Adam Opel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adam Opel
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| Born | 9 May 1837 |
| Died | 8 September 1895 (aged 58) Rüsselsheim, Germany
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| Nationality | German |
| Occupation | Business |
| Known for | Founder of Opel |
| Spouse(s) | Sophie Opel (m. 1868) |
| Children | 5, including Carl and Wilhelm |
| Relatives | Fritz von Opel (grandson) Rikky von Opel (great-grandson) Gunter Sachs (great-grandson) |
Adam Opel (born May 9, 1837 – died September 8, 1895) was a clever German businessman. He started the famous company called Adam Opel AG, which is known for making cars.
Contents
The Early Years of Adam Opel
Adam Opel was born on May 9, 1837, in Rüsselsheim, Germany. His father, Wilhelm, was a locksmith. Adam learned the locksmith trade from his father until he was 20 years old.
After that, he traveled to other countries to learn more. He worked as an apprentice locksmith in Belgium, visiting cities like Liège and Brussels. Then, in 1858, he went to Paris, France.
Discovering Sewing Machines
While in Paris, Adam became very interested in something new: the sewing machine. In 1859, he started working for a company that made sewing machines. This helped him learn all about how they worked. His younger brother, George, also came to Paris to learn about this new technology.
In 1862, Adam Opel returned to his hometown of Rüsselsheim.
Starting His Own Business
Adam's uncle offered him an old cow stall in Rüsselsheim. This is where Adam decided to set up his own workshop. He wanted to build his own sewing machines.
In 1863, his brother George came back from France to help him. Making the machines was slow at first.
A New Factory and Family
By April 1867, Adam was getting ready to build a new, bigger factory. It would have two stories and be close to the railroad station. Sadly, his father passed away around this time.
Adam built a new home right next to his factory. In 1868, he married Sophie Scheller. Sophie came from a family that owned a guest-house and brewery. She brought a lot of money with her, which she invested in Adam's factory. Sophie also convinced two of her sisters to invest.
With this money, they bought a steam engine. This helped the company grow even faster. In 1870, they even named a new sewing machine "Sophia" after Adam's wife.
From Sewing Machines to Bicycles
In the 1880s, the company made many more sewing machines. The factory kept getting bigger. By 1899, they had made over half a million machines! In 1911, they reached one million machines.
However, a big fire destroyed much of the factory that same year. Adam Opel's sons, who were now running the business, decided to stop making sewing machines. By then, many companies made sewing machines, and it was hard to make a good profit.
They wanted to make more valuable products. So, they decided to start making bicycles and later, automobiles.
The Bicycle Adventure
Adam and Sophie Opel had five sons: Carl, Wilhelm, Heinrich, Friedrich, and Ludwig. All of them loved anything with wheels. Sophie, who became the main owner after Adam's death, and her sons led the company into making vehicles.
The idea for bicycles came when Adam saw a high-wheeled bicycle in Paris. He was curious and ordered parts from England. He put the bike together and tried to ride it, but it didn't go well! He first thought he would have nothing more to do with those "bone breakers."
But two things changed his mind:
- Bicycles were easy to sell and made more profit than sewing machines.
- His sons begged him to make bicycles for them.
By 1886, the Opel family had made their own bicycle. The next year, young Carl went to England. He studied the new bicycle industry and brought back samples of the latest designs.
This led to serious production of bicycles by late 1887. They made different types, including low-wheeled and three-wheeled bikes. People who loved cycling knew they could trust Opel for the newest and best bikes in Germany. In fact, all of Adam's sons were excellent, prize-winning bicycle racers!
Adam Opel's Legacy
Adam Opel never got to see the cars built by the company he started. He passed away in 1895. In his will, he set up a new plan for the company. His wife, Sophie, owned most of the company, and his two oldest sons had smaller shares.
Challenges and Growth
The company faced a challenge in 1898. There was a sudden drop in bicycle sales because too many companies were making them. But the Opel family managed to keep going.
They introduced new products, which helped keep their more than 1,500 employees busy. Most of these employees had grown up working for Opel. The bicycle factory grew and became the largest in the mid-1920s. It could make 4,000 bicycles a day! They used new machines, like automatic painting and plating equipment.
Selling the Business
By the 1930s, things had changed a lot. Between 1929 and 1931, the Opel family sold their business, Adam Opel AG, to General Motors Corporation. Opel became a part of General Motors.
In 1936, Opel also sold its bicycle factory to NSU. NSU had started making bicycles around the same time as Opel. Overall, under all its different names, Opel had produced 2.5 million bicycles.
See also
- Fritz von Opel
- Rikky von Opel
- Wilhelm von Opel
- Carl von Opel
- Sophie Opel
Sources
- Opel's official biography: http://www.opel.ie/experience-opel/opel-about/opel-history-heritage.html
