On Saturday 16 April 2011 Uncle Bunny passed away in hospital in Oban at the grand age of 90. With my Mother and husband we had been to visit him the previous weekend. Though frail he still had his very cheeky sense of humour which all who knew him will never forget.
Uncle Bunny, though actually I was his first cousin, twice removed, married into the Petit family in 1942 when he married Helen Maud Petit one of the grand daughters of Mr Joseph Letiere Petit who set-up Brandauer with Mr C Brandauer after he had bought Ash Petit & Co from him. So, Uncle Bunny was the brother-in-law to the grandchildren who would have known the founding Petit, isn't that an amazing connection? Auntie Nell (as she was known, or Peta) was born in 1900. She met Uncle Bunny whilst helping out with serving food to military personnel as a volunteer and certainly surprised the family by falling in love with someone 20 years her junior.
Uncle Bunny was for many years a non-executive director of Brandauer Holdings when my Father was Chairman. I remember him arriving one hot summer's day for a Board meeting dressed in shorts! Several people currently working at the factory who knew Uncle Bunny have already sent in kind messages that he will be missed, that he was unforgettable and that he had a great sense of humour.
Auntie Nell passed away in 1981 and Uncle Bunny missed her for the remaining 30 years of his life. He did remarry in 1987 but sadly it was not happy and ended in divorce. A little while late he inherited a beautiful cottage on the banks of Loch Awe in Scotland to which he retired. A couple of years ago we went to visit him and he greeted us wearing the McIntyre kilt and a Caribbean shirt, and a Scottish bonnet. Life was always fun with Uncle Bunny!
It is hoped, though not confirmed, that his funeral will be in the historic Scottish Church very near his cottage and possibly a memorial service held down south in due course so his many friends and family will get a chance to pause in their busy schedules and reflect on all Uncle Bunny brought to each of us over the years. With love, Marie-Louise
Showing posts with label Brandauer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brandauer. Show all posts
Monday, 18 April 2011
Monday, 1 November 2010
At last, old factory SOLD!
Last week I received a phone call from one of the new owners of our wonderful old factory which was the most fantastic news. We talked for quite a long time about the building and that the new owners had refurbished similar old buildings before and were looking forward to giving great, great grandfather's factory a new lease of life.
The new owner is most interested in the history of the building and asked me to find out what the large steel door in the basement was for which I have successfully been able to do. He is keen to learn more about the history and was fascinated to hear some of the stories from the past and would like to hear more as the project progresses.
Currently, there are lots of rumours going around about the old factory and our current one. There was an article a couple of weeks ago in a local paper saying the current Brandauer factory was being turned into a Church. This is totally wrong as I have seen the planning application for this project and the factory next door to our current site is being turned into a Church. We are very much manufacturing product in our factory.
Yesterday, I received an email from a member of the Birmingham History Forum stating that there was a newspaper article saying that all but the front of the old factory was going to be knocked down and a new building put up behind it. This was news to me as the new owners hadn't mentioned that to me last week but it is quite possible as this has been done with another pen factory elsewhere in the city. The new owner mentioned the idea of glass walkways along the back of the old building so passages would not need to be placed in the old workshops which though long are rather narrow. I shall enjoy learning and watching what eventually happens to the site; it can only be for the benefit of the building and the area in general.
As soon as I hear anything else I will put the information up on this blog, so watch this space...
The new owner is most interested in the history of the building and asked me to find out what the large steel door in the basement was for which I have successfully been able to do. He is keen to learn more about the history and was fascinated to hear some of the stories from the past and would like to hear more as the project progresses.
Currently, there are lots of rumours going around about the old factory and our current one. There was an article a couple of weeks ago in a local paper saying the current Brandauer factory was being turned into a Church. This is totally wrong as I have seen the planning application for this project and the factory next door to our current site is being turned into a Church. We are very much manufacturing product in our factory.
Yesterday, I received an email from a member of the Birmingham History Forum stating that there was a newspaper article saying that all but the front of the old factory was going to be knocked down and a new building put up behind it. This was news to me as the new owners hadn't mentioned that to me last week but it is quite possible as this has been done with another pen factory elsewhere in the city. The new owner mentioned the idea of glass walkways along the back of the old building so passages would not need to be placed in the old workshops which though long are rather narrow. I shall enjoy learning and watching what eventually happens to the site; it can only be for the benefit of the building and the area in general.
