habigman

The Brüder Böhm company was established in 1848 in Vienna , and 19xx - Advertising-window-bust of Brüder Böhm Hüte company in Wien(Vienna)from the 19th of November, it became a Bruder Bohm - poster public business association. The first members were Bernhard and Naphtali Böhm. In 1880 their sons Jindrich, Zikmund and Leopold, who were studying hat making in England, became associates. In 1884 Brothers Böhm established a branch in Prague-Bubenec. Although manufacturing continued in Vienna , the Prague branch grew and employed up to 1200 workers. In 1897, Vienna's famous soccer club "SK Rapid Wien" originated in the Vienna branch of the Böhm factory, as the 1st players and coaches were workers and (English) engineers in the Böhm factory. In 1906 the Böhm factory was the 2nd largest of its kind in Vienna (after Harbig) with about 400 producers, suppliers and dealers. In 1906 brothers Schlesinger built a factory for hat making in Nový Jičín (Neutitschein). This factory was in today’s Luzicka street. Viktor Böhm, with the help of Mr. Kolba, a citizen of Nový Jičín, established a factory across from the Schlesinger factory, where they implemented innovations/inventions in hat making machines. The company was called Globus and the machines invented and made by Viktor Böhm were internationaly renowned. Viktor Böhm with Moric Schlesinger made an association in 1912 named Böhm & Schlesinger. They made conical šišáky (semi-finished goods) and other hats. In 1912 they also built a new factory for hat making, which was on Roseggergasse, todays Luzicka street (map). Disputes between associates in 1916 lead to dissolution of the association and the factory went to the family Böhm. After WW-I, manufacturing continued and in 1922 the factory Brüder Böhm became independent. In the upper factory they made "šišáky" (semi-finished goods) and in lower factory they made hats *source of Böhm logo www.textil-info.cz huckel Tonak Before WW-II they had 1729 workers. About 2/3 of the hats went for export to USA, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. In 1938 the owners were trying to transfer the factory into Czech ownership, but they didn't manage to complete that and the company was put under German management. In 1941 it was sold (by whom?) to the HÜCKEL company *see Profit.czČeský article, the largest Nový Jičín hat company. In 1945 the Hückel factory was expropriated, the family fled Czechoslovakia and the factory was renamed TONAK (=tovarna na klobouky) see Prague Post article In 1945 part of the Brüder Böhm manufacturing section was totally destroyed and that section later became a factory for fabrics, named KARNOLAČeský and later United Technologies. That company declared bankruptcy in 2003 and today - the land is/was being sold by Nový Jičín. http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~prohel/stories/bohmfac.html

Johann Hückel´s Söhne Founded in 1799 in Neutitschein, Austria (now Novy Jicin, Czech Republic) The beginning of millinery manufacture in Novy Jicin dates back to 1630 when the Town Council approved the Articles of the Hatters’ Guild. In 1799, young journeyman Johann Nepomuk Hückel was admitted to the Guild and soon afterwards opened a millinery shop. The quality of his products matched that of previous handicraft and the new products soon penetrated the Austrian and other foreign markets. In 1865 Johann Nepomuk Hückel installed new machinery and equipment, pioneering mechanized production of fur felt hats. Two years later, he built a large factory fully equipped with modern machinery. On January 1, 1869, the business was taken over by the public company J. Hückel and Sons and kept this name until it was nationalized after WWII and TONAK, a state-owned enterprise, was established. http://www.tonak.cz/index.php?typ=TSB&showid=8 J. Hückel and Sons locations. Neutitschein (today Nový Jičín) - headquarters (became TONAK) Skoczów(in Czech Skočov)- today a part of Poland (became PolkaP) Racibórz (in Czech Ratiboř, in German Ratibor)- today a part of Poland Wien - Austria Hückel Hutfabrik Weilheim, Germany After WWII the Hückel family (Fritz Hückel) were expelled from Czechoslovakia and established Hückel Hutfabrik, Weilheim. They manufactured under the Hückel brand name in Germany (exported as Fritz Hückel Hutmacher) until 1975. About 10 years ago the Hückel family sold the name rights for Germany only (TONAK owns the Hückel name outside Germany) to Friedrich W. Schneider (FWS) of Cologne who also own the Stetson name rights for Europe. FWS tried one collection under the Hückel brand name but it was not successful. Some additional information regarding Hückel Hutfabrik, Weilheim. 06/30/1946: Hutfabrik Hückel GmbH in der Kaltenmoserstr. 26, 82362 Weilheim was established. 07/01/1959: Name changed to Hückel Hutfabrik KG and moved to Kaltenmoserstraße 30, 82362 Weilheim. 05/04/1971: Name changed to Hückel Hutfabrik OHG. 11/30/1975: Closed business.

