 |
| Story |
|
 |
|
Suddenly, the Honda Characteristics Begin to Show:
“Engineering Without Personality Doesn’t Have Much Value.” (1947)
The first of their prototype engines was the legendary “chimney” engine.
President Honda thought up a thoroughly unique concept for a new engine, and showed it to Kawashima by “drawing it on the shop floor.” Crouching down and sketching out conceptual drawings on the floor was an unchanging habit throughout his life.
“Just in terms of business, we could have done fine by simply making copies of the engine for the No. 6 wireless radio,” said Kawashima. “It pretty much had the performance we needed, after all. But by that time, he had already become the Old Man we know, and he absolutely couldn’t stand to simply make that engine the way it was. He didn’t like to copy things.”
Kawashima took what President Honda had told him, and the rough sketches, and set to work on turning them into engineering designs.
Afterward, when President Honda looked at the designs from his engineers, he would invariably ask:
“What part of this is new? What part is different from other makes?”
This was always the first thing he would ask, and so it was with this first engine that he made, which differed from the conventional design. |
|
|
|
Full Story (1
Page) >>
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home
> About Honda > Heritage
> Honda History > Limitless Dreams