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80-521: Production of the Tucker '48 was shut down on 3 March 1949 amid scandal and controversial accusations of stock fraud, of which Tucker was eventually acquitted. The 1988 movie Tucker: The Man and His Dream is based on Tucker's spirit and the saga surrounding the car's production. Preston Tucker was born on September 21, 1903, on a peppermint farm near Capac, Michigan . His father was a railroad engineer named Shirl Harvey Tucker (1880-1907), and his mother

160-489: A Dodge salesman for Cass Motor Sales . During the early 1930s, Tucker began an annual one-month trek to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway . Having a heavy interest in the race cars and their designers, Tucker met Harry Miller , maker of more Indianapolis 500 -winning engines than any other during this period. Tucker moved to Indianapolis to be closer to the racing car development scene and worked as

240-548: A gas turbine -powered car to be produced by Tucker. The Tucker Export Corporation was also formed, based in New York, which was established as an entity to manage worldwide sales of Tucker's cars. Headed by Tucker's long-time friend, Colombian Max Garavito, distributorships were set up internationally, including South America and South Africa. Tucker assembled a group of automotive industry leaders for Tucker Corporation, including: Tucker and his colleagues were able to obtain

320-482: A Dr. Eales, a discovery which John Ray published 1696 in the second edition of his book Synopsis Methodica Stirpium Britannicarum . He initially gave it the name Mentha spicis brevioribus et habitioribus, foliis Mentha fusca, sapore fervido piperis and later in his 1704 volume Historia Plantarum he called it Mentha palustris or Peper–Mint. The plant was then added to the London Pharmacopoeia under

400-453: A car salesman at his Detroit dealership. Tucker did very well, but the dealership was a long drive from his Lincoln Park home and so Tucker quit and briefly returned to the LPPD for the last time. A few months later, Dulian, still impressed with Tucker's immediate success as a salesman, invited Tucker to move south with him to Memphis, Tennessee , to work as a sales manager. Dulian was transferred

480-459: A combat vehicle suited to the muddy Dutch terrain. Continuing his working relationship with Harry Miller, Tucker began designing the "Tucker Combat Car", nicknamed the "Tucker Tiger", a short-wheelbase armored car powered by a Miller-modified Packard V-12 engine. At least one prototype of the combat car was built. Production of the car was to be done at the Rahway , New Jersey , factory owned by

560-498: A cooling effect when used topically for muscle pain , nerve pain , relief from itching , or as a fragrance. High oral doses of peppermint oil (500 mg) can cause mucosal irritation and mimic heartburn . Peppermint roots bioaccumulate radium , so the plant may be effective for phytoremediation of radioactively contaminated soil. Fresh or dried peppermint leaves are often used alone in peppermint tea or with other herbs in herbal teas (tisanes, infusions). Peppermint

640-501: A couple of years later, but Tucker stayed in Memphis and was a salesman for Ivor Schmidt ( Stutz ) and John T. Fisher Motor Company (Chrysler), where he became general sales manager. While managing Chrysler sales in Memphis, Tucker made a connection with Pierce-Arrow . In 1933, Tucker moved to Buffalo, New York , and became regional sales manager for Pierce-Arrow automobiles, but after only two years, he moved back to Detroit and worked as

720-502: A federal judge handed control of the Tucker Corporation over to Aaron J. Colnon and John H. Schatz. Soon thereafter on June 10, Tucker and six other Tucker Corporation executives were indicted on 25 counts of mail fraud , five counts of violations of SEC regulations, and one count of conspiracy to defraud . The indictment included Tucker, 46; Harold A. Karsten, 58, "alias Abe Karatz"; Floyd D. Cerf, 61 (whose firm had handled

800-654: A fighter aircraft, the Tucker XP-57 , which earned the interest of the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Development of a single prototype of the XP-57 was started, powered by a straight 8-cylinder engine developed and influenced by Harry Miller, called the Miller L-510. Nicknamed the "Peashooter", this fighter competed for WWII government war contracts. However, financial problems within

