89

Common Threads

What do these two objects have in common?

In 1891 Heinrich Ehrhardt was granted German Patent No. 60,662 for his corkscrew

with a swivel-over collar and a heavy nose. Heinrich, however, had much greater

aspirations than the design of corkscrews. He also patented processes for pressing and

extruding metal as well as the recoiling barrel gun. In 1896 he established the

Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach

(Eisenach Vehicle Factory). Within a short time the factory

employed 600 people in the manufacture of military wagons, bicycles, and automobiles.

The car pictured above is a

―

Wartburg

‖

which was built for a 1902 Paris to Vienna race.

The car was built in Heinrich's factory.