Creating an Industrial Empire in 19th Century Parallel World

Two minutes earlier, Carl Benz was strolling around the fair, looking for something that might pique his interest. However, it was all but disappointing as most of the mechanical contraptions displayed in the Machinery Hall were nothing but a display with no practical use.

He had traveled all the way from Germany to witness new technologies made by other countries, and seeing those lifeless machines only made him more determined to showcase something revolutionary himself. As he walked down the aisle, he noticed a small crowd gathered around a peculiar machine. Curiosity piqued, he made his way over to see what all the fuss was about.

To his surprise, it was an automobile. The body of the car was made of shiny metal, with long, sweeping lines that gave it a sense of speed even when it was standing still. The wheels were large and spoked, with wide tires that looked like they could handle any terrain.

As Carl approached the car, he couldn't help but be impressed by its beauty. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before, with a style and grace that seemed almost otherworldly.

He could see the intricate details of the car, the perfectly crafted curves, and lines that flowed seamlessly from one end to the other. He could imagine the craftsmanship that must have gone into creating such a masterpiece.

As Carl stood there, admiring the automobile, he couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder and amazement. It was a true testament to the ingenuity and creativity of the human mind, and he felt honored to have witnessed it with his own eyes.

"I must know who made it," he quickly squeezed through the crowds and saw a silver-haired and blonde-haired man standing by it.

"Uhm sir…are you the inventor of this automobile?" Carl asked, getting Poul's attention.

"I am indeed that person," Poul smiled as he walked forward. "Sadly, we just finished the demonstration and we couldn't go for another six hours as we are saving fuel for future demonstrations."

"Is that so? That's a shame, I was wandering around, hoping that I would find something as ingenious as this. Truly, this is an automobile right?"

"Yes, this is an automobile, the one that is going to revolutionize transportation, and replace horse-drawn carriages."

"I see. I must say, the design of your automobile is impressive, truly. I never knew that an automobile could be that sleek-looking. Sadly, the automobile is unreliable and inefficient."

"What do you mean?" Poul tilted his head to the side.

"Oh, let me introduce myself. My name is Carl Benz, I'm the inventor of a motorcar, it's an automobile similar to yours but I'm not finding any luck in marketing it. This is why I was looking forward to seeing you demonstrate it…"

"Wait, you are Carl Benz?" Poul exclaimed

"Yes, that's correct," Carl nodded. "I've been trying to market my motorcar for a while now, but it seems that people are not ready for this revolutionary idea yet."

Poul looked at Carl with newfound respect. He had heard of the name Carl Benz before, but he never imagined he would meet the inventor of the motorcar in person.

"I've heard of your work, Mr. Benz. Your motorcar is quite an impressive piece of machinery," Poul said, admiringly.

"Thank you, but it isn't without its flaws. You see, my engine is prone to overheating, and it requires a lot of maintenance. I've been working on improving its efficiency, but it's been a slow and challenging process," Carl explained.

Poul hummed. "The motorcar, is it displayed also in the Machinery Hall? Can I take a look?"

"I can, but in exchange, you'll let me see yours," Carl smiled.

"Fine, I'll let you," Poul then led Carl towards the automobile.

"Jonathan, I'll do a brief demonstration for this gentleman here, do you mind?" Poul asked Jonathan who was sorting tools.

Jonathan simply shook his head, indicating that he didn't mind. So Poul grabbed a metal rod and cranked the engine, which roared to life with a powerful hum.

After cranking it, Poul opened the door, inviting him to take a seat in the driver's seat. Carl eagerly obliged and sat behind the wheel, his eyes scanning every detail of the vehicle's interior.

As Poul gave him a brief overview of the car's features, Carl couldn't help but feel a sense of envy. The automobile before him was a work of art, a masterpiece of engineering and design. He knew that his motorcar had a long way to go before it could even compare to this one.

There was a speedometer that told the driver how much speed the car was going, an air-conditioning system that cooled or heated the interior depending on the weather, and lastly, the electrical systems that powered the headlight and taillight.

"Can I see it move?" Carl asked.

"Of course, if you would move aside," Poul nodded and stepped aside.

Poul put the car into gear and slowly eased onto the road. The automobile glided smoothly along the dirt road, its engine humming contentedly. Visitors from all around the world turned their heads towards the automobile inquisitively.

"Where is your station?" Poul asked, keeping his eyes on the road.

Carl, who was so impressed that he forgot how to speak, snapped when Poul asked a question.

"Over there," Carl pointed to a small booth that was set up on the side of the road.

As they arrived at the booth, Carl stepped out of the car and gestured for Poul to follow him. He opened the door to his booth and beckoned Poul to come inside.

Once they were both inside, Poul immediately noticed the motorcar.

Once they were both inside, Poul immediately noticed the motorcar. It was a three-wheeled vehicle, like the one he saw in the newspaper.

As Poul made his way around the car, he took note of every detail, observing the distinctiveness of the front wheel which stood out prominently in comparison to the two smaller ones at the back. He couldn't help but notice how the steering mechanism was expertly attached to this larger wheel. The design was highly practical, with a thin wheel reminiscent of the ones used in horse-drawn carriages.

Then the engine. Based on its appearance, Poul could tell that the engine used was the single-cylinder four-stroke design that was commonly used in small engines at the time. But as he looked closer, he was beginning to take notice of the flaws.

"Now I know why your engine is prone to heating," Poul commented and continued. "You see, Mr. Benz, the materials used in the engine's construction were not heat-resistant. The engine block and other components were made of cast iron, which is a relatively poor conductor of heat. This meant that heat was retained within the engine, making it more prone to overheating."

Poul continued to point out various flaws in the engine's design and construction. He talked about how the engine had no cooling system, which meant that it relied solely on air to dissipate heat. This was a serious limitation, especially in hot weather. Poul also noted that the engine's carburetor was not properly designed, which resulted in fuel and air not mixing effectively. This, in turn, led to inefficient combustion, which reduced the engine's power output.

Carl listened intently as Poul went into greater detail about the flaws in his engine. He realized that Poul was right. The engine he had designed had numerous limitations and would not be able to compete with his design.

He felt a sense of disappointment, but at the same time, he was grateful for Poul's honesty and expertise.

As Poul finished his analysis of the engine, he turned to Carl and said. "Mr. Benz, if possible, can you work for me?"

"Pardon?"

"I want you to work for me, Mr. Benz," Poul repeated. "I believe your knowledge of automobiles would prove to be a great asset to our company. You see the automobile that we invented, we are going to build a lot of them in the future, and we will need your skills to do that."

Carl was taken aback by Poul's offer. He had never considered working for someone else before. He had always been his own boss, and the idea of working for someone else seemed foreign to him.

But as he thought about it, he realized that Poul's offer was too good to refuse. The opportunity to work on a project as ambitious and exciting as the automobile was too great to pass up. He had always been passionate about engineering and innovation, and working with Poul would give him the chance to pursue that passion in a way he never had before.

He looked at Poul, who was watching him expectantly, waiting for his answer.

After a moment of consideration, Carl replied, "I accept your offer, Mr?"

"Nielsen, Poul Nielsen," Poul extended his hand, offering a handshake.