B.F. Goodrich Company founded in Akron

Year

1870

By

Benjamin Goodrich

Company

B.F. Goodrich

Place

Akron, Summit County ZIP 44308 · Akron · Summit County

Dr. Benjamin Franklin Goodrich was a doctor before he was a rubber maker. His rubber business had been in New York State. He established the company in Akron in 1870.

The first products were rubberized hoses, sold mostly as fire hoses, before the company moved into bicycle and automobile tires.

In 1896 BFGoodrich became the first U.S. company to make pneumatic automobile tires. In 1903 a Model A Ford on BFGoodrich tires became the first car to cross the United States from east to west, and in 1927 Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis flew the Atlantic on its tires.

The company developed America's first tubeless tire in 1947 and the first American-made radial tires in 1965. It was acquired by Michelin in 1990, and the BFGoodrich name still appears on tires made in Alabama and Indiana.

• 1870: Dr. B. F. Goodrich establishes his company in Akron. (Akron, OH) source
• 1896: BFGoodrich becomes the first U.S. company to make pneumatic automobile tires. (Akron, OH) source
• 1903: A Model A Ford on BFGoodrich tires is the first car to cross the U.S. east to west. (United States) source
• 1927: Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis uses BFGoodrich tires. source
• 1947: BFGoodrich develops the first tubeless tire in America. (Akron, OH) source
• 1965: First American-made radial tires. (Akron, OH) source
• 1990: Michelin acquires the company. (France) source

• First U.S. maker of pneumatic automobile tires (1896).
• Brand survives under Michelin in two U.S. plants.

Started Akron's rubber industry.

Wikipedia's Akron article says Goodrich came in 1869, while its BFGoodrich article says 1870.

• Wikipedia: BFGoodrich

• Wikipedia: BFGoodrich
• Wikipedia: Akron, Ohio
• Wikipedia: BFGoodrich