André-Gustave Citroën (5 February 1878 – 3 July 1935)
André Citroën was born, raised and educated in Paris. He attended the Ecole Polytechnique, graduating in July 1902 prior to undertaking his National Service. His engineering credentials now established, he started a business making gearwheels – André Citroën et Cie.
During a visit to Poland, André acquired the manufacturing rights to a unique development in gear design; the double helical (Herringbone) gears eliminate end-thrust and were said to have been used on the Titanic. It is not known what the iceberg was fitted with.
It’s easy to believe the Citroën double chevron logo was inspired by the design. Here’s how the logo looked over the years…
André was also quick to adopt new manufacturing processes from the USA in the early years of car manufacture. Notably Ford’s production line methods for building the Model T which were introduced to improve production of the original A series cars. For a comprehensive account of the man and his achievements, see the ‘History of Citroën’ by Club member Malcolm Bobbit which is being serialised in the Citroënian throughout 2019.
Both André and the Company named after him were plagued by bad health and he died aged 57 in 1935 in Paris just as the Company was acquired by Michelin, a major creditor. A forgotten fact is that the hearse in which André took his final journey was a Renault. Not forgotten though, is his legacy…