880-485: A four-lobed corolla about 5 mm ( 3 ⁄ 16  in) diameter; they are produced in whorls (verticillasters) around the stem, forming thick, blunt spikes. Flowering season lasts from mid- to late summer. The chromosome number is variable, with 2n counts of 66, 72, 84, and 120 recorded. Peppermint is a fast-growing plant, spreading quickly once it has sprouted. Peppermint typically occurs in moist habitats, including stream sides and drainage ditches. Being

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960-470: A high concentration of natural pesticides, mainly pulegone (found mainly in M. arvensis var. piperascens (cornmint, field mint, or Japanese mint), and to a lesser extent (6,530 ppm) in Mentha × piperita subsp. notho ) and menthone. It is known to repel some pest insects, including mosquitos , and has uses in organic gardening. It is also widely used to repel rodents. The chemical composition of

1040-803: A hybrid, it is usually sterile , producing no seeds and reproducing only vegetatively , spreading by its runners . Outside of its native range, areas where peppermint was formerly grown for oil often have an abundance of feral plants, and it is considered invasive in Australia, the Galápagos Islands , New Zealand, and the United States in the Great Lakes region, noted since 1843. Peppermint generally grows best in moist, shaded locations, and expands by underground rhizomes. Young shoots are taken from old stocks and dibbled into

1120-459: A modified 334 cu in (5.5 L) Franklin O-335 aircraft engine. He liked the engine so much he purchased its manufacturer, Aircooled Motors in New York, for $ 1.8 million in 1947, securing a guaranteed engine supply for his car. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission bothered the Tucker Corporation from its earliest days. The SEC was embittered after small automaker Kaiser-Frazer

1200-755: A profit. He attended the Cass Technical High School in Detroit, but he quit school and landed a job as an office boy for the Cadillac Motor Company , where he used roller skates to make his rounds more efficiently. In 1922, young Tucker joined the Lincoln Park Police Department against the pleas of his mother, his interest stirred by his desire to drive and ride the fast, high-performance police cars and motorcycles . His mother had him removed from

1280-557: A sports car called the Carioca . Tucker could not use the Tucker name for the car, as Peter Dun of Dun & Bradstreet had purchased the rights to the name, and the Tucker Carioca was ultimately never developed. Tucker's travels to Brazil were plagued by fatigue, and upon his return to the United States, he was diagnosed with lung cancer . Tucker died from pneumonia as a complication of lung cancer on December 26, 1956, at

1360-405: Is a major constraint in peppermint cultivation. 'Todd's Mitcham', 'Refined Murray', 'Roberts Mitcham' (see above), and a few other cultivars have some degree of resistance . In 2022, world production of peppermint was 51,081 tonnes , led by Morocco with 84% of the total and Argentina with 14% (table). In the United States, Oregon and Washington produce most of the country's peppermint,

1440-611: Is an herbaceous , rhizomatous, perennial plant that grows to be 30–90 cm (12–35 in) tall, with smooth stems, square in cross section. The rhizomes are wide-spreading and fleshy, and bear fibrous roots . The leaves can be 4–9 cm ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 – 3 + 1 ⁄ 2  in) long and 1.5–4 cm ( 1 ⁄ 2 – 1 + 1 ⁄ 2  in) broad. They are dark green with reddish veins, with an acute apex and coarsely toothed margins. The leaves and stems are usually slightly fuzzy. The flowers are purple, 6–8 mm ( 1 ⁄ 4 – 5 ⁄ 16  in) long, with

1520-413: Is safe for oral intake when only a few drops are used. Although peppermint is commonly available as a herbal supplement , no established, consistent manufacturing standards exist for it, and some peppermint products may be contaminated with toxic metals or other substituted compounds. Skin rashes , irritation, or allergic reactions may result from applying peppermint oil to the skin, and its use on

