Harvey Firestone, Henry Ford, Thomas A. Edison and John Burroughs, the famed naturalist, were intimate friends, who found much pleasure in each other's company. On one of the many trips they enjoyed together, they had tire trouble. Fortunately for them, it happened near an auto repair garage. The sign read, "Firestone tires sold here" and they pulled the vehicle into the garage facility for repair.
While a new tire was being mounted, Ford said to the attendant, "It might interest you to know that the gentleman standing behind you is Mr. Firestone, the man who makes this tire."
"Really?" The attendant seem little impressed.
"And...I'm Henry Ford."
"Oh, yeah?" Responded the attendant.
"And this gentleman over here," continued Mr. Ford, pointing to another of his close friends, "...is Thomas Edison."
The attendant rose from his half-finished job. Slowly and exploringly he scrutinized each member of the party in turn. When his eyes found the long-gray-bearded John Burroughs, the garage attendants eye bugged out and his mouth dropped agape. Slowly, he turned back to Mr. Ford, and said....
"If you're gonna tell me that that long-bearded gent over there is Santa Claus, you can mount your own bloody tire."
Quote from the book "Me and the Model T, by Roscoe Sheller.
