Beissbarth

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April 14th, 1899. The start of Automotive History in Munich.

	Daniel Beissbarth 1899 in the Wartburg motor car produced by Fahrzeugfabrik Eisenach. Technical data. rear engine with two de-Dion single- cylinder engines, each with an output of 1.75 bhp, cone clutch, three-speed gearbox with direct drive to the rear wheels. Top speed 40 km/h. Price. 3,500 Marks. The Beissbarth brothers and engineer Mr. Weckerle were the registered drivers For the 499,932 citizens of Munich, Friday, April 14th, 1899, was just a normal day. Every one was going about their own business. Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria had ruled since 1886 on behalf of Kings Ludwig II and Otto. Life was comfortable and the city scene was dominated by pedestrians, hackney cabs and carriages. Unnoticed except by a few witnesses, however, this Friday saw the birth of Munich automotive history at the corner of Schleissheimerstrasse and Schellingstrasse.
Daniel and Hermann Beissbarth were among the twenty-five enthusiastic motorists who met there to have not only their driving abilities but also their vehicles checked over by the Royal Bavarian Police Department. On the same day, Daniel Beissbarth drove the shared Wartburg motor car with its brand-new number 1 in black on a yellow background through the streets of Munich. His twin brother Hermann occupied the passenger seat. In addition to the approval certificate, the two brothers also received a driving licence, probably the first official driving licences issued in Germany. The British company “Europlate”, which is devoted exclusively to research in the area of international car number plates, has discovered that although the numbering of cars was probably already practised in Luxembourg as early as 1895, the first verified “Number 1” car number plate in the world was registered in Munich.
	The oldest car number plate in the world, issued to Daniel and Hermann Beissbarth on April 14th, 1899. Nowadays it’s on display in the Deutsche Museum, Munich.
The British company “Europlate”, which is devoted exclusively to research in the area of international car number plates, has discovered that although the numbering of cars was probably already practised in Luxembourg as early as 1895, the first verified “Number 1” car number plate in the world was registered in Munich.
The approval certificate issued on April 14th, 1899, by the Royal Bavarian Police Department for a fee of 2 Marks.	On July 22nd, 1985, Osmond Beissbarth handed his father’s number plate, the approval certificate and the driving licence to Dr. Maurice, Director of the Deutsche Museum, Munich. But to return to the two motoring pioneers. just a few weeks before this historic occasion, Daniel and Hermann Beissbarth had set up the first car factory in Bavaria. the motor-vehicle and coach-building firm of “Gebrüder Beissbarth”. The company’s premises were at 23 Thierschstrasse. The driving licence of April 14th, 1899, issued to Hermann Beissbarth, puts him officially in charge of the Wartburg motor car. Gebrüder Beissbarth’s premises were initially at 23 Thierschstrasse. The building is still there. Photograph taken on 07. 11. 1904 One day after the historic event on April 14th, 1899, this advertisement for Beissbarth appeared in the newspaper, “Münchner Neueste Nachrichten”.