https://frenchcurious.tumblr.com/page/297
In the "things I did not know" catagory:
In 1899, Albert Champion - the French champion in cycling and motorcycle racing (a funny coincidence) sailed to the United States, and in 1898, he received a patent for spark plugs
In 1908 he founded Champion Spark Plug, in Boston
in a confusing amount of corporate nonsense, Albert lost control of his business, but went to Detroit and became friends with Durant, who coincidentally was building Buick, and GM, so went onto much prosperity when Durant learned how much better the Champion Spark Plug was than the previous contracted supplier, Rahan.
Well, the business partners that Albert had joined up with didn't like getting cut out of the profits that Albert now was making with his Champion Ignition company, and lawsuits, of course, and 12 years in the court system, of course... all nonsense, as Albert and Durant went into business together with AC Spark Plugs
Albert died at the hands of his 2nd wifes married lover, in a hotel. The widow inherited 15 million dollars. GM bought up the shares, and now was the owner of AC Spark Plugs.
https://nickmix01.livejournal.com/652210.html
There's a bunch more of them here. Some really cool ones too: https://nickmix01.livejournal.com/652210.html
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