Kaiser lights
Kaiser Leuchten ( Gebr. Kaiser & Co. Leuchten KG ) was an important light manufacturer in Neheim .
history
The company was founded by Hermann Kaiser (* 1863), who came from Heddinghausen to Neheim as a worker . With a brother and a partner, he went into business for himself in 1895. At the beginning the company concentrated on the production of nickel-plated and copper-plated lamp parts for the already existing lighting factories. The economic breakthrough came with the development of a very cheap kerosene lamp made of tinplate. As a result, the production range was expanded to include kerosene stoves, stoves and pit lamps . The company exported to China and Japan even before the First World War .
Since 1908 an electrical wholesaler has been attached to the company. This marked the beginning of the move away from the manufacture of kerosene lamps to the electrical industry , and the transition to the manufacture of electrical lights took place gradually. Initially, lighting components were produced for other companies. During the First World War, production was switched to war material such as storm lanterns.
After the war, the production of electrical lighting fixtures was expanded and finally switched to this line of business. In the period between the two world wars, the company developed into one of the largest lighting manufacturers in Neheim. The functional desk lamps by designer Christian Dell , which were produced under the name idell from the 1930s to the 1980s, also contributed to this. During this time, authorities were also equipped with these lamps, especially the Kaiser idell 6556 type. The products are now considered design classics . In addition, living room lights of all kinds were produced. As early as 1934 the number of workers was 350. This number increased to 600 to 700 employees by the beginning of the Second World War. The company had its own rail connection.
During the Second World War, including the Möhne disaster in 1943, the manufacturing facilities were completely destroyed. Forced laborers from the company who were housed in the Möhnewiesen forced labor camp died. After the war, the company expanded rapidly. At times between 750 and 1000 people were employed.
In the late 1970s, the company was acquired by Thorn Lighting Group . This became the property of an international investment company in 1993, and the remnants of production were relocated to Dortmund in 2000.
The Kaiser Idell brand and lamp production are now owned by Republic of Fritz Hansen in Denmark.
- Production and administration 1972
- Administration building and subsequent use
As the imperial house, the former administration building is now the venue and the seat of a number of companies. A number of creative companies have settled in a company building under the name of kunst-werk , including the workshop gallery Der Bogen with exhibitions on nationally important artists.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Homepage Kaiserhaus
- ^ Artwork Neheim
- ↑ THE ARCH. Retrieved February 7, 2017 .
literature
- Company profiles from the Sauerland. In: Michael Senger (editor): Kiepe, plow and vice. Economic life in the Sauerland. Arnsberg, 1999. pp. 380f.
- Peter M. Kleine, Klaus Struve: "Christian Dell idea" catalog for the exhibition in the Sparkasse Arnsberg-Sundern 1996, ISBN 3-928394-13-4