As soon as I hear anything else I will put the information up on this blog, so watch this space...
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Buying pen nibs
So, we needed to buy nibs for the calligraphy course and the art shop nearest to us is A Boville Wright Ltd - so that was our destination.
In we go to this wonderful shop full of coloured sheets of paper, card, paint, ink, crayons, felt tips, pen nibs. The lady who helped us (I think the manageress) was brilliant and when we showed her the list of things we needed she retrieved a wooden box about 18" by 10" with a glass lid from the counter for us. In the box were various nibs with each section labelled and would you believe it one labelled - wait for it ... Brandauer! I couldn't believe my eyes, a compartment in the box labelled Brandauer. How incredible was that? However, I should add that the compartment had Leonardt pens in it, the one that they make that was originally a Brandauer pen.
We had such fun selecting the Leonardt nibs we required for the calligraphy course, one of each width, along with a pen holder (rather more colourful than they would have been in the 19th century), and choosing a small number of colourful paints, mixing dish, eraser, A3 paper and much more that were on a long list from the course administrator. What a fabulous bag of goodies we came home with from our visit to A. Boville Wright Ltd and so excited about the course the following weekend.
My mind was busy thinking about the copperplate script I was going to start studying and learning more about the Brandauer pens I had decided to take with me to show the calligrapher presenting the course...
In we go to this wonderful shop full of coloured sheets of paper, card, paint, ink, crayons, felt tips, pen nibs. The lady who helped us (I think the manageress) was brilliant and when we showed her the list of things we needed she retrieved a wooden box about 18" by 10" with a glass lid from the counter for us. In the box were various nibs with each section labelled and would you believe it one labelled - wait for it ... Brandauer! I couldn't believe my eyes, a compartment in the box labelled Brandauer. How incredible was that? However, I should add that the compartment had Leonardt pens in it, the one that they make that was originally a Brandauer pen.
We had such fun selecting the Leonardt nibs we required for the calligraphy course, one of each width, along with a pen holder (rather more colourful than they would have been in the 19th century), and choosing a small number of colourful paints, mixing dish, eraser, A3 paper and much more that were on a long list from the course administrator. What a fabulous bag of goodies we came home with from our visit to A. Boville Wright Ltd and so excited about the course the following weekend.
My mind was busy thinking about the copperplate script I was going to start studying and learning more about the Brandauer pens I had decided to take with me to show the calligrapher presenting the course...
Wednesday, 26 May 2010
Learning to write
As a direct descendant of a pen manufacturer and a collector of Brandauer pen nibs and memorabilia it crossed my mind that I had never written with a dip pen. I remember my great Uncle's writing when he sent me letters as a child. They always stood out from the rest of the post as he wrote using a fountain pen (I imagine, as I'm not that old!) and across the envelope were the most beautiful copperplate letters. I still have his letters to this day.
Currently, I am busy sorting out the Brandauer business archive and all the 19th and early 20th century ledgers, legal documents and minute books are written using a dip pen (a Brandauer one, of course) and versions of copperplate writing. I wonder how long it took to write a page in one of the large ledgers? It is interesting, too, that they didn't make mistakes when writing so they must have been extremely careful.
So, recognising that I have never written with a dip pen I decided that an introductory course would be a good place to start and that is exactly what is going to happen. With my Mother and husband (who has always been interested in hand-writing and fonts) we are off to Sussex to start learning how to use a dip pen and study the basics of calligraphy with a well-known teacher. The course details sounds very exciting and last week we went off to the local art shop to buy the items we will need, and what an experience that was ...
Currently, I am busy sorting out the Brandauer business archive and all the 19th and early 20th century ledgers, legal documents and minute books are written using a dip pen (a Brandauer one, of course) and versions of copperplate writing. I wonder how long it took to write a page in one of the large ledgers? It is interesting, too, that they didn't make mistakes when writing so they must have been extremely careful.
