Presenting a look at the early origins of Adenine - a fusion of European innovation and American industry, forged in the chaos of WWII
Martin Penrose (1919-1996)
A young Martin in 1946
Martin Penrose was born in 1919 to a wealthy British family. From a young age, Martin was fascinated by mechanical objects, especially the newfangled automobiles which his father owned. His father was an official in the British government and often brought Martin with him on business trips. When Martin was ten years old, his family moved to Germany as his father had become a diplomat there.
However, just a few years later, Hitler rose to power in Germany and the Nazi party took over. Martin’s parents recognized the dangers of trying to raise a family in Nazi Germany and decided to get out of there as soon as possible. The family temporarily moved in with some friends in France while Martin’s father tried to negotiate a deal with the British government.
Ultimately, the British government denied his request to be reassigned and fired him for abandoning his post. While the Penrose family was devastated, this would eventually turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Martin’s father decided that the safest place to raise his children would be in America, far from the brewing political storm in Europe. So, in 1934, the Penrose family left their old life behind and emigrated to the United States.
In the US, the family settled in Pittsburgh, PA, and his father got a job doing business administration at a car factory. Martin would visit him every day after school. The factory manager took a liking to the inquisitive teenager, and he soon became an apprentice at the factory, where he honed his mechanical skills. At the same time, his father taught him the ins and outs of balancing budgets and managing a company.
While Martin proved to be a solid factory worker, his real interest was in the design and engineering of the cars he assembled. His combination of hands-on technical skills and business acumen gave him a unique edge over other employees. Over time, Martin rose through the ranks and became friends with many fellow workers and engineers. He was well respected, although some of the higher ups in management did not like how he always challenged the status quo and asked why things were being done a certain way.
Martin did not fight in World War II, but he contributed his part to the war effort by building thousands of jeeps for the army. He saw many of his American friends leave to join the military, and some of them never came back.
After the war ended, Martin gathered a group of his closest friends and they collectively quit the car factory. The group opened a car shop in Pittsburgh, building custom engines and cars for wealthy customers. Martin, with his many years of engineering experience, was the brains behind the operation. He brought a uniquely European perspective from his time in England, Germany, and France, and frequently applied it to his work.