| (1868
- 1938) |
| Inducted: |
1987 |
| Region: |
MidWest |
| Industry: |
Transportation
Manufacturing |
|
Harvey Firestone joined his uncle's buggy company as a salesman in 1890. Although it went bankrupt, Firestone gained valuable insight–rubber tires would replace iron-banded wheels. With financial backing, he started selling tires in Chicago. In 1900 he started Firestone Tire & Rubber in Akron, Ohio. Firestone’s big break came in 1905, when Henry Ford decided to install Firestone’s tires on his runabouts. Firestone became America's most innovative rubber company, producing many firsts, including the dismountable rim, the balloon tire, the low-pressure truck tire, and the rayon-cord tire. |
