Frank Seiberling
Encyclopedia
Franklin Augustus Seiberling (October 1859 – August 1955) was an American inventor and founder. He is most famous for founding the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
and the Seiberling Rubber Company. He also built Stan Hywet Hall, a Tudor Revival mansion, now a national historic landmark and historic house museum.
in Tiffin, Ohio
, before joining the J. F. Seiberling Company, his father’s farm machinery manufacturing business, working there as secretary and treasurer. His father, John Seiberling, founder of that Akron
company, invented one of the first reaping machines. While working for the company, Seiberling invented a twine binder which tied grain bundles with a bow knot.
Many businesses failed in the panics of the 1890s
, including the street railway company owned by Seiberling's father. In 1898, he was jobless, nearing 40, with a wife and three children. Seiberling learned of the availability of an old strawboard factory in East Akron, which he purchased, together with the 7 acres (28,328 m²) it stood on, for $13,500. He borrowed $3,500 for a down payment from a brother-in-law, Lucius C. Miles,, who would become the company's third president in 1900. In a few days he had decided what business he would go into, picked a name, and was selling stock. The business would be rubber; the company would be named for Charles Goodyear
, the discoverer of vulcanization
, who had died penniless almost 40 years before.
In 1899, Raymond C. Penfield, another brother-in-law, became the second president of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. In 1906, Seiberling became the fourth president of the company, a position he held until 1921. He was known as the "little Napoleon" of the rubber industry because of his small stature and his unremitting determination to succeed. He played a leading role in developing Akron, Ohio
from a small town into the "rubber capital of the world."
1921, Goodyear was refinanced and reorganized, and Seiberling and his brother Charles resigned from the company. He then began the Seiberling Rubber Company in Barberton, Ohio
.
During his lifetime, Seiberling became famous for his fair treatment of workers.
. In 1887, he married to Gertrude Ferguson Penfield (1866–1946). He died in August 1955 and was buried in Glendale Cemetery in Akron, Ohio.
. In July 1912, the airship Akron (ZR-4) exploded, and Vaniman and his crew were killed.
Seiberling donated millions of dollars to charitable causes in his community. He served on the board of trustees of Buchtel College and assisted the college in becoming the University of Akron
. .
In 1985, Seiberling was inducted into the Tire Industry Hall of Fame.
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Goodyear manufactures tires for automobiles, commercial trucks, light trucks, SUVs, race cars, airplanes, farm equipment and heavy earth-mover machinery....
and the Seiberling Rubber Company. He also built Stan Hywet Hall, a Tudor Revival mansion, now a national historic landmark and historic house museum.
Career
Son of an Ohio entrepreneur, Seiberling spent two years attending Heidelberg CollegeHeidelberg College
Heidelberg University is a private liberal arts college located in the city of Tiffin, Ohio in the U.S. state of Ohio. Founded in 1850, it was known as Heidelberg College until 1889 and from 1926 to 2009.- History :...
in Tiffin, Ohio
Tiffin, Ohio
Tiffin is a city in and the county seat of Seneca County, Ohio, United States. The population was 18,135 at the 2000 census. The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated Tiffin as a Tree City USA....
, before joining the J. F. Seiberling Company, his father’s farm machinery manufacturing business, working there as secretary and treasurer. His father, John Seiberling, founder of that Akron
Akron
-Settlements:Canada* Akron, OntarioSouth Africa* Akron, South AfricaUnited States* Akron, Alabama* Akron, Colorado* Akron, Indiana* Akron, Iowa* Akron, Michigan* Akron, New York* Akron, Pennsylvania* Akron, West Virginia* Akron Township, Illinois...
company, invented one of the first reaping machines. While working for the company, Seiberling invented a twine binder which tied grain bundles with a bow knot.
Many businesses failed in the panics of the 1890s
Panic of 1896
The Panic of 1896 was an acute economic depression in the United States that was less serious than other panics of the era precipitated by a drop in silver reserves and market concerns on the effects it would have on the gold standard. Deflation of commodities prices drove the stock market to new...
, including the street railway company owned by Seiberling's father. In 1898, he was jobless, nearing 40, with a wife and three children. Seiberling learned of the availability of an old strawboard factory in East Akron, which he purchased, together with the 7 acres (28,328 m²) it stood on, for $13,500. He borrowed $3,500 for a down payment from a brother-in-law, Lucius C. Miles,, who would become the company's third president in 1900. In a few days he had decided what business he would go into, picked a name, and was selling stock. The business would be rubber; the company would be named for Charles Goodyear
Charles Goodyear
Charles Goodyear was an American inventor who developed a process to vulcanize rubber in 1839 -- a method that he perfected while living and working in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1844, and for which he received patent number 3633 from the United States Patent Office on June 15, 1844Although...
, the discoverer of vulcanization
Vulcanization
Vulcanization or vulcanisation is a chemical process for converting rubber or related polymers into more durable materials via the addition of sulfur or other equivalent "curatives." These additives modify the polymer by forming crosslinks between individual polymer chains. Vulcanized material is...
, who had died penniless almost 40 years before.
In 1899, Raymond C. Penfield, another brother-in-law, became the second president of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. In 1906, Seiberling became the fourth president of the company, a position he held until 1921. He was known as the "little Napoleon" of the rubber industry because of his small stature and his unremitting determination to succeed. He played a leading role in developing Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
from a small town into the "rubber capital of the world."
1921, Goodyear was refinanced and reorganized, and Seiberling and his brother Charles resigned from the company. He then began the Seiberling Rubber Company in Barberton, Ohio
Barberton, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,899 people, 11,523 households, and 7,443 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,095.2 people per square mile . There were 12,163 housing units at an average density of 1,349.4 per square mile...
.
During his lifetime, Seiberling became famous for his fair treatment of workers.
Personal
Seiberling was born in October, 1859, in Western Star, Ohio, a hamlet a few miles from Akron, in Summit County, OhioSummit County, Ohio
Summit County is an urban county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2000 census, the population was 542,899. In the 2010 Census the population was 541,781. Its county seat is Akron...
. In 1887, he married to Gertrude Ferguson Penfield (1866–1946). He died in August 1955 and was buried in Glendale Cemetery in Akron, Ohio.
Other
In June 1911, Seiberling announced that he was financing an attempt at a transatlantic airship flight, to be headed by Melvin VanimanMelvin Vaniman
thumb|200px|right|Drawing of the air ship Akron in which Vaniman lost his lifeChester Melvin Vaniman was an American photographer, adventurer and businessman who specialized in panoramic images taken from heights. Born to a farming family in Virden, Illinois, he was the eldest of four sons, and...
. In July 1912, the airship Akron (ZR-4) exploded, and Vaniman and his crew were killed.
Seiberling donated millions of dollars to charitable causes in his community. He served on the board of trustees of Buchtel College and assisted the college in becoming the University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
. .
In 1985, Seiberling was inducted into the Tire Industry Hall of Fame.
Further reading
- French, Michael. "Structure, Personality, and Business Strategy in the U.S. Tire Industry: The Seiberling Rubber Company, 1922–1964." Business History Review. 67:3 (Summer 1993).