10 Incredible Mechanic Facts You Never Knew

Have you ever heard that Dunkin Donuts commercial, "America Runs on Dunkins"? Well if there was a way to make that slogan more accurate, it would read "America Runs on Machines Serviced By Mechanics." Mechanics keep our cars, buses, trains, and everything else on the road. Everyone knows that the average mechanic works hard, gets stressed, but also gets the job done.  But there are some things about mechanics that you probably never knew. Here are 10: 

1) The first school for automobile mechanics opened in 1904 - At the turn of the century, cars, referred to as "horseless-carriages", were beginning to become more common. While it was only those with financial means who could afford them, there became a need for formal mechanic training. The first school for mechanics opened in 1904 in Detroit, MI, the epicenter of American automotive development.  

2) Many early mechanics were also chauffeurs - Before cars were mainstream, only the wealthy could afford them. In those days the driver of the car was also its mechanic, in charge of maintaining the car in addition to chauffeur responsibilities. Since their mechanical knowledge was more specialized than a horse-carriage driver's, the chauffeur/mechanic could negotiate for a better wage. 

3) Who is considered the first auto mechanic? - While disputed by some, German engineer Karl Benz (yes, that Benz) is considered the first automobile mechanic in history, after his invention of what was the first automobile with an internal combustion engine in 1885.  

4) The first mechanic's union was formed in 1917 - A group of mechanics formed a union in Seattle, WA in 1917, considered the first strictly automotive mechanic's union. Within a year, they had 250 members. By 1920 their membership had grown to 500, with the automobile becoming more commonly accepted in everyday American life. 

5) The most famous mechanic of all time was Henry Ford - Before he was an automobile magnate, one of the world's richest men, and a symbol of hard-scrabble American ingenuity and folksiness, Henry Ford was quite simply a mechanic. He was a successful machinist before he struck out on his own to pursue his passion: the automobile. 

6) Queen Elizabeth actually trained as a mechanic - During WWII, Queen Elizabeth II (then a princess) begged her father to let her help the cause. He gave in, and allowed her to join the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service where she trained as a mechanic and drove a military truck. To this day, she remains the only female member of the British Royal Family to have served in the armed forces. 

7) Mechanic Edd China holds some interesting world records - Mechanic and British TV presenter Ed China is known for tinkering in the garage as well as setting some odd milestones in the Guinness Book of World Records, including; fastest furniture, largest motorized shopping cart, fastest office, fastest furniture, fastest mobile bed, fastest toilet, and fastest garden shed. 

8) The word mechanic originates quite accurately - The word mechanic itself is derived from Ancient Greek, mekhanikos: (pertaining to machines or contrivance, ingenious, inventive) and Latin, mechanicus: (of or belonging to machines, inventive). 

9) There are still very few women mechanics - Despite the rise of women in the workforce, and dual-income households, mechanics are still overwhelmingly men. The Department of Labor estimates that women make up just 2 percent of miscellaneous vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers and repairers, and only 1.4 percent of automobile service technicians and mechanics. 

10) The most famous movie mechanic of all time was not who you would expect - If you were to judge by commercial success as well as box office revenues, the most famous movie mechanic of all time was Chewbacca, the 7 foot tall Wookie and mechanic on Han Solo's spaceship, the Millennium Falcon.