horch, part of Argus Motoren Gesellschaft, and made a name for himself there as a developer of the 8-cylinder Horch 8 car that successfully challenged Mercedes-Benz, and in the department of motor aircraft engines, remaining until 1928.

Examples of his work include the hydraulic valve lifters, which he introduced to German automobile production in 1931. During the Great Depression in Germany Horch merged into Auto Union, and Daimler retired.

Publications

References

  • Adler, Dennis (2006). Daimler and Benz: The Complete History - The Birth And Evolution of The Mercedes-Benz. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 0060890266.
  • Niemann, Harry (2020). Paul Daimler: König des Kompressors [Paul Daimler: King of the Compressor] (in German). Stuttgart: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 9783613042674.
  • Pinczolits, Franz (1986). Austro Daimler: Paul Daimler und Ferdinand Porsche, Pioniere des Automobils [Austro Daimler: Paul Daimler and Ferdinand Porsche, pioneers of the automobile] (in German). Wiener Neustadt: Weilburg. ISBN 390010042X.