Re: Did you Know!

[ScharfR@aol.com]

In a message dated somewhat earlier, elprofe@mail.isla.net writes, in part:

 << That Audi is an older company than BMW,CHRYLER,FERRARI,GM,JAGUAR.LOTUS
  OR even PORSCHE,among other! >>
  
 Then, in a message dated 97-08-17 22:04:47 EDT, ScottyCBoy@aol.com rebutts:
 
 < Actually "Audi" isn't.  But if you take into account that Audi has changed
    names many times than it is.  Once it was NSU, Auto Union, Audi
Autounion,
    and the list goes on and on... >

To which I reply:

The original poster is correct and the posted rebuttal indicates a degree of
confusion with the genealogy.

Audi (as distinct from Horch) got its start in 1909 and adopted the name
"AUDI Werke GmbH" in 1910.  Subsequently Audi became a part of Auto Union,
disappeared during the war and the immediate post-war period. The name then
reappeared at the convenience of new masters Volkswagen and continues on to
this day.  History buffs will know that August Horch's "other" car company
predated the start of Audi by ten years.

So, lets have a little quiz.  We all (should) know that Dr. August Horch lent
his name (if we accept that Horch and Audi were both his "name," albeit in
two different languages) to two car companies. Both companies were reasonably
successful and co-existed in the marketplace for a few decades, ultimately
merging with DKW and Wanderer to form Auto Union.

>>> The Question: What other pioneer car-maker also started multiple
companies under variations of his own name?  The two companies I have in mind
were both reasonably successful and lasted at least as long as Audi and
Horch. One of them continues even today.