1600-432: Is used for flavouring ice cream , candy , fruit preserves , alcoholic beverages , chewing gum, toothpaste , and some shampoos, soaps , and skin care products. Menthol activates cold-sensitive TRPM8 receptors in the skin and mucosal tissues, and is the primary source of the cooling sensation that follows the topical application of peppermint oil. Peppermint oil is also used in construction and plumbing to test for

1680-697: The American Armament Corporation . The Germans invaded the Netherlands in the spring of 1940 before Tucker could complete the deal, and the Dutch government-in-exile lost interest, so he completed the prototypes and opted to try to sell the vehicle to the United States Armed Forces . The car is said to have reached 100 mph (161 km/h), far in excess of the design specifications. The U.S. military rejected

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1760-552: The Chevrolet brothers and chief mechanic/engineer John Eddie Offutt, who would later help Tucker develop and build the first prototype of the Tucker 48. Tucker's outgoing personality and his involvement at Indianapolis made him well known in the automotive industry by 1939. In late 1937, while recovering in an Indianapolis hospital from an appendectomy , Tucker was reading the news and, learning of looming war in Europe , he got

1840-455: The "Spruce Goose") and noting that the first prototype "could not even back up". The first prototype lacked a reverse gear because Tucker had not had time to finish the direct torque drive by the time of the car's unveiling. This was corrected in the final driveline, but the public damage was done and a negative media feeding frenzy resulted. Tucker responded by publishing a full-page advertisement in many national newspapers with "an open letter to

1920-509: The "Torpedo on Wheels". That was only an early rendering of the proposal, with its design features yet to meet reality, but the motoring public was now excited about the Tucker. To finish the prototype design and get construction under way, Tucker hired famed stylist Alex Tremulis , previously of Auburn / Cord / Duesenberg , on December 24, 1946, and gave him just six days to finalize the design. On December 31, 1946, Tucker approved Tremulis's preliminary design. Tucker's future-car became known as

2000-503: The "Tucker Torpedo" from the first Lawson sketch; however, not desiring to bring to mind the horrors of WWII, Tucker quickly changed the name to the "Tucker 48". With Tremulis's design sketch, a full-page advertisement was run in March 1947 in many national newspapers claiming "How 15 years of testing produced the car of the year". Tucker said he had been thinking about the car for 15 years. The second advertisement described specifically many of

2080-598: The Combat Car, as they felt the vehicle was too fast, and had already committed to other combat vehicles. However, the highly mobile, power-operated gun turret featured on the Combat Car, the " Tucker Turret ", earned the interest of the United States Navy . Harry Miller would later take some of the designs from the Tucker Combat Car to American Bantam , where he was involved in the development of

2160-523: The Higgins-Tucker Aviation division. This entity was to produce gun turrets, armament, and engines for Higgins' torpedo boats. However, this relationship did not work out and Tucker severed his association with Higgins in 1943. Go referred to Preston Tucker as "The world's greatest salesman. When he turns those big brown eyes on you, you'd better watch out!" After 1943, Tucker moved back to Michigan, intending to start his own auto company,

2240-425: The LPPD, but in his first winter back he was banned from driving police vehicles after using a blowtorch to cut a hole in the dashboard of a cruiser to allow engine heat to warm the cabin. During the last couple of months at the gas station, Tucker began selling Studebaker cars on the side. He met an automobile salesman, Michael Dulian, who later became sales manager for the Tucker Corporation. Dulian hired Tucker as

2320-494: The LPPD, pointing out to police officials that at 19, he was below the department's minimum required age. Tucker and his new wife, Vera (married in 1923 at 20), then took over a six-month lease on a gas station near Lincoln Park, running the station together. Vera would run the station during the day while Preston worked on the Ford Motor Company assembly line. After the lease ran out, Tucker quit Ford and returned to

2400-514: The SEC report (which was never released publicly). This article was reprinted in Reader's Digest as well, expanding the scope of the negative press concerning Preston Tucker. The trial began on October 4, 1949, presided over by Judge Walter J. LaBuy . Tucker Corporation's factory was closed on the very same day. At that point, only 37 Tucker 48s had been built. A corps of 300 loyal employees returned to

