Josef Volman
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Josef Volman (born November 14, 1883 in Žebrák ; † April 16, 1943 in Čelákovice ) was a Czech entrepreneur.
biography
Volman's father owned a small metal workshop, and it was here that he learned the craft of toolmaking. At the beginning of the century, Volman left his country to study chemistry in the United States. As a co-owner of a small factory he gained his first entrepreneurial experience in America. In 1910 he returned to his homeland and bought a piece of land in Čelákovice on which he built a workshop with an office building.
The company developed rapidly and in 1912 already offered 30 employees and 6 trainees as well as one administrative employee. First, simple tools and system components were manufactured. The company soon switched to the manufacture of drills, hand presses, scissors and similar products. The product range was expanded to include more complex, modern machines during the following years.
During the First World War, the company gradually ceased production as Josef Volman and most of the workers went to war. In 1919 production was resumed and by 1936 almost 1,000 skilled workers were employed. The success led to the fact that in 1940 the company had up to 2500 employees and up to 260 trainees.
When the company building was expanded (1938–1939), the functionalist Villa Volman (Czech: Volmanova vila) was created. This was built by the architects Karel Janů and Jiří Štursa . In the Czech Republic it is considered to be the largest villa of late functionalism . The Josef Volman company suffered financially as well as materially under the German occupation that followed. However, members of the resistance helped to hide part of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk's library and archive in the company.
Volman was a real "patron" of the city and its employees. Local organizations and charitable and cultural institutions were generously supported by him; this also included the construction of apartments. After the J. Volman company was nationalized, it was continued as a machine tool factory under the name TOS np. After the renewed privatization after 1989, today's Emco Group was created .
Web links
literature
- Jolana Tothová: Podnikatel a mecenáš Josef Volman, in: Jaroslav Špaček, editor: 100 let Městského muzea v Čelákovicích, Čelákovice: Městské muzeum v Čelákovicích, 2004, ISBN 80-902328-8-4
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Volman, Josef |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Czech entrepreneur |
| DATE OF BIRTH | November 14, 1883 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Žebrák |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 16, 1943 |
| Place of death | Čelákovice |