Adam Opel

Adam Opel ( born May 9, 1837 in Rüsselsheim, † September 8, 1895 ibid ) was the founder of the company Opel and founder of a separate branch of the Opel family.

Life

Adam Opel - eldest son of locksmith Philipp Wilhelm Opel (1803-1867) - began his career as well as his brothers George and William Opel, as a locksmith apprentice in his father's workshop. The years of travel led him in 1857 to Belgium and England to Paris, where he worked in two sewing factories. Upon his return to his hometown, Opel in 1862 founded his own sewing machine manufactory. In 1884 his company made ​​18,000 sewing machines a year ago. This laid the foundation for the company Opel was laid.

In 1868, Opel married the wealthy innkeeper's daughter Sophie Marie Scheller. In 1886, Opel also began with the manufacture of bicycles. The company Opel has quickly become the largest bicycle manufacturer in Germany. After his death in 1895 as a result of typhoid fever his widow Sophie Opel together with the five sons Carl, Wilhelm, Heinrich, Friedrich and Ludwig Opel management of the company. Three years later, in 1898, the family began with Opel automobile production. Wilhelm and Heinrich 1917 were finally elevated to the Grand Duke of Hesse nobility, Carl followed in 1918. Fritz and Ludwig remained civil.

Shortly before his death to Adam Opel at the sight of an automobile to have exclaimed: " For this Stinkkasten will never be more than a toy for millionaires who do not know how to throw away their money! "