2480-441: The Tucker 48 "does not actually run, it just goes 'goose-geese'" and "I don't know if it can back up." In reply, Tucker claimed that he had asked Toulmin to resign "to make way for a prominent man now active in the automobile industry"—himself. In late 1947, a radio segment on Tucker by popular journalist Drew Pearson criticized the Tucker 48, calling it the "tin goose" (referring to Howard Hughes ' Hughes H-4 Hercules , nicknamed

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2560-491: The Tucker Corporation. After the war, the public was ready for new car designs, but the Big Three automakers had not developed any new models since 1941, and were in no hurry to introduce them. That provided great opportunities for new small, independent automakers who could develop new cars more rapidly than the huge legacy automakers. Tucker saw his opportunity to develop and bring his "car of tomorrow" to market. Studebaker

2640-544: The Tucker Corporation. However, on cross-examination, the defense used this witness to their advantage when Ehlenz testified that he still drove his Tucker 48 given to him by Tucker, and that the car had 35,000 miles (56,000 km) on it and still cruised smoothly at 90 miles per hour (140 km/h). The tide turned in Tucker's favor when the government called its final witness, SEC accountant Joseph Turnbull, who testified that Tucker had taken in over $ 28 million and spent less than one-seventh of it on research and development of

2720-453: The WAA under a shroud of questionable politics. Tucker's specifications for his revolutionary car called for a rear engine , a low-RPM 589 cu in (9.7 L) engine with hydraulic valves instead of a camshaft , fuel injection , direct-drive torque converters on each rear wheel (instead of a transmission), disc brakes , the location of all instruments within the diameter and reach of

2800-464: The acquittal. His optimism was remarkable; after the trial was over, he was quoted as saying, "Even Henry Ford failed the first time out." Tucker Corporation assets were auctioned off publicly in Chicago. One remaining Tucker 48 car was given to Preston Tucker, and another to his mother. In the early 1950s, Tucker teamed up with investors from Brazil and auto designer Alexis de Sakhnoffsky to build

2880-592: The age of 53. Tucker is buried at Michigan Memorial Park in Flat Rock, Michigan . In 1954, a group of investors tried to revive the Tucker Corporation by soliciting investors, mostly former Tucker distributors and dealer owners, for a new car. This effort was led by George A. Schmidt, former president of the Tucker Dealers Association. They developed sketches for a sleek 2-door convertible, but were unable to generate enough support to get it off

2960-782: The auto business altogether to form the Chevrolet Brothers Aircraft Company with a new engine of their design (Chevrolair). The business was unsuccessful and was eventually taken over by investors. Arthur and Louis returned to automobiles, becoming pioneer leaders in the development of sprint type race cars. In 1990, Arthur and his brother were inducted to the inaugural class of the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame & Museum . In 1942, Chevrolet retired to Slidell, Louisiana . Suffering from depression, he committed suicide by hanging in 1946, only nine days shy of his 62nd birthday. Chevrolet

3040-477: The automobile industry" wherein he subtly hinted that his efforts to build the cars were being stymied by politics and an SEC conspiracy. Nonetheless, dealership owners began filing lawsuits to recover their money, and Tucker's stock value plummeted. In 1949, Tucker surrendered his corporate records to the SEC. United States Attorney Otto Kerner Jr. began a grand jury investigation in February 1949. On March 3,

3120-528: The car developed ignition magneto problems. His driving career ended during practice rounds for the 1920 Indianapolis 500 when he was severely injured in a crash. Brother Gaston won that year's race in a Frontenac, but Gaston was killed in a California race a few months later. In 1928, Chevrolet filed with the US Patent Office for an 'Overhead Valve Engine'. Patent #1,744,526 was awarded on January 21, 1930. In 1929, Arthur and Louis Chevrolet left

3200-456: The car was even in production. Potential buyers who purchased Tucker accessories were guaranteed a spot on the dealer waiting list for a Tucker '48 car. Tucker also began selling dealerships before the car was ready for production, and at the time of the trial had sold over 2,000 dealerships nationwide at a price of $ 7,500 to nearly $ 30,000 each. Feeling pressure from the SEC, Harry Aubrey Toulmin Jr.,