So, recognising that I have never written with a dip pen I decided that an introductory course would be a good place to start and that is exactly what is going to happen. With my Mother and husband (who has always been interested in hand-writing and fonts) we are off to Sussex to start learning how to use a dip pen and study the basics of calligraphy with a well-known teacher. The course details sounds very exciting and last week we went off to the local art shop to buy the items we will need, and what an experience that was ...
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
103 years of production
Each year the directors of Brandauer write a report on the trading year and we have ours going back many decades. Each report contains very useful information on the 'life' of the Company during each financial year. Particular interest to me is the information about the production and operations of C Brandauer & Co Ltd during each year.
On 1st March 1965 my Father (J A L Petit, Chairman) completed a re-structuring of C Brandauer & Co Ltd by creating Brandauer Holdings Ltd, of which C Brandauer & Co Ltd became a wholly owned subsidiary of the new Company.
On the cover of the Report of Directors and Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 1965 the new company Brandauer Holdings Ltd is mentioned as 'Manufacturers of Light Pressings and Pens'. Over the following years this changes as the business expands into new areas. However, back to 1965 to find out what was important in that first year of trading for Brandauer Holdings Ltd.
The Chairman noted in the Report of the Directors for the year ended 31 March 1965 that the factory extensions, to include a new press shop and precision assembly shop, were nearly complete. It is interesting to read that part of the assembly shop's output was already sold for indirect export to an American computer company. Also, to remain competitive there had been a large amount of plant purchased for the toolroom and press shop.
During 1964/65 C Brandauer & Co Ltd concluded a selling agency and distributorship agreement with the Brush Beryllium Corporation of America so that it became their sole UK agent for Beryllium Oxide Ceramics. At the time this was a new and unique material used in the electronics industry. It is interesting to read that parts produced by Brandauer from this new material were to be used in the first UK satellite to be launched by the USA later in 1965.
From reading the Report of the Directors for the year ending 31 March 1965 there is much excitement and enthusiasm for new materials and products but hidden away in the middle is a sad note, to quote my Father, as follows:
"The Pen making side of our business suffered a decline in sales and production during 1964/65. It is abundantly clear that the overall market for pens can no longer support an economic operation. Your Board, therefore, had to make the reluctant decision to phase out pen production by March 1966, after 103 years of pen making. Our many customers have regretfully been informed and except for the No 518 Lithographic pen which stills enjoys a world-wide demand, no further pens will be produced after the end of the current year."
This marked the end of the Company's original reason for trading when it was set-up in 1862. However, in 1965 one of the directors - Colin Petit (grandson of the original Petit) was requested to take special interest in the pen side of the business, which he did until his death in 1988. I remember vividly 'Uncle' Colin in his office in the factory and the corner cupboard full of pen nibs so that when customers requested product he was able, for many years, to sell them the particular pen nib they needed.
Brandauer pens are still used by calligraphers and cartoonists to this day and often I am contacted by them requesting product. It is now much more difficult to supply customers but through various contacts I have in the pen world I can often help them out. So, production may have finished (not including the 518) 44 years ago but Brandauer pens are still the favoured product of artists and calligraphers due to their outstanding quality.
On 1st March 1965 my Father (J A L Petit, Chairman) completed a re-structuring of C Brandauer & Co Ltd by creating Brandauer Holdings Ltd, of which C Brandauer & Co Ltd became a wholly owned subsidiary of the new Company.
On the cover of the Report of Directors and Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31 March 1965 the new company Brandauer Holdings Ltd is mentioned as 'Manufacturers of Light Pressings and Pens'. Over the following years this changes as the business expands into new areas. However, back to 1965 to find out what was important in that first year of trading for Brandauer Holdings Ltd.
The Chairman noted in the Report of the Directors for the year ended 31 March 1965 that the factory extensions, to include a new press shop and precision assembly shop, were nearly complete. It is interesting to read that part of the assembly shop's output was already sold for indirect export to an American computer company. Also, to remain competitive there had been a large amount of plant purchased for the toolroom and press shop.