The Habig family is originally from Freiburg and its family history goes back to the year 1550. Peter Habig moved to Vienna in 1853. He served his 5-year-apprenticeship as a hat maker and became a journeyman. From 1865 onwards, his brother Carl assisted him in the workshop, where they exclusively manufactured silk hats as well as the then much soughtafter "Chemisse Galett" hats. It was at that time that they made their first humble attempts of manufacturing felt hats. Winning a gold medal at the international exhibit in Kassel in 1870 was the first step towards internationalisation for the newly established company "P. u. C. Habig" ("P. and C. Habig"). Having been honoured with the sought-after "Hors concours Juror" at the Vienna World Exposition was an important turning point in their career and eventually brought about the establishment of Habig as an international brand. In 1874, P. and C. Habig opened an exclusive retail store located in downtown Vienna (Kärntner Strasse). In 1882, a new building was added to the former workshop located on Wiedner Hauptstrasse. The new and modern factory was equipped with the latest technology, allowing the staff to meet all export orders from Germany and overseas. A particularly exclusive branch opened in 1888 in downtown Berlin (Friedrichstrasse). This complex was well positioned and equipped to meet all requirements ahead and included a state-of-the-art factory as well as living. "Kommerzialrat" Peter Habig was the founder of the Austrian Hat Makers' Society and also played a major role in the Austrian Hat Fashion Association as well as the Vienna Hat Makers' Co-operative. He served as president of international exhibit committees on several occasions. Being socially inclined, he was the first to offer loyalty bonuses to workers of more than 20 years' seniority in his business. In addition to that he also rewarded especially hard working apprentices. He was appointed as a member of the arbitration committee of the Industrial Association of Lower Austria. He personally provided funds for a demonstration hat maker's workshop at the Vienna Technical Museum. Peter Habig, who had been awarded many decorations, was among the first to establish a renowned Viennese fashion scene. He was one of the pioneers of the Austrian clothing industry. He passed away on January 4, 1916, in Vienna. The company was deeply affected by the aftermath of World War I - inflation and a generally bad economic situation - and could not keep its core staff of workers, despite all efforts. At the beginning of World War II, the company production was reduced to a minimum due to the scarcity of raw materials and the lack of workers. After the end of World War II P. and C. Habig were among the first to start manufacturing hats made from old stock, selling them in exchange for ration cards and clothing cards. The main business activity back then, which was an important factor in keeping the company afloat, was the mending of old hats. After the retail shop in downtown Vienna (Kärtnerstrasse) was sold, Carl F. Habig, born in 1942, became the sole director of the company on March 20, 1969. He was the fourth family member in a row to hold this position. It was time to modernize the company and to streamline the production process. Excerpt of: Die Staatswappenträger Österreichs; Jupiter Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Wien 1978 In 2006 Barbara Habig (daughter of Carl F. Habig) is launching a new line of luxury hats. A mixture of exclusive, extraordinary materials is significant for the exquisite hat collection. http://www.putyourhaton.com/history.php

