Dr. Benjamin Franklin Goodrich, a Civil War surgeon, in 1870 opened the first rubber factory in Akron. Named the B. F. Goodrich Company, it introduced rubber fire hoses that replaced leather hoses and in 1896 manufactured the first rubber tires in Akron.
B.F. Goodrich became the official first producer of automobile tires when in 1896 it filled an order from the Winton Automobile Company of Cleveland. Goodrich stayed a leader for years and broadened its market by expanding bicycle tires to automobile tires, and also to other rubber products.
Did You Know?
- In 1937, BFGoodrich developed a way to product synthetic rubber which was of use to the U.S. during World War II, as the nation's supply of natural rubber was cut off.
- In 1961, America's first astronauts came to BFGoodrich for the suits that will protect them in outer space.
- In 1988. BFGoodrich exited the tire business.
- In 2001 BFGoodrich became Goodrich Corporation to reflect the growing, dynamic company it had become.
- In 2002, Goodrich Corporation spun off its industrial products business, completing its transformation into a leading global aerospace and defense supplier.
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