Václav Klement
Václav Klement (born October 16, 1868 in Velvary ; † August 12, 1938 in Mladá Boleslav ) was a Czech industrialist, together with Václav Laurin he was the founder of the automobile manufacturer Laurin & Klement (now Škoda Auto ).
The technically enthusiastic Czech bookseller bought a bicycle in 1894 . When this had to be repaired, he turned to the Dresden manufacturer Seidel & Naumann . He wrote a letter to the manufacturers in his native Czech. They answered him: "If you want an answer from us, we ask for your message in a language we understand". Klement was so annoyed that he decided without further ado to manufacture bicycles himself together with Václav Laurin.
Both founded a bicycle factory in Mladá Boleslav called L&K ( Laurin & Klement ). These bikes sold very well. Laurin and Klement have been making motorcycles since 1899. This company was characterized by increasing sales figures and ever better performance. In 1905, L&K also manufactured automobiles. After the First World War, declining sales resulted in the takeover by the mechanical engineering group Škoda , the Laurin & Klement vehicle brand expired and production took place under the name Škoda from then on. The automobile manufacturer exists today under the name Škoda Auto and is one of the leading companies in the Czech Republic.
literature
- Klement Václav. In: Austrian Biographical Lexicon 1815–1950 (ÖBL). Volume 3, Verlag der Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Vienna 1965, p. 396.
Web links
- Literature and other media by and about Václav Klement in the catalog of the National Library of the Czech Republic
- Václav Klement's biography
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Klement, Václav |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Czech entrepreneur and founder of the Škoda Auto car company |
| DATE OF BIRTH | October 16, 1868 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Velvary |
| DATE OF DEATH | August 12, 1938 |
| Place of death | Mladá Boleslav |