R&M Wegener Lauterbach, Germany For over 190 years R&M Wegener (Headwear) has been an address for all kind of headwear for ladies, men and children. With skilled and trained staff of about 100 employees in the middle of Germany, Wegener produces headwear fashion and accessoires. Various materials are able to be turned into finest headwear: top hats, western hats, hats of fur felt as well as sport caps, fabric hats and fashionable ladies hats - from straw to fur felt. On about 9000 sqm Wegener's production and stock site are located in Lauterbach/Germany. Due to the good geographical situation many retailers, wholesellers and customers are visiting the facilities. History The first development of the company took place in very rough times. But all general managers in charge always knew exactly what to do and therefore were able to carry on their successful business policy. In 1816, a gentleman called Nicolaus Hinrich Dubbers founded the hat company in Hamburg/Germany. 1867 the trading company N.H. Dubbers was registerd in Altona/Hamburg. Owners in those times were Johann end Eduard Dubbers and Theodor Ferdinand Wegener. His sons, Robert and Maximilian Wegener, took over the management in 1884. The problem during this period of time was that the average salary in Hamburg had been increasing rapidly and therefore they decided to move the factory to Blitzenrod/Lauterbach located in Hesse. The surroundings were a big advantage due to the fact that they were able to build a powerplant for electricity run by water power which still exists and is being used. Officially the company started producing its products in May 1885. Besides that, building eight large family houses for the workers families was one of the major projects. In April 1888, after Nicolaus Dubbers left the company, it changed its name to "R&M Wegener GmbH & Co. KG". In 1904, with the age of 59, Robert Wegener left the company and both of his sons, Edgar and Kurt Wegener, took over the management. Between the two world wars the company built more houses which its employees were able to live in for very little rent. With this method and other social projects the company provided their employees, a very personal and close relationship grew between them and the management which can still be found today. During the second World War Edgar Wegener died and his brother Kurt took over the mangement. With him the company grew and expanded its sales rapidly throughout Europe. He was general manager for a long time in Lauterbach before he left the company with the age of 80. His sons Klaus Theodor Wegener and Hans Wegener took over the management after 1945. Klaus Theodor Wegener was responsible for initiating the extraordinay relationships to several hat companies in the United States and after working in Dallas/Texas at Resistol, R&M Wegener was granted the licence to produce Resitol hats in Germany from 1958 onwards. Till the 4th of September 1966, Klaus and Hans both managed the company in the fourth generation. But in the evening of that day Klaus Theodor Wegener tragically died with the age of only 46 in a car accident. He had two sons, Hans Theodor and Dirk Wegener, who were born 1949 and 1952. Today his oldest son Hans Theodor Wegener is the general manager of the company in Lauterbach/Hessen. With him the company grew and was able to celebrate many successes such as the supply of hats for the German olympic team. Because of Hans Theodor Wegener and his employees, the company is now very well-known on the international fashion market and sells its products to nearly every country in the world. Today R.&M. Wegener is a modern, rationalized company as well as still owned by the same family since over 190 years. http://wegener-headwear.de/en/aboutus.html

On 27 September 1800, Leonhard Mayser founds "Hutmacherey Mayser". In the following years, the small hatmaker quickly develops to become a hat factory with several production sites in Germany. In 1858 Leonhard Mayser's son, Friedrich Mayser, decides to take a spectacular step. He leaves the workshop environment behind him and is the first hatmaker in Germany to introduce extensive mechanized production. Together with his son Fritz, he further develops his own company, helps to finance other companies and plays a major role in industrialisation in Ulm. In 1875, the former craft enterprise has developed to become Ulm's second largest industrial enterprise. The company has reached a size which makes greater financial leeway for future activities necessary. In 1886, the company becomes a stock corporation (AG). By the standards in Baden-Württemberg, Mayser is now one of the federal state's large stock corporations. With the participation of Anton Seidl, the owner of the J. A. Seidl hat factory in Munich, the company is transformed into a GmbH (private limited company) in 1914. The partners are Carl Mayser and Anton Seidl, who takes over sole ownership of the Mayser hat factory four years later (1918). In 1924, Anton Seidl introduces production of ladies' hats and is thus able to double production. The name Mayser, which stands for high-quality hats, is registered at the patent office in Berlin. In 1929, the competitor in the Allgäu region is bought out and integrated into the Mayser company. In 1940, Curt M. Zechbauer, the son-in-law of Anton Seidl, takes over management of the company and transforms it into a general partnership. The Wirtschaftswunder years bring Mayser one success after the other. The high point comes in 1963, when Mayser produces 3.5 million hats and sells them worldwide. In 1954, Curt M. Zechbauer's son, Peter M. Zechbauer, acquires the licence of the American hat factory of Stetson for Mayser. In 1991, restructuring of production leads to the hat production being relocated to the sister factory in Lindenberg. http://www.mayser.de/english/unternehmen/historie.asp

Welcome! This board is devoted to German and Austrian hats of all styles and makes. -Steve Heck