Harvey S. Firestone (1868–1938,) fully Harvey Samuel Firestone, was an American industrialist and inventor. He founded the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company, the foremost automobile tire manufacturer in America, and served as its president 1903–32 and chairman 1932–38.
Born in Columbiana, Ohio, Firestone started selling solid rubber carriage tires in Chicago. In 1900, he founded the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company in Akron, Ohio. His $10,000 investment gave him a 50% stake in the company. Initially created to sell other manufacturers’ rubber carriage tires, the company bought a small factory in 1902 and began manufacturing its own tires.
Under Firestone’s leadership, his company grew into one of the most significant industrial corporations in America. He pioneered the pneumatic tire for the Ford Model T, non-skid treads, and tires for farm tractors and motor trucks.
Firestone also promoted the use of trucks for carrying freight and lobbied to construct vast highway systems. To end the British-held monopolistic power of rubber growers in South-East Asia, he founded large rubber plantations in Liberia in 1924.
Firestone was a close associate of Henry Ford and Thomas Edison. They often worked and vacationed together.
Alfred Lief wrote the famous biography Harvey Firestone: Free Man of Enterprise (1951.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Harvey Samuel Firestone
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; but, define yourself.
—Harvey Samuel Firestone
Topics: Being True to Yourself, Silence
It is only as we develop others that we permanently succeed.
—Harvey Samuel Firestone
Topics: Success & Failure, Success
A man with a surplus can control circumstances, but a man without a surplus is controlled by them, and often he has no opportunity to exercise judgment.
—Harvey Samuel Firestone
Topics: Business, Money
I believe fundamental honesty is the keystone of business.
—Harvey Samuel Firestone
You get the best out of others when you give the best of yourself.
—Harvey Samuel Firestone
Topics: Effort, Excellence
Thought, not money, is the real business capital, and if you know absolutely that what you are doing is right, then you are bound to accomplishment it in due season.
—Harvey Samuel Firestone
Topics: Business, Achieving, Money
Success is the sum of details.
—Harvey Samuel Firestone
Topics: Success & Failure, Success
The growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.
—Harvey Samuel Firestone
Capital isn’t so important in business. Experience isn’t so important. You can get both these things. What is important is ideas. If you have ideas, you have the main asset you need, and there isn’t any limit to what you can do with your business and your life.
—Harvey Samuel Firestone
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
Henry Ford American Businessperson
Robert Kiyosaki American Businessperson
Jack Welch American Businessperson
Thomas J. Watson, Sr. American Business Executive
Ted Turner American Businessperson
Richard DeVos American Businessman, Philanthropist
W. Clement Stone American Self-help Guru
Clarence Francis American Business Executive
Andrew Grove Hungarian-born American Businessperson
Allen Klein American Businessperson