That's funny, I always assumed it was a different Michelin. Perhaps a French company by the same name.
I think the story was that many pub arguments were about what was the biggest, fastest, most, etc. So Guinness decided to do some research on these records and publish it.
I actually am one of the several hundred people to hold the record for largest hockey game (unless it's been broken recently) and apparently it's quite the racket. Organizations hoping to set records have to go through a lengthy application process, pay an adjudicator to witness the record, etc. Then, if they want it in the Guinness Book (as opposed to just online) they have to pay extra. Record holders can then pay for an official certificate so they can show their friends and family (which of course I did).
Sorry for the wild tangent by the way. I now realize this has nothing to do with Michelin or restaurants.
Good story, thanks for sharing.
When I first heard about the guide, I was pretty close to my guess about the tire company putting out the guide for travelers.
Then I kept hearing about so and so got another MEE-sha-lawn star. This is from people who would pronounce the tires as MISH-a-lin and Porche as "porch". So thought that they must be separate. What with the fancy French pronunciation of their name.
Not too long after I saw one of the guides from pre-WWII and realized that I was right from the beginning. I still catch myself saying MEE-sha-lawn and laugh to myself.