Kalashnikov lends his name to an umbrella By Kate Connolly in Berlin

[makarov]

Kalashnikov lends his name to an umbrella By Kate Connolly in Berlin

I just have received the information -


«Kalashnikov lends his name to an umbrella
By Kate Connolly in Berlin
(Filed: 17/02/2003)

http://www.dailytelegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/02/17/wkali17.xml&sSheet=/news/2003/02/17/ixworld.html
Mikhail Kalashnikov, inventor of the world's most famous assault rifle, is planning to supplement his paltry pension by investing in a company that specialises in umbrellas.
The Russian engineer, 83, who claims he made no money from his AK47, 100 million of which have been sold, has secured 30 per cent of the German company MMI.
The company based in Solingen, western Germany, which revamps trademarks, also plans a Kalashnikov vodka cocktail, tennis rackets, aftershave and a four-wheel-drive car.
Mr Kalashnikov, who lives in a two-room flat in the Urals, designed the gun after being shot by German soldiers in the Second World War.
The retired general, whose invention has been responsible for more deaths than the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima, recently said he wished he had invented the lawnmower instead.»

What YOU think of it? Write please judgement concerning it.
Yours faithfully, Vladimir Makarov

[timkel]

Yes, they show no respect and then insult him.

If he has invested in this German MMI company, I hope it is sucessful for him.

[Story]

Another article, more detail. The old guy has to eat, so he does what he has to do. BTW: Anyone have a Polish handle for my pre-ban umbrella?

Kalashnikov sets sights on superbrand
Reuters ^ | February 17 2003 | Dave Graham

BERLIN (Reuters) - "Kalashnikov" has long set the standard for powerful rifles, but if elderly Russian inventor Mikhail Kalashnikov gets his way the famous name will soon be linked to umbrellas, watches and even aftershave.

The inventor has formed an unlikely alliance with a small German company that wants to attach the Kalashnikov brand to a range of ordinary consumer goods that could also include snowboards, halogen lamps, pocket-knives and energy drinks.

Kalashnikov, 83, has been living on a state pension in a two-room Russian apartment and never saw any royalties on his famous AK-47 assault rifle, which he developed in 1947 while convalescing from injuries sustained in World War Two.

Venerated as a national hero, he got plenty of medals and honours for the invention. But, living in the Communist Soviet Union, he never saw any financial reward.

The German company "Marken Marketing International" (MMI), based in Solingen, recently announced a partnership deal with Kalashnikov to begin marketing goods under his name and he acquired a 33-percent stake in the firm.

"The articles are very similar to my rifle -- reliable, easy to use and indestructible," Kalashnikov said in an interview with Germany's Welt am Sonntag newspaper.

MMI chief executive Thomas Herriger said he stumbled across Kalashnikov during a business trip. He said he was surprised to find Kalashnikov was still alive while visiting his home town of Izhevsk in northern Russia.

Kalashnikov, who began work on the rifle in 1941 after suffering serious wounds while fighting Nazi Germany, said he had received similar offers from U.S. firms but was reluctant to enter a business deal with the Soviet Union's Cold War enemy.

"...I thought if an American company used my name for profit it would have been a betrayal of the motherland," he said.

More than 50 million AK-47 rifles have been made since the weapon was formally introduced into the Soviet military in 1949.

In a newspaper interview last year, Kalashnikov said he was proud of developing the rifle but wished he had designed something to help people instead.

[MIR]

Mikhail Kalashnikov gets no respect, and that is really sad. I think if he would move to the United States, he would get more than his share of opportunities and endorsments to make him a wealthy man in this country. He could probably make a fortune just by being the guest of honor at gun shows throughout the country, beacuse I know he would be in great demand. If I was him, thats what i would do. whether he would like to live in the United States is another story though.

[Rivaltm]

it is kind of sad, that he is that old and created such a useful and reliable tool, but still gets no respect.

it is the western media that has made him upset about opportunities here.

they have been doing to guilt trip on him for years, because they think that a gun is responsible for what it does. it is the person, not the gun.

also, they make him sound so evil over here. he is a very respectable man, and a almost a genius when he invented the gun. i cant understand the though process here - we still honor an adulteous president, who destroyed economy and freedom, but cannot respect a man who tried to preserver his nation and its freedom.

if the same had happened in america, had a person gotten not royalties for an invention for the government, there would hvae been a huge stink raised, and ther would have been a lawsuit. he never did this

if i were him, i would not want my name on fucing umbrellas, or any other mary kay type crap. sorry, thats just me.

i would just go and try to live out my life somewhere secluded. that is just me.

[vspdave]

I thought if an American company used my name for profit it would have been a betrayal of the motherland, ?? So he signs with a German company? last time I checked they had a little altercation.

[Odysseus75]

I'd buy a Kalashnikov watch....If it had an AK on it. I guess I'd buy one anyway.

He should get in on clothing. T-shirts, coats, all with the name and a silouette of the rifle on them. That stuff would sell.

[WarriorPoet]

Makarov,

Whenever possible, post pictures of these products along with company links so we can order these items.

I'd look forward to collecting anything/everything endorsed by Mr. Kalashnikov - and the sales would, I presume, help Mr. Kalashnikov as well.

Also, (I think I've bugged you about this before), provide info so we can make donations to the Kalashnikov Fund.

Thanks.

-Mike (the poet at the SHOT Show, Orlando)

[WarriorPoet]

P.S. - Makarov. Since you asked for thoughts on the article...

Aftershave / 4-wheel drive car / vodka - Good ideas

Umbrellas and tennis rackets??? That seems to be stretching the name of Mr. Kalashnikov a little thin.

I'd suggest that Mr. Kalashnikov lend his name to, let's say, more "manly" or "masculine" products.

Just my .02 cents.

-WP