Born in his family's farmhouse on December 20, 1868, Harvey S. Firestone was the second Firestone to enter the world in Columbiana, Ohio. Firestone's ancestors were German immigrants who arrived in North America carrying the name Feuerstein.
Young Harvey Firestone attended a one-room schoolhouse and went on to graduate from Columbiana High School. Seeking a broader and more independent education, he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, and attended Spencerian Business College. He entered the business world as a full-time bookkeeper with a coal company in Columbus, Ohio.
A Better Idea
In the early 1890s, Firestone joined the sales force of the Columbus Buggy Company. It was there that he first observed and documented the comfort, handling, and repair frequency of metal-rimmed wheels. Firestone envisioned a new method that mated rubber tires onto buggy wheels. He reasoned that rubber tires would improve the ride and durability of the classical buggy platform. He also observed that his future would be involved with the rubber components--and not the buggy industry. He didn't have to wait long, as his employer closed its doors due to harsh competition and price cutting in 1895.
Determined to follow through with his idea and market his product, he purchased a factory in Chicago, and with the aid of a single employee, formed the Firestone Victor Rubber Company. The sale of rubber-tired carriage tires began in earnest, and soon the company name became the Firestone Rubber Tire Company.
Harvey Firestone (far right)...
Harvey Firestone (far right) kept some impressive company. In this photo he is seen with Henry Ford (left) and Thomas Edison (center). The trio often vacationed and worked together. Firestone and Ford were so close, in fact, that William Clay Ford married Martha Firestone, who was the granddaughter of Harvey Firestone. The couple then went on to become the parents of current Ford Motor Company Chairman, William Clay Ford, Jr.
Firestone And Ford
Firestone took a set of his rubber carriage tires to Detroit for demonstrations. Prospects quickly discovered the improved ride, handling, and longevity of his concept. In 1896, he furnished a set of rubber carriage tires to Henry Ford, who was working on a new horseless carriage. Firestone's tour of the Motor City convinced him the automotive age was beginning, and that he could be in on a groundbreaking and larger business opportunity. Firestone returned to the Windy City and sold his first venture to a competitor for $45,000.
Firestone Tire & Rubber Company Moves To Ohio
Determined to expand his rubber business, Firestone moved to Akron, Ohio, in 1900. Akron was the hotbed of the rubber industry, and local manufacturers were involved in the production of solid tires for buggies as well as pneumatic tires for the exploding bicycle trade. Carriage tires were not yet included in the mix, and Firestone acquired a patent for his tire and wheel attachment techniques at the age of 31.
The fledgling company relied on other subcontracted suppliers to manufacture the rubber. Firestone fastened the rubber to the steel carriage wheels. This simple process allowed the venture to gross more than $100,000 in its first year of operation. In 1903, Firestone realized that in order to cut costs, maintain quality, and increase production, he had to manufacture his own rubber products.
In 1904 Firestone began to develop pneumatic tires for automobiles, as the automakers were looking to improve their products to increase sales. In 1905 Henry Ford placed his first order for tires with the company. The initial order of 2,000 sets began a personal relationship between Ford and Firestone that lasted a lifetime.