3280-641: The car. He stated that Tucker had taken over $ 500,000 of the investors' money for himself, but never delivered a production car. Kirby rebutted Turnbull's claims on cross-examination, asking for proof of the allegations of financial mismanagement from Tucker's seized financial records. Turnbull was unable to offer such evidence. In closing his witness testimony, Kirby asked Turnbull, "You are not here suggesting these figures are figures of monies taken fraudulently, are you?" Turnbull's answer was, "Not exactly, no." After this final SEC witness, Tucker's defense attorneys surprised everyone by refusing to call any witnesses to

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3360-413: The chairman of the Tucker board of directors, resigned and wrote a letter to the SEC on September 26, 1947, in an attempt to distance himself from the company. In the letter, Toulmin indicated that he quit "because of the manner in which Preston Tucker is using the funds obtained from the public through sale of stock." Describing Tucker as "a tall, dark, delightful, but inexperienced boy", Toulmin added that

3440-500: The company slowed the development of the prototype and the USAAC allowed the contract to lapse. During World War II , Tucker became associated with Andrew Jackson Higgins of Higgins Industries , builder of Liberty ships , PT boats , and landing craft . Higgins acquired Tucker Aviation Corporation in March 1942, and Tucker moved to New Orleans , Louisiana , to serve as a vice-president of Higgins Industries, specifically in charge of

3520-468: The drawing board. Peppermint Peppermint ( Mentha × piperita ) is a hybrid species of mint , a cross between watermint and spearmint . Indigenous to Europe and the Middle East, the plant is now widely spread and cultivated in many regions of the world. It is occasionally found in the wild with its parent species. Although the genus Mentha comprises more than 25 species,

3600-510: The essential oil from peppermint ( Mentha × piperita L.) was analyzed by GC/FID and GC-MS . The main constituents were menthol (40.7%) and menthone (23.4%). Further components were (±)- menthyl acetate , 1,8- cineole , limonene , beta-pinene , and beta-caryophyllene . Peppermint oil is under preliminary research for its potential as a short-term treatment for irritable bowel syndrome , and has supposed uses in traditional medicine for minor ailments. Peppermint oil and leaves have

3680-463: The face or chest of young children may cause side effects if the oil menthol is inhaled. A common side effect from oral intake of peppermint oil or capsules is heartburn . Oral use of peppermint products may have adverse effects when used with iron supplements, cyclosporine , medicines for heart conditions or high blood pressure, or medicines to decrease stomach acid. Arthur Chevrolet Arthur Chevrolet (April 25, 1884 – April 16, 1946)

3760-404: The factory (some without pay) and finished assembly of another 13 cars for a total production of 50 cars (not including the prototype). At trial, the government contended that Tucker never intended to produce a car. Throughout the trial, the SEC report on Tucker was classified as "secret" and Tucker's attorneys were never allowed to view or read it, but it was leaked to the press nevertheless. As

3840-401: The final 51 prototypes, several were dropped for their cost and the lack of time to develop such mechanically-complicated designs. The low-RPM 589-cubic-inch engine, individual torque converters, mechanical fuel injection, and the disc brakes were all dropped during the design and testing phase. Having run out of time to develop the 589-cubic-inch engine for the car, Tucker ultimately settled on

3920-556: The final car. A sports car variant of the Tucker 48, the Tucker Talisman , was sketched as well but never left the drawing board. To diversify his corporation, Tucker imported Italian engineer Secondo Campini , who was well known and respected in the aviation industry. He was put in charge of pursuing a United States Air Force development contract, hoping to use Tucker's huge Chicago factory to someday build more than just cars. Campini and Tucker also began developing plans for

