Photo: Daimler AG
Few people know about the fact that Daimler was the first European car manufacturer to be present in the United States of America.
On 29 September 1888, just two years after the first modern automobile had been invented, none other than piano manufacturer William Steinway was establishing the Daimler Motor Company on Long Island, New York.
In the beginning, only stationary and marine engines were produced there, and all of them were made according to a patent owned by Gottlieb Daimler.
Born with the name of Willhelm Steinweg in Seesen, Germany, in 1835, William Steinway had emigrated to North America while he was 15 years old, and was influential in the development of the Steinway piano company which had been founded by his father.
Since he had known Wilhelm Maybach, who was a design engineer and Daimler's confidant, it was rather easy to get in touch with the German inventor about his proposal for licensing the engines in the US.
The first “American Mercedes” built in New York was essentially a copy of the Mercedes 45 hp which was already built in Caanstatt, Germany, and it appeared in 1905.
In the beginning, only stationary and marine engines were produced there, and all of them were made according to a patent owned by Gottlieb Daimler.
Born with the name of Willhelm Steinweg in Seesen, Germany, in 1835, William Steinway had emigrated to North America while he was 15 years old, and was influential in the development of the Steinway piano company which had been founded by his father.
Since he had known Wilhelm Maybach, who was a design engineer and Daimler's confidant, it was rather easy to get in touch with the German inventor about his proposal for licensing the engines in the US.
The first “American Mercedes” built in New York was essentially a copy of the Mercedes 45 hp which was already built in Caanstatt, Germany, and it appeared in 1905.
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