During 1964/65 C Brandauer & Co Ltd concluded a selling agency and distributorship agreement with the Brush Beryllium Corporation of America so that it became their sole UK agent for Beryllium Oxide Ceramics. At the time this was a new and unique material used in the electronics industry. It is interesting to read that parts produced by Brandauer from this new material were to be used in the first UK satellite to be launched by the USA later in 1965.
From reading the Report of the Directors for the year ending 31 March 1965 there is much excitement and enthusiasm for new materials and products but hidden away in the middle is a sad note, to quote my Father, as follows:
"The Pen making side of our business suffered a decline in sales and production during 1964/65. It is abundantly clear that the overall market for pens can no longer support an economic operation. Your Board, therefore, had to make the reluctant decision to phase out pen production by March 1966, after 103 years of pen making. Our many customers have regretfully been informed and except for the No 518 Lithographic pen which stills enjoys a world-wide demand, no further pens will be produced after the end of the current year."
This marked the end of the Company's original reason for trading when it was set-up in 1862. However, in 1965 one of the directors - Colin Petit (grandson of the original Petit) was requested to take special interest in the pen side of the business, which he did until his death in 1988. I remember vividly 'Uncle' Colin in his office in the factory and the corner cupboard full of pen nibs so that when customers requested product he was able, for many years, to sell them the particular pen nib they needed.
Brandauer pens are still used by calligraphers and cartoonists to this day and often I am contacted by them requesting product. It is now much more difficult to supply customers but through various contacts I have in the pen world I can often help them out. So, production may have finished (not including the 518) 44 years ago but Brandauer pens are still the favoured product of artists and calligraphers due to their outstanding quality.
Friday, 19 February 2010
Sad times
With the start of WW1, in the summer of 1914, the directors of C Brandauer & Co Ltd found themselves in the difficult position of being a Company half-owned by an Austrian family. The Brandauer family had with others founded the Company over 50 years earlier but due to the nature of WW1 they would now be seen as the enemy by the British.
The directors of C Brandauer & Co Ltd met every quarter for a board meeting and the first one after the declaration of war is dated Monday November 1914, at 12 o'clock. Minute 500 is indeed a very sad one and is as follows:
Mr Joseph H Petit [Chairman] reported that the War between England and Germany had necessitated the removal of the names of Mr Frederick C J Brandauer and Mr Hermann Brandauer from the Directorate of Messrs C Brandauer & Co Ltd on account of their nationality until the conclusion of the War as their positions as Directors interfered with the conduct of the business of the Company.
Resolved
That Mr Frederick C J Brandauer and Mr Hermann Brandauer be removed from the Board of Directors until the conclusion of the present War. The Board found it expedient on account of competition to be in a position to declare themselves an entirely British Company.
I know that this decision caused great sadness and anxiety to both families as they had worked together for three generations and corresponded extremely regularly with each other. It took some years after WW1 had ended to sort out the complicated Company affairs between the two families and the War Office but in the mid-1920s C Brandauer & Co Ltd became totally owned by the Petit family as it is to this day.
However, communication between the Petit and Brandauer families did not finish in 1914 as the archive shows and lasted for many years to come. There was a gap in the 1950s, 60s and 70s but in the 1980s my Father, Mr Joseph Adrien Letiere Petit, found the Brandauer family, still in Vienna. Since finding the Brandauers I have met them at the factory and in Vienna and we share archival information, which is marvellous. Finally, we are looking forward to meeting the current generations of the Brandauer family at the 150th anniversary celebrations in 2012.
The directors of C Brandauer & Co Ltd met every quarter for a board meeting and the first one after the declaration of war is dated Monday November 1914, at 12 o'clock. Minute 500 is indeed a very sad one and is as follows:
Mr Joseph H Petit [Chairman] reported that the War between England and Germany had necessitated the removal of the names of Mr Frederick C J Brandauer and Mr Hermann Brandauer from the Directorate of Messrs C Brandauer & Co Ltd on account of their nationality until the conclusion of the War as their positions as Directors interfered with the conduct of the business of the Company.
Resolved
That Mr Frederick C J Brandauer and Mr Hermann Brandauer be removed from the Board of Directors until the conclusion of the present War. The Board found it expedient on account of competition to be in a position to declare themselves an entirely British Company.
