Random Lunchtime Trivia - Bibendum the Michelin Man
"Nunc est bibendum!"
(Cheers - Let's Drink!)Somehow The Michelin Man got dragged into a lunchtime conversation about how klutzy and poorly-coordinated the former forklift driver at the warehouse was, and we got into a debate over his name. One guy was fairly certain it was "Bosch," The Michelin Man. Bosch is a competitor of Michelin, so that doesn’t really make sense. Not surprisingly, I happened to know for a fact that the Michelin Man was actually named "Bibendum" sometime around 1900, by turn-of-the-century writer and food critic, Curnonsky. He was named Bibendum because he was frequently depicted drinking wine with nails and glass in it (symbolizing their campaign that Michelin tires could drink up any road obstacle).
Since it’s been pretty well established I’m usually right about odd-ball trivia, everyone took my word for it and went back to not-working (slow day). For my own piece of mind, though, I still looked it up to ensure I was right. I had it pretty much nailed, though I learned that Bibendum also regularly smoked a cigar, until the later part of the century. He’s been updated a number of times to keep up with tire technology and marketing trends, and is one of the most instantly-recognizable product mascots in the world, representing Michelin in over 150 countries.
I happen to have Michelin HydroEdge Tires on my car, and can say they has saved me from numerous accidents due to neglectful drivers and bad weather - several of which could have been quite severe. They're the most valuable part of my car, and were worth every freakin' penny.
Click here to learn more about Bibendum from Michelin's webpage.
