José Artés de Arcos facts for kids

José Artés de Arcos (born 1893, died 1985) was a clever Spanish businessman and inventor. He was born in Alhama de Almeria, Almeria and later passed away in Almería. José Artés de Arcos was famous in the car world. He drove cool racing cars like the Guepardo in Formula 4 (1966). He also drove the Artés Campeador (1967) and even an amazing 6-wheel car that could go in water, called the Artés Gato Montés (1971).

Early Life and First Inventions

José Artés de Arcos came from a family of bakers. Even when he was very young, people noticed how good he was with his hands. He loved to fix things and build new objects. He worked in different mining companies, like "Sota Aznar." He also worked for the "Spanish Mining Company of San Juan" in Melilla. While in Melilla, he created his very first invention. It was a rotary engine, and he got a patent for it. This was the first of over 500 inventions he would create in his life!

Building a Career in Barcelona

Starting a Workshop

In 1918, José Artés de Arcos moved to Barcelona. There, he worked for a company that fixed ship engines. After a big repair job, he earned enough money to start his own business. In 1927, he opened a small shop to fix cars. By 1929, he was living in a small wooden room above his workshop. This shop was on Corsica Street. You can still see the name Artés on the bumper of a car that belonged to King Alfonso XIII!

Clever Car Inventions

José Artés de Arcos invented many useful things. One of his most famous inventions was a fuel economizer for cars. This device helped cars use less gas. He also invented a special horn for car engines. Many countries soon copied this idea.

To show how amazing his horn invention was, he put it on a car. Then, he drove all around Spain! People in towns and cities were amazed. His car had ten loudspeakers that played regional music. His trip ended at the Palacio de Oriente, where he played the Royal March. Later, he went to the Motor Show in Paris and played the Marseillaise. Over the years, his company became very important in the car parts industry. He even won a Silver Medal of Merit for his work in 1965.

A Successful Business Leader

In 1972, Artés de Arcos wrote about his journey. He said he had to leave his home in Alhama de Almería. He moved to Catalonia, a very industrial and smart region. He worked hard and studied during his free time. He explained that his success came from creating new inventions. People liked his inventions and bought them. These inventions traveled around the world and were copied in many countries.

In Barcelona, he was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Navigation. He did a lot of good work for the people who made things. For example, he helped build two groups of 60 homes. Because of his social work, the government gave him the title of "Business Model." This meant he was a great example for other business people.

Special Awards and Tributes

José Artés de Arcos received many honors. He was named an "Honorary Citizen" of Arenys de Munt. He also received the Gold Medal of the City for his achievements there. A street was named after him, and a plaque honored him for bringing electricity to the Sobirans area. He paid for this electricity project himself, which helped the whole neighborhood. However, for unknown reasons, these honors were later taken away in that village.

He was also named a Favourite Son of his hometown, Alhama de Almeria. They named a street after him and built a monument in his memory. He helped his hometown a lot. For example, he helped bring back the San Nicolas spa. He also made sure the spa's water was available for both private use and for the public.

Building Companies and Factories

As a business owner, José Artés de Arcos started his own company. It was called José Artés de Arcos SA. This company was a leader in Spain for making car parts. They made lights, speakers, dashboards, and steering wheels, among other things.

He also helped bring big French companies to Spain. He worked with Jaeger, a French company, to form Artés-Jaeger. This company made electronic car parts for different European brands. Their factories were in Barberà del Vallès, Barcelona. He also brought Cibie, a French headlight company, to Spain. They formed a company called PASA. He built this factory in Martos, Jaén province, in southern Spain. José Artés de Arcos S.A. had factories in Barcelona, Madrid, and Almeria. From these places, they supplied parts to car makers all over Spain.

See also

In Spanish: José Artés de Arcos para niños