I know that this decision caused great sadness and anxiety to both families as they had worked together for three generations and corresponded extremely regularly with each other. It took some years after WW1 had ended to sort out the complicated Company affairs between the two families and the War Office but in the mid-1920s C Brandauer & Co Ltd became totally owned by the Petit family as it is to this day.
However, communication between the Petit and Brandauer families did not finish in 1914 as the archive shows and lasted for many years to come. There was a gap in the 1950s, 60s and 70s but in the 1980s my Father, Mr Joseph Adrien Letiere Petit, found the Brandauer family, still in Vienna. Since finding the Brandauers I have met them at the factory and in Vienna and we share archival information, which is marvellous. Finally, we are looking forward to meeting the current generations of the Brandauer family at the 150th anniversary celebrations in 2012.
Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Job acceptance
As previously mentioned it was always thought that Mr Carl Brandauer and Mr Joseph Letiere Petit started C Brandauer together in 1862 as partners. As has now been establised my great, great grandfather was not a partner initially but may have been employed by the partners of the firm from the start. Mr J L Petit must have been of a certain position by the mid 1870s (and I look forward to discovering this in the near future) as his eldest son Joseph Henry Petit, at the age of 21, wrote accepting a job at the factory on 26 October 1876 as follows (presumably written with one of his Father's pens!):
Gentlemen,
I accept with much pleasure your kind offer of a situation in your employ, as assistant, for the period of six years, at the following terms, viz; £150 per annum from Oct 1st 1876 to Oct 1st 1878, £175 per annum from Oct 1st 1878 to Oct 1880, £200 per annum from Oct 1st 1880 to Oct 1882; after that to be increased to not less than £250 per annum. I shall at all times be happy to assist in any department. I shall make it my special study, to further the interest of the firm, to the best of my ability; by so doing I hope to gain your esteemed confidence. Trusting that I may be able to give you satisfaction and thanking you for your kind offer.
I beg to remain
Yours obediently
Joseph H Petit
To Messrs C Brandauer & Co
And in 1882, Joseph Henry Petit, now married, wrote to C Brandauer & Co accepting, again, his current position as an employee for a further six years. His salary began at £250 per annum and rose to £300 per annum in 1884, and to £350 per annum in 1886 to 1888. Joseph Henry Petit continues to be found in minutes of the Company for many years to come and we will meet him again at a later date when he becomes a shareholder and partner, joining his Father and Carl Brandauer's sons in the business which as noted in an earlier Blog became a limited company in 1901.
Gentlemen,
I accept with much pleasure your kind offer of a situation in your employ, as assistant, for the period of six years, at the following terms, viz; £150 per annum from Oct 1st 1876 to Oct 1st 1878, £175 per annum from Oct 1st 1878 to Oct 1880, £200 per annum from Oct 1st 1880 to Oct 1882; after that to be increased to not less than £250 per annum. I shall at all times be happy to assist in any department. I shall make it my special study, to further the interest of the firm, to the best of my ability; by so doing I hope to gain your esteemed confidence. Trusting that I may be able to give you satisfaction and thanking you for your kind offer.
I beg to remain
Yours obediently
Joseph H Petit
To Messrs C Brandauer & Co
And in 1882, Joseph Henry Petit, now married, wrote to C Brandauer & Co accepting, again, his current position as an employee for a further six years. His salary began at £250 per annum and rose to £300 per annum in 1884, and to £350 per annum in 1886 to 1888. Joseph Henry Petit continues to be found in minutes of the Company for many years to come and we will meet him again at a later date when he becomes a shareholder and partner, joining his Father and Carl Brandauer's sons in the business which as noted in an earlier Blog became a limited company in 1901.
Friday, 5 February 2010
Products - the early years
When Mr C Brandauer took over the partnership of Ash Petit in 1862 he bought a dip pen manufacturing company. Over the next 100 years C Brandauer & Co Ltd produced millions and millions of dip pens which were exported throughout the world. The Company name was printed and on view on everything they produced from the pens to the beautiful boxes containing the nibs, and from stationery shop display boxes to adverts in the popular London magazines of the period.