4000-518: The first Jeep . The Tucker Turret was soon in production (initially at Tucker's Ypsilanti machine shop). Though the turret is often reported to have been used widely on bombers , like the B-17 and B-29 , it was actually developed for the Douglas B-18 Bolo . In the end, no Tucker turrets were equipped on any bombers. Tucker's patent and royalty rights were confiscated by the U.S. and Tucker

4080-406: The flowers begin to open and can be dried. The wild form of the plant is less suitable for this purpose, with cultivated plants having been selected for more and better oil content. They may be allowed to lie and wilt a little before distillation, or they may be taken directly to the still. Several cultivars have been selected for garden use: Commercial cultivars may include: Verticillium wilt

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4160-454: The government, didn't they?" All told Kaiser-Frazer had received nearly $ 200 million in government grants, but did not produce the car they promised. After a break for Christmas , the trial resumed in January 1950. The government's star witness, Daniel J. Ehlenz, a former Tucker dealership owner and distributor from St. Paul, Minnesota, testified that he had lost $ 28,000 in his investment in

4240-405: The ground about 0.5 m (1.5 ft) apart. They grow quickly and cover the ground with runners if it is permanently moist. For the home gardener, it is often grown in containers to restrict rapid spreading. It grows best with a good supply of water, without being water-logged, and planted in areas with partial sun to shade. The leaves and flowering tops are used; they are collected as soon as

4320-617: The idea of developing a high-speed armored combat vehicle . In 1939, Tucker moved his family back to Michigan and bought a house and property in Ypsilanti . He remodeled an old barn on his property and began and operated a machine shop called the Ypsilanti Machine and Tool Company, planning to use the facility to develop various automotive products. Opportunity arose for Tucker from the Netherlands , whose government wanted

4400-525: The inaugural Indianapolis 500 but had to drop out after 30 laps when his Buick developed mechanical problems. In 1916, the year after Louis left the Chevrolet car company that he had co-founded, Arthur Chevrolet assisted Louis and Gaston in the new Frontenac Motor Corporation . Driving a Frontenac, Chevrolet qualified for the Indianapolis 500 again in 1916, but was forced out after 35 laps when

4480-428: The innovative features Tucker proposed for his car, many of which would not make it to the final car. This advertisement had the public very excited about this car, but Tucker had much work to do before a prototype was ready to be shown. To finalize the design, Tucker hired the New York design firm J. Gordon Lippincott to create an alternate body. Only the front end and horizontal taillight bar designs were retained for

4560-434: The judge demanded the SEC prosecutors "get down to the meat of the case and start proving the conspiracy charge." Defense attorney Kirby directed attention to automaker Kaiser-Frazer, pointing out that early models of their government-funded new car model had been made of wood and that when this project failed, Kirby stated in court documents that "Kaiser-Frazer didn't get indicted, and they got 44 million dollars in loans from

4640-651: The largest factory building in the world, the 475-acre (1.92 km) Dodge Chicago Aircraft Engine Plant, which was later known as the Chicago Dodge Plant , from the War Assets Administration . The facility had previously been used to build the massive Wright R-3350 Cyclone engines for B-29 Superfortress aircraft during WWII. Tucker, thinking long-term, believed this large facility would fit his long-term goal of producing an entire line of Tucker automobiles under one roof. Tucker signed

4720-451: The lease in July 1946, contingent on him raising $ 15 million in capital by March 1947. Tucker needed this money to get going, so he began raising money by selling dealership rights and floating a $ 20 million stock issue through the Chicago brokerage firm Floyd D. Cerf. With over $ 17 million in the bank by 1947, the Tucker Corporation was up and running. While Tucker ultimately got the plant, he

4800-720: The leaves of which are processed for the essential oil to produce flavorings mainly for chewing gum and toothpaste . Peppermint has a high menthol content. The essential oil also contains menthone and carboxyl esters, particularly menthyl acetate . Dried peppermint typically has 0.3–0.4% of volatile oil containing menthol (7–48%), menthone (20–46%), menthyl acetate (3–10%), menthofuran (1–17%), and 1,8- cineol (3–6%). Peppermint oil also contains small amounts of many additional compounds, including limonene , pulegone , caryophyllene , and pinene . Peppermint contains terpenoids and flavonoids such as eriocitrin , hesperidin , and kaempferol 7-O-rutinoside. Peppermint oil has

