Gritzner
The Maschinenfabrik Gritzner was a German company for the production of sewing machines , bicycles and motorcycles based in Durlach .
Founding up to a stock corporation
The machine factory was founded in 1872 by Max Carl Gritzner (1825–1892). In 1879 Gritzner invented the glasses-free, double rotating gripper. This is still used today in a slightly modified form by almost all sewing machine factories in the world. At that time the 20,000 sewing machines were manufactured in Durlach with a workforce of 120 employees.
In 1886 the company became a joint stock company with the company sewing machine factory vorm. Gritzner & Co. AG converted. Bicycles were also produced from 1887 and motorcycles from 1903. Pumps and steam engines were also part of the production program at times.
The millionth sewing machine was produced in 1902 and the two millionth in 1910. During that time, the Gritzner machine factory developed into the largest sewing machine factory in Europe.
Gritzner-Kayser AG
The company merged in 1931 with the Palatinate sewing machine and bicycle factory formerly Gebrüder Kayser AG in Kaiserslautern to form Gritzner-Kayser AG . From around 1900 to the 1950s, over 7 million sewing machines were exported to 82 countries. At times 80% to 90% of all products were exported.
In 1955 a fire destroyed most of the production facilities in Durlach.
Gritzner-Kayser becomes Pfaff
In 1957 the rebuilt factory was taken over by GM Pfaff AG in Kaiserslautern. In 1958, Gritzner-Kayser AG took over the production facilities of the Mars motorcycle works for the “Monza” and “Milano” models, which were delivered in many colors (often: blue-white and red-white). They were available as mopeds ("Monza Supersport", "Monza Supersport-Deluxe", "Milano sk", "Monza sk") and as normal mopeds . There were Sachs - and ILO installed engines. The “Monza Supersport deluxe” moped is in great demand among collectors today.
swell
- Karlsruher Wirtschaftsspiegel , 1961, p. 19 (online)
- Factory in the Museum: Industry and Commerce in Durlach , 2003, from p. 78
Web links
Remarks
- ↑ According to the Karlsruher Wirtschaftsspiegel , Gritzner sewing machines were sold as early as 1868. However, these did not come from the machine factory in Durlach.