The Daimler pick-up van
The Daimler pick-up-van built in 1900 was powered by a 12-hp two-cylinder engine with hot tube ignition system. It could transport payloads of up to 800 kg.
The Benz "Break" crewbus / carriage
The Benz Break was an open carriage-type vehicle with a detachable roof for sunny weather. The driver's seat was positioned above the front axle. Two rear seat benches were fitted horizontally to the direction of travel, giving the vehicle a capacity of 12 people, including the driver.The rear-mounted, four-stroke, two-cylinder Benz "Contra" engine (known as a Boxer engine today) in the 1400-kg Break used a chain drive to channel its power through the rear wheels. It was capable of developing 13 - 15 hp at 820 rpm.
The Mercedes name is protected by law
On 26 September 1902 the Mercedes name - submitted as a trade mark by DMG (Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft) - was protected by law. This official christening was inspired by Emil Jellinek, an instrumental figure in the development of Daimler cars from 1898. Jellinek demanded ever faster and more powerful cars, which he could enter in races under the pseudonym Mercédès, the first name of his daughter born in 1889. The first genuine "Mercedes" was a 35-hp racing car full of innovative technology which celebrated spectacular success in the Nice Week race meeting in March 1901.
The toothed gear imprint of the Mannheim-based company Benz & Cie. is approved as a registered trade mark.
On 30 March 1904, the logo submitted by Benz & Cie. to the Imperial Patent Office on 4 September 1903 was registered as a trade mark. It shows the lettering "Original Benz", surrounded by a ring gear.
The Daimler delivery van
The Daimler light delivery van built in Marienfelde was available in two different sizes. Payload capacity was 750 kg or 1000 kg, depending on the variant. Fitted with rubber tyres, it was powered by a 9-hp two-cylinder engine, with braked output of 8 hp, and featured a rear-wheel chain drive system. Top speed was 16 or 18 km/h on smooth roads.
The "Mercedes-Electrique (System Lohner-Porsche)" food transport vehicle with electric drive system
The petrol/electric vehicles with electric wheel drive sold from 1908 were especially popular with city dwellers. DMG's Marienfelde plant produced trucks, beer transporters, waste collection and other municipal vehicles, buses for city tours and, above all, fire engines. The battery-powered and later petrol/electric drive systems were developed by Ferdinand Porsche for the Lohner company based in Vienna. Lohner then sold the patent to the Austrian branch of DMG and from there the technology was transferred to Marienfelde.
The Benz-Gaggenau 1 CN van
The Benz-Gaggenau 1 CN van had a similar engine output to the 1 C. However, the wheelbase of 3750 - 4300 mm was longer than that of the 1 C. The special fire engine variant of the 1 CN had a wheelbase of 3300 mm and a stated pump output of 500 l/min.
The first Daimler truck - but was it really a van?
The first Daimler truck was completed in 1896. This ground-breaking vehicle was fitted with a 4-speed belt transmission and a two-cylinder "Phoenix" engine. Although the Phoenix still used the hot tube ignition system, it was already equipped with a spray jet carburettor and developed a creditable 4 hp. The Daimler truck had a payload of 1500 kg, which would qualify it as a van by today's standards. The first vehicle completed was delivered to England.
The Benz "Velo" combination delivery van
The small, two-seater carriage with chain drive was derived from the Benz Velo and featured a detachable van body. The rear-mounted, four-stroke, one-cylinder engine had displacement of 1045 cc and developed 2.75 hp at 600 rpm, putting a maximum speed of 20 km/h within reach. This vehicle had a payload of 300 kg, including the driver. Between 1900 and 1902 two further engine variants were introduced, generating 3.5 hp at 800 rpm and 4.5 hp at 960 rpm respectively.
The Daimler delivery van
In 1898 Daimler changed the drive system in his delivery vans (as he called his small commercial vehicles), swapping the belt system for a chain drive. In addition, the engine was mounted under the driver's seat, With the help of its two-cylinder engine, which boasted an output of 6 hp, Daimler's delivery van could shoulder a payload of 1200 kg.
The Benz delivery van
In this carriage with closed body, the driver was seated high above the front axle. The 1100-kg vehicle was powered by a rear-mounted, four-stroke, one-cylinder engine developing 6 hp at 700 rpm and was capable of a top speed of 15 km/h. The payload capacity stood at 400 kg and 2 people. The delivery vehicle was fitted with a chain drive and 3-speed transmission, and was derived from the Benz "Phaeton".
The three-pointed star becomes a patented logo
On 24 June 1909 DMG applied for a patent for the three-pointed star, which was soon to become one of the world's most familiar trade marks. Four days later a patent application was also submitted for the four-pointed star, although it wasn't until 1989 that this logo was first used - at the Dasa aerospace company. Both designs were entered in the list of registered trade marks on 9 February 1911.
The new Benz & Cie. company trade mark
Benz & Cie. submitted their new trade mark to the Imperial Patent Office on 6 August 1909. The Benz name was encircled by a laurel wreath design. The new trade mark was added to the official register on 10 October 1910.
The Benz-Gaggenau delivery van
From 1913 to 1916 the Benz-Gaggenau delivery van with a payload of 750 kg was built in three different variants with 20 hp, 25 hp and 28 hp respectively. The four-cylinder engine used a propshaft to power the 1500-kg vehicle to a maximum speed of approximately 40 - 45 km/h.
The Daimler U 1 T delivery van
The Daimler U 1 T delivery van was produced from 1912 to 1913 and also shortly after the First World War. The four-cylinder Daimler engine with 4-speed transmission produced output of 25 hp at 1600 rpm. The gross vehicle weight stood at 3000 kg and payload capacity was 1250 to 1500 kg. The engine was developed with a propshaft to bring the U 1 T to a top speed of 35 km/h.
The Benz-Gaggenau 1 C van
The 1 C was powered by a Benz-Gaggenau S 100 four-cylinder engine with displacement of 4760 cc and output of 30-35 hp at 1200 rpm. It was capable of transporting loads of 1 - 1.5 t. Two tyre variants were available: solid rubber or pneumatic. The rear axle had two sets of tyres. The 1 C reached a top speed of 35 - 42 km/h, according to the tyres used. The wheelbase was 3600 mm.
The Daimler-Mercedes U 2 T pick-up van
The 50-hp U 2 T pick-up van could transport loads of up to 2 t, as the vehicle designation indicated. It was available as both a pick-up van and panel van. The tyres were solid rubber and the vehicle had twin rear wheels. The load area in the pick-up van measured 3000 x 1800 mm, in the panel van 3000 x 1500 mm. Top speed stood at 30 km/h.