The city of Birmingham was renowned world wide for manufacturing thousands of products including dip pens produced by C Brandauer & Co Ltd and its competitors. However, C Brandauer & Co Ltd is one of the few remaining companies established in Birmingham during the mid 19th century and to be manufacturing today in the same city during the 21st century. Further information about Brandauer products from more recent times will be written about in due course, so watch this space!
The city of Birmingham was renowned world wide for manufacturing thousands of products including dip pens produced by C Brandauer & Co Ltd and its competitors. However, C Brandauer & Co Ltd is one of the few remaining companies established in Birmingham during the mid 19th century and to be manufacturing today in the same city during the 21st century. Further information about Brandauer products from more recent times will be written about in due course, so watch this space!
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
The Brandauer Building
Great news today - a 'For Sale' sign has gone up on our old building which we sold nearly 10 years ago. The link is as follows: http://www.gvagrimley.co.uk/prebuilt/brokerprop/birmingham/NewJohnStSummerLane.pdf
It would be really brilliant if someone was able to buy it and refurbish it before our 150th anniversary in 2012. Keeping my fingers crossed! At one time it was to be a hotel and then perhaps a hall of residence for a university.
If you look at the building you will see that there are two parts to it. The original, built in 1862 is on the left and the other half was built in 1881. As my Father would say to me when we were together in the factory "Just go and fetch this for me from the New Wing". This always made me smile as it was already a 100 years old!
Like many industrial buildings of the Victorian period a great deal of money was spent on it and inside there is a lovely wood and metal spiral staircase, though many of the other features may no longer exist. Hopefully, the spiral staircase will be incorporated into the refurbishment and something special will be done with the gate keeper's cottage built into the front facade. You can just work it out if you know where to look!
It would be really brilliant if someone was able to buy it and refurbish it before our 150th anniversary in 2012. Keeping my fingers crossed! At one time it was to be a hotel and then perhaps a hall of residence for a university.
If you look at the building you will see that there are two parts to it. The original, built in 1862 is on the left and the other half was built in 1881. As my Father would say to me when we were together in the factory "Just go and fetch this for me from the New Wing". This always made me smile as it was already a 100 years old!
Like many industrial buildings of the Victorian period a great deal of money was spent on it and inside there is a lovely wood and metal spiral staircase, though many of the other features may no longer exist. Hopefully, the spiral staircase will be incorporated into the refurbishment and something special will be done with the gate keeper's cottage built into the front facade. You can just work it out if you know where to look!
Monday, 1 February 2010
Incorporation
An agreement, dated 29 October 1901, was made between Charles Johannes Immanuel Brandauer of Vienna and Frederick Charles Immanuel Brandauer of 401-414 New John Street West Birmingham and Joseph Letiere Petit and Joseph Henry Petit of the same address and Joseph Smith of Handsworth as trustee for and on behalf of the company agreed that C Brandauer & Co would be turned into a Limited Company.
To make this possible it was agreed for the sale of the business of C Brandauer & Co and the assets and goodwill thereof to a Limited Company and to be named C Brandauer & Co Ltd with a capital of £240,000.
The two Brandauer names are the sons of the Founder Carl Henry Immanuel Brandauer, who had died by 1901. However, Joseph Letiere Petit who had been in partnership with Carl Brandauer was still working. His son, mentioned above, Joseph Henry Petit was the first of his sons to join the business, prior to this agreement, and my great Grandfather.
On 3 December 1901 the above mentioned parties and including C Brandauer & Co Ltd state that since the execution of the earlier agreement (29 October 1901) the Company has been incorporated as agreed and adopted by the first four names and that Joseph Smith from this time is discharged from all liability under the agreement.
It is interesting to read that it took nearly 40 years for C Brandauer to be incorporated and that by 1901 my great, great Grandfather had become a partner. In the near future I hope to write about when Joseph Letiere Petit became a partner as he certainly wasn't at the beginning in 1862 as many believed.
To make this possible it was agreed for the sale of the business of C Brandauer & Co and the assets and goodwill thereof to a Limited Company and to be named C Brandauer & Co Ltd with a capital of £240,000.
