Thread by @MikeStuchbery_

I tweeted that the inventor of the first real automobile, Gottlieb Daimler, died #onthisday in 1900.

Not many know this, but Daimler had a habit of scaring the bejesus out of his neighbours. I'd like to honour that. 1/4

When Daimler was putting his 'grandfather clock' engine onto a carriage chassis, the noise from his greenhouse in Bad Cannstatt was alarming his neighbours so much that his gardener eventually led the police in - they'd suspected him of running a counterfeiting operation! 2/4

On November 18 1885, a brave 17 year old Paul Daimler climbed on his father's invention, the 'Reitwagen', and made the world's first motorcycle trip along the banks of the Neckar River, terrifying local with the roar of the 1/2hp engine.

Also the seat caught fire. 3/4

Finally, on August 10 1888, a very brave Daimler employee, Gotthilf Wirsum, climbed aboard a balloon designed by Friedrich Hermann Wölfert, fitted with one of Gottlieb's engines, and flew it four kilometres to the utter amazement and/or terror of everyone who saw it. 4/4