4880-486: The manufacturing process necessary to mass-produce the Tucker 48. They also point to the fact that by the time of the investigation, Tucker had hired over 1,900 employees, including teams of engineers and machinists. At the trial, the Tucker VP Lee Treese testified that they were 90% ready with industrial machinery at the Chicago plant to mass-produce the vehicle. Preston Tucker's reputation rebounded after

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4960-445: The members of the jury to take a ride in one of the eight Tucker 48s parked in front of the courthouse before they made their decision. On January 22, 1950, after 28 hours of deliberations, the jury returned a verdict of "not guilty" on all counts for all accused. Tucker had prevailed at the trial, but the Tucker Corporation, now without a factory, buried in debt, and faced with numerous lawsuits from Tucker dealers that were angry about

5040-412: The name Mentha piperitis sapore in 1721. It was given the name Mentha piperita in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in his Species Plantarum Volume 2. Linnaeus treated peppermint as a species , but it is now universally agreed to be a hybrid between Mentha viridis and Mentha aquatica with Mentha viridis itself also being a hybrid between Mentha sylvestris and Mentha rotundifolis . Peppermint

5120-502: The one in most common use is peppermint. While Western peppermint is derived from Mentha × piperita , Chinese peppermint, or bohe , is derived from the fresh leaves of M. haplocalyx . M. × piperita and M. haplocalyx are both recognized as plant sources of menthol and menthone , and are among the oldest herbs used for both culinary and medicinal products. Peppermint was first identified in Hertfordshire, England, by

5200-618: The production delays, was effectively no more. Despite the outcome of the trial, speculation has continued with regard to the question of whether Tucker genuinely intended to produce a new car and bring it to market, or whether the entire enterprise was a sham, designed for the sole purpose of collecting funds from gullible investors. Tucker collectors of the Tucker Automobile Club of America have amassed over 400,000 drawings, blueprints, corporate documents, and letters which they believe suggest that Tucker was, in fact, developing

5280-416: The stand. Defense attorney Daniel Glasser told the court, "It is impossible to present a defense when there has been no offense". In his closing arguments, Kirby became tearful and emotionally told the jury to "stop picking at the turkey", and stated that Tucker "either intended to cheat and that's all they intended to do or they tried in good faith to produce a car. The two are irreconcilable." He then invited

5360-458: The steering wheel, a padded dashboard, self-sealing tubeless tires, independent springless suspension, a chassis that protected occupants in a side impact, a roll bar within the roof, a laminated windshield designed to pop out during an accident, and a center "cyclops" headlight which would turn when steering at angles greater than 10 degrees in order to improve visibility around corners during night driving. While most of those innovations made it to

5440-566: The stock offering); Robert Pierce, 63; Fred Rockelman, 64; Mitchell W. Dulian, 50, Tucker sales manager; Otis Radford, 42, Tucker Corporation comptroller; and Cliff Knoble, 42, Tucker advertising manager. Tucker publicly called the charges "silly and ridiculous" and hailed the indictment as "an opportunity to explain our side of the story". Tucker and his colleagues' defense was handled by a team of attorneys led by William T. Kirby . Another publication, Collier's , ran an article critical of Tucker on June 25, 1949, which included leaked details of

5520-586: The tightness of pipes and disclose leaks by its odor. Medicinal uses of peppermint have not been approved as effective or safe by the US Food and Drug Administration . With caution that the concentration of the peppermint constituent pulegone should not exceed 1% (140 mg), peppermint preparations are considered safe by the European Medicines Agency when used in topical formulations for adult subjects. Diluted peppermint essential oil

5600-505: The time to develop and test the cars was insufficient, and the steering boxes on all entrants overheated and locked up, causing them to drop out of the race. The design was later perfected by privateers, with examples running at Indy through 1948. Miller and Tucker, Inc. continued race car development and various other ventures until Miller's death in 1943. Tucker was close friends with Miller and even helped Miller's widow pay for her husband's funeral costs. While working with Miller, Tucker met

