| For Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, the global | | | | everyone in the automobile industry regarded |
| giant in tire and rubber manufacturing, "13" was a lucky | | | | Goodyear as having the finest-quality and most |
| number. Frank Seiberling, an American inventor, | | | | efficient brand of racing tire available. Goodyear tires |
| founded the company in 1898. The original | | | | continued to gain in popularity, which led to even further |
| manufacturing plant was built in Akron, Ohio, and had | | | | expansion of the company and its reputation. |
| only 13 employees, who all played important roles in | | | | Goodyear developed into a multinational corporation, |
| making the company's earliest products: carriage and | | | | and then branched out into other areas of business. |
| bicycle tires, rubber horseshoe pads, and poker chips. | | | | The company opened a nuclear processing facility in |
| There has never been any connection between | | | | Ohio in 1956. In the 1970s, the Goodyear Aerospace |
| Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Charles | | | | Corporation was formed and later became the |
| Goodyear, who invented vulcanized rubber in 1839. | | | | Goodyear Aircraft Company, which specialized in the |
| However, the decision was made by Mr. Seiberling to | | | | design and manufacturing of various types of aircraft, |
| commemorate Mr. Goodyear and name the company | | | | including the famed space shuttle. Like any company |
| after his profound contribution to the rubber and | | | | seeking healthy expansion, Goodyear devoted a huge |
| automobile industry. | | | | amount of time and money to making-over the original |
| It wasn't until 1901 that the Goodyear company got its | | | | facility in Akron to be a research and design technical |
| biggest break; this was the year that Goodyear | | | | center for the company. |
| agreed to supply racing tires to an up-and-coming | | | | Over the decades, Goodyear has been responsible |
| car-racing firm known as Ford Motor. That was the | | | | for a great number of successful inventions and |
| year that Henry Ford, renowned auto designer, put | | | | innovations. Goodyear now stands as a true global |
| Goodyear tires on his revolutionary car, the Model T. | | | | conglomerate, and one which has delved into a wide |
| And the rest, as they say, was history. By 1909 | | | | range of very profitable and significant ventures. |
| Goodyear was manufacturing aircraft tires, which | | | | At present, Goodyear is the world's third-largest tire |
| made the Goodyear a renowned brand name around | | | | manufacturer, with Michelin and Bridgestone occupying |
| the world. | | | | the two top spots. It's no surprise that when people |
| In 1926, Goodyear has risen to the stature of the | | | | are looking for car tires, the name Goodyear |
| world's largest rubber manufacturer. At that point, | | | | automatically comes to mind. |