M. Würzl & Sons
| M. Würzl & Sons | |
|---|---|
| legal form | |
| founding | 1839 |
| Seat | Vienna |
| Branch | Luxury goods |
M. Würzl & Sons was a Viennese company, which in the early 20th century in Austria-Hungary leader for travel props, suitcases and Tashkent Erwaren was. The products were dignified and solid in their execution and enjoyed a worldwide reputation. In the course of half a century, the company had grown from small beginnings to great importance. The factory was at 17 Gartengasse in the 5th district of Margareten .
history
The founder of the house was Wilhelm Gerstell. In 1839, at the same time as the factory on Gartengasse in the then industrial district of Margareten, he also set up the branch at Spiegelgasse 5 in the 1st district. The defeat at Spiegelgasse 5 lasted until 1886, then it was relocated to the newly built neighboring house No. 3.
His son, Wilhelm Gerstell jun., Was prepared for his future profession in his youth according to strict and practical principles. In 1854, after graduating from secondary school and a trade school, he apprenticed to a foreign master carpenter for three years. As a journeyman's piece , he made a men's cowhide suitcase.
After the company's founder's death in 1845, his widow married Michael Würzl, who continued the business under his own name. In 1867 Wilhelm Gerstell jun. into the company, after which the company name changes to “M. Würzl & Sohn "and later, after the entry of the son Rudolf Würzl, to" M. Würzl & Sons ”was changed.
After working together for decades, the father died first; In 1889 the younger son Rudolf Würzl succumbed to an illness at the age of 40.
Wilhelm Gerstell jun. became the sole owner of the now grown company. In addition to the new factory in Gartengasse 17 in the 5th district, two defeats were opened in Vienna at Spiegelgasse 3 and Kärntner Strasse 34 in the 1st district and one on the market square in Karlsbad , which was open all year round. A branch was later added in Budapest , where the company was called "Würzl M. és Fiai".
The busy man was supported by his three sons, the eldest was already a co-boss around 1900. The apprentices in the company worked from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. or longer. The work was physically demanding, required perseverance and a high level of concentration, as the company paid great attention to the quality of its products.
With the spread of traffic and means of transport, the demands of the travel public increased and thus gave the impetus for the technical development of carpentry and suitcase manufacture. "M. Würzl & Söhne ”was always one of the first companies to bring something new without giving up the proven solidity. His products differed from the so-called medium-sized goods by the special care taken in their execution. The company flourished, as the boss pointed out on February 1, 1892 in his speech on the occasion of his twenty-fifth anniversary as a master craftsman. Among the many congratulations received on this occasion was a diploma from the Vienna Taschner Cooperative, presented by a delegation of masters, whose spokesman emphasized the services of the jubilee to the corporation.
The company's regular customers included the upper class of Vienna and the provinces. In 1888 the company was awarded the Emperor's very highest recognition and in 1898 it was awarded the title of kuk court supplier ; she was now allowed to call herself “kuk Hof-Reiserequisiten und Lederwaren-Fabrik”. 1901 Wilhelm Gerstell sen. awarded the crown by the award of the golden cross of merit . In 1900 the company also received the Persian purveyor title and the gold medal of the Persian Order of the Sun and Lions . In 1902, the company was given the title of Greek purveyor to the court by King George of Greece , who personally takes care of his purchases every year. In 1903, on the occasion of the International Petersburg Exhibition, Wilhelm Gerstell jun. the Order of Saint Stanislaus III. Class awarded.
The company's products received excellent recognition and appreciation at all exhibitions, for example at the World Exhibition in Vienna in 1873 , in Scheveningen in 1880, in Chicago in the World's Columbian Exposition in 1892 , in Paris in 1900, Petersburg in 1903, etc. Not only suitcases, but also leather cases for playing cards for example.
Products
According to Adolf Loos, the leather suitcases from Würzl were conservative in their design at the turn of the century , as customers like the Austrian and English aristocracy tended to be more reserved in taste. Although the suitcases from back then were relatively heavy compared to plastic cases and largely replaced in daily use, the cases from “M. Würzl & Söhne ”is coveted as collector's items. In April 2002, the Vienna auction house Dorotheum organized the “Imperial House Auction” with objects from the Austrian imperial family. At the center of the travel auction was toiletry bag of Emperor I. Franz Joseph , the on order of "M. Würzl & Sons ”.
The voluminous bag made of dark green saffiano leather was a constant companion of the emperor on his travels. The inside of the suitcase was designed according to the emperor's wishes, with cases and leather containers for his mirrors, nail files and scissors, perfume bottles, beard brushes , soap containers, but also for plates and mugs, candlesticks, button pullers and even a bath thermometer. All silver parts were engraved with his finely engraved initials "FJI" and the Austrian imperial crown. The travel clock , which also belongs to the case , was made by the London company JB Girerd . The estimated value of the case was between € 18,000-22,000.
Individual evidence
- ↑ M. Würzl & Sons. In: Anniversary number of the imperial Wiener Zeitung 1703-1903. Supplement commercial part. Alfred von Lindheim. Druck und Verlag KK Hof- und Staatsdruckerei, Vienna, August 8, 1903, p. 83 , accessed on July 1, 2009 .
- ^ Adolf Loos: Adolf Loos - Die Schriften 1897 to 1900. Adolf Opel, 2004, p. 77 , accessed on October 6, 2009 : “This industry is mainly represented by the exemplary work of Würzl & Sons. The company carries the goods that most strictly adheres to the English models. A trait of conservatism runs through the exposure. You can see that Würzl works for the English and Austrian aristocracy, which is averse to all innovations, all patents. "
- ↑ Emperor Franz Joseph's travel case and Sisi's gloves: Imperial house auction in Vienna's Dorotheum. (No longer available online.) Dorotheum, April 9, 2002, formerly in the original ; Retrieved on August 14, 2009 (with photo from Reiseneccesaire). ( Page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
Web links
- Thomas Kahler: Bon Voyage - historical luggage. In: artmagazine. May 5, 2003, accessed on August 6, 2009 : “[...] in Austria at the time of the monarchy, noble suitcases and travel accessories from“ M. Würzl & Sons ”(Vienna, Karlsbad) first choice. Although the quality is comparable to Louis Vuitton , some pieces by Würzl can still be found cheaply. "
Coordinates: 48 ° 11 ′ 22 ″ N , 16 ° 21 ′ 31 ″ E