The two Brandauer names are the sons of the Founder Carl Henry Immanuel Brandauer, who had died by 1901. However, Joseph Letiere Petit who had been in partnership with Carl Brandauer was still working. His son, mentioned above, Joseph Henry Petit was the first of his sons to join the business, prior to this agreement, and my great Grandfather.
On 3 December 1901 the above mentioned parties and including C Brandauer & Co Ltd state that since the execution of the earlier agreement (29 October 1901) the Company has been incorporated as agreed and adopted by the first four names and that Joseph Smith from this time is discharged from all liability under the agreement.
It is interesting to read that it took nearly 40 years for C Brandauer to be incorporated and that by 1901 my great, great Grandfather had become a partner. In the near future I hope to write about when Joseph Letiere Petit became a partner as he certainly wasn't at the beginning in 1862 as many believed.
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
How can you help?
There are lots of ways to help me with my search for information about C Brandauer & Co Ltd. Here are some ideas:
1. Do some searching on the web - see what you find and let me know or just leave the website address on this Blog and I'll have a look. Don't think that I'll know about it - I might not.
2. Ask friends and family - perhaps they know someone who knows someone - you get the idea?
3. Information on manufacturing in Birmingham during the last 150 years - what was it like to work in other industries? That kind of information would be most helpful eg the Cadbury family built a village.
4. Maybe you are or know a historian who could be of help?
5. Are there local Associations in Birmingham that could help me. My great, great grandfather lived in Hansworth Wood. I believe the house he built has or is about to be demolished.
6. I know that many people lived in the back-to-back houses - I would be interested to learn more about this
7. Old maps of Birmingham would be useful, too
8. Do you know anyone who worked for the competition?
9. Who currently owns our old building and what is going to happen to it?
That's just a short list but I hope it helps. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Big thank you Marie-Louise
1. Do some searching on the web - see what you find and let me know or just leave the website address on this Blog and I'll have a look. Don't think that I'll know about it - I might not.
2. Ask friends and family - perhaps they know someone who knows someone - you get the idea?
3. Information on manufacturing in Birmingham during the last 150 years - what was it like to work in other industries? That kind of information would be most helpful eg the Cadbury family built a village.
4. Maybe you are or know a historian who could be of help?
5. Are there local Associations in Birmingham that could help me. My great, great grandfather lived in Hansworth Wood. I believe the house he built has or is about to be demolished.
6. I know that many people lived in the back-to-back houses - I would be interested to learn more about this
7. Old maps of Birmingham would be useful, too
8. Do you know anyone who worked for the competition?
9. Who currently owns our old building and what is going to happen to it?
That's just a short list but I hope it helps. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Big thank you Marie-Louise
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
How it really started!
Recently, an old German contract has been translated and gives very useful information about the formation of C Brandauer and Co Ltd in Birmingham. This marvellous document, dated 23 April 1862, states that Mr Friedrich Kohler, born in Schonberg, near Freudenstadt and Mr Carl Heinrich Imanuel Brandauer, of Stuttgart, have, by agreement, and on joint account, purchased the steel nib factory of Messrs. Ash Petit and Co in Birmingham for the abovementioned purpose. It goes on to say that they shall be joint partners for the period of 10 years which has already been in existence since 13 February 1862 and will continue until 12 February 1872.
Mr Petit is, of course, my great, great grandfather Joseph Letiere Petit. However, nowhere in the contract does it mention that Mr Petit would be involved in the new business. This means that the story about Mr Petit and Mr Brandauer setting-up business together is not completely correct. Further on in the document it mentions that Mr Brandauer is not required to personally participate in the management of the business, and that he may appoint a deputy for himself, with a salary of up to £200. As yet I have not found out who the 'deputy' was but perhaps it was my great, great grandfather? I shall let you know as soon as I do!
Mr Petit is, of course, my great, great grandfather Joseph Letiere Petit. However, nowhere in the contract does it mention that Mr Petit would be involved in the new business. This means that the story about Mr Petit and Mr Brandauer setting-up business together is not completely correct. Further on in the document it mentions that Mr Brandauer is not required to personally participate in the management of the business, and that he may appoint a deputy for himself, with a salary of up to £200. As yet I have not found out who the 'deputy' was but perhaps it was my great, great grandfather? I shall let you know as soon as I do!
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