5680-424: The transportation manager for a beer distributor, overseeing the fleet of delivery trucks for the company. A better engineer than businessman, Miller declared bankruptcy in 1933 and was looking for new opportunities. Tucker persuaded Miller to join him in building race cars, and they formed "Miller and Tucker, Inc." in 1935. The company's first job was building 10 souped-up Ford V-8 racers for Henry Ford . However,

5760-503: The trial proceeded, the government and SEC brought several witnesses (mostly former Tucker employees) to highlight the rudimentary methods used by Tucker to develop the car; the early suspensions were installed three times before they worked, and early parts were taken from junkyards to build the prototype. Answering back in Tucker's defense, designer Alex Tremulis testified that it was common industry practice to use old car parts for prototype builds, and pointed out this had been done when he

5840-459: Was Lucille Caroline (née Preston) Tucker (1881-1960). He grew up outside Detroit in the suburb of Lincoln Park, Michigan . Tucker was raised by his mother, a teacher, after his father died of appendicitis when Preston was three or four years old. First learning to drive at age 11, Tucker was obsessed with automobiles from an early age. At age 16, Preston Tucker began purchasing late model automobiles, repairing and refurbishing them to sell for

5920-561: Was an American racing driver and automobile manufacturer. Born in La Chaux-de-Fonds , Canton of Neuchâtel , Switzerland, Arthur was the middle brother of Louis Chevrolet (1878–1941), founder of the Chevrolet car company; and Gaston Chevrolet (1892–1920). After brother Louis emigrated to America and earned enough money, he sent for Gaston and Arthur to join him. Once there, Arthur worked as an automotive mechanic and joined his brothers in auto racing. In 1911, he competed in

6000-494: Was embroiled in lawsuits for years trying to recoup royalties for use of his patents on the turret. In 1940, Tucker formed the Tucker Aviation Corporation, with the goal of manufacturing aircraft and marine engines . The corporation (Tucker's first) was initially based at his shop behind his Michigan home. A public corporation with stock certificates issued, Tucker raised enough to develop the design for

6080-538: Was first with an all-new postwar model, but Tucker took a different tack, designing a safety-oriented car with innovative features and modern styling. Tucker's first design appeared in Science Illustrated magazine in December 1946, showing a futuristic version of the car with a hydraulic drive system designed by George Lawson, along with a photo of a 1/8 scale model blown up to appear full sized, titled

6160-470: Was given millions of dollars in grants towards development of a new car, and subsequently squandered the money. While Tucker took no money from the federal government, small upstart automakers were under intense SEC scrutiny, and Tucker was no exception. One of Tucker's most innovative business ideas caused the most trouble for the company and was used by the SEC to spark its formal investigation. His Accessories Program raised funds by selling accessories before

6240-412: Was involved with developing the 1942 Oldsmobile under General Motors . Tucker Vice President Lee Treese testified that Tucker's metal stamping and parts fabrication operations were 90% ready to mass-produce the car by June 1948 and that outside interference had slowed the final preparations for production. This back and forth between the prosecution and the defense continued until November 8, 1949, when

6320-603: Was not able to move in until September 1947 because of delays caused by counter-claims and disputes over the plant between Tucker and the Lustron Corporation . That delayed Tucker by almost a year, during which time development of the car continued at his Michigan machine shop. Tucker planned for 60,000 cars a year, with 140 per day produced for the first 4 months and 300 per day produced afterward. Tucker suffered another setback when his bids to obtain two steel mills to provide raw materials for his cars were rejected by

6400-624: Was thought to be interred next to his brothers in the Holy Cross and Saint Joseph Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana . A headstone was placed at the grave in 2011 to memorialize his life by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Chevrolet Motor Company . The St. Tammany News (which ceased operations in early 2013) revealed in a series of articles in late August 2012 that Arthur

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