Temde lights
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Temde-Leuchten or Temde AG was a German-Swiss manufacturer of lighting fixtures with headquarters in Detmold ( North Rhine-Westphalia ) and a subsidiary in Sevelen in the canton of St. Gallen .
history
From the foundation in 1911 to 1945
Fritz Müller , later Fritz Müller-Temde (1889–1964), son of a furniture manufacturer from Lipper Land , recognized early on that the electrification of everyday life that began at the beginning of the 20th century would result in an increasing need for lighting fixtures in the living area , which at that time was still largely satisfied as a commercial subsidiary branch of established metal or wood processing companies. So he focused on specialization and in 1911 founded a company for the production of lighting fixtures in Detmold under the company TEMDE (abbreviation from the name Theodor Müller, father of the company founder, and the company's headquarters in Detmold) . This should develop into one of the largest companies in Detmold in the following years.
In the first few years only wooden lights were produced: The combination of electrical lighting components with the classic natural product wood formed a unit with the prevailing decorating taste and thus hit the nerve of the intended buyer group. In addition to lights for private households, TEMDE also made special productions for public institutions and commercial operations such as hotels, restaurants and churches. The constant development of new lamp models, the improvement of the processing quality, innovative processes for the production of wooden bodies and extensive advertising measures ensured the economic success of the company.
As early as 1930, the relatively young medium of film was used and a two-part educational film was made about the manufacture of lamps in the TEMDE plants. Today it is in the holdings of the LWL Media Center for Westphalia - just like other films and commercials from 1936, 1951 and 1961 (in English!) .
Increasing exports were also made abroad, so that export earnings soon represented a large part of total sales . After the global economic crisis from 1930 onwards the sales opportunities abroad became unprofitable due to high customs duties and taxes, Fritz Müller decided to set up a legally independent subsidiary in Sevelen, Switzerland . From the 1930s onwards, this TEMDE AG also produced lighting fixtures made of modern materials such as chrome and glass .
From the effects of the economic policy of the Nazi regime from 1933 - d. H. an increasing orientation of the German economy towards war production - was not spared TEMDE either: It was included in the arms production and a. Plywood panels for tanks .
The post-war years
In the post-war period, the production and sale of wooden lights was only possible to a limited extent due to scarce materials and unsafe sales opportunities. The wood-based material process used in armaments production became the basis for new lighting concepts. The use of foot or middle parts made of pressed wood or metal rods glued around with veneer enabled the creation of completely new collections. Although Fritz Müller expanded the operational infrastructure and TEMDE offered 250 basic models in the mid-1950s, the company did not benefit as much from the general economic boom of the 1950s . The emergence of price competition, the lack of a skilled workforce, and increased international competition weakened operating results.
The wooden bead lamp hanging from the ceiling to the floor, with a cascade of wooden bead strands surrounding the lamp, became an eye-catcher in the 1970s.
In the 1970s, there was an increased focus on the materials metal, glass and plastic and on a functional, modern design. The table lamp no. 5683 with a plexi shell (design Charles Keller , St. Gallen) received the iF Product Design Award in 1983 .
The end
Accompanied by the general crisis in the German furniture industry due to market saturation after the pacification of the war-related backlog and replacement needs, TEMDE lights in Detmold were "off" in 1986. The company founder Fritz Müller-Temde, who was also one of the intellectual fathers of the Northwest German Music Academy Detmold , which was founded in 1946, never saw the end of the company, he died in 1964. The factory in Detmold, which had been vacant for years, was discussed as a residential complex for students. For 2012, the city of Detmold has decided to revitalize the former TEMDE area as a focus of urban planning work.
TEMDE AG in Sevelen, Switzerland, which was also able to register some patents in the 1930s, continued to produce for a few years - it was deleted from the Swiss commercial register in 2000 .
The city of Detmold took over the headquarters in 2020.
Street
Temdestrasse is named after the company on the company premises.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Exhibition tells of the end of a dynasty . In: Lippische Landeszeitung . May 23, 2011. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ↑ LWL's online film archive
- ↑ Charles Keller and his flair for light. In: St. Galler Tagblatt from November 4, 2008.
- ↑ if World Design Guide, with products that have been awarded the "good industrial design". Accessed July 11, 2018 .
- ↑ Detmold University of Music
- ↑ Temde-Leuchtenfabrik could become residential quarters for students. In: Lippische Zeitung of February 10, 2011.
- ↑ budget book in 2012 the city of Detmold, Department of Urban Development, pp 18-19
- ↑ State Archives St. Gallen No. 115849
- ↑ State Archives St. Gallen No. 275975
- ^ City of Detmold: City of Detmold acquires former Temde site. Retrieved June 8, 2020 .
literature
- Burkhard Meier: Fritz Müller-Temde (1889–1964). An inventor and entrepreneur from Lippe. Detmold 2006, ISBN 978-3-926311-38-2 .
Web links
Coordinates: 51 ° 56 '27.8 " N , 8 ° 52' 7.6" E