Max Förster Hutfabrik

[habigman]

Altenburg, Germany

 

Factory converted to a hotel (Parkhotel).

 

 

Altenburg was a major hat manufacturing center up to WWII.

 

 

"The Hat Factory "Max Förster" , which specialized in the production of wool and hair hats, was since 1872 in what is now Park Hotel on Great Pond. It was one of the largest factories in Altenburg and produced about 2,400 hats a day (1880). After a modernization of the production, the factory even had its own electric power plant starting in 1888.

 

http://hutmacherhandwerk.blogspot.com/

[habigman]

Max  Förster "Marke  Förster" "Saturn Pat.", 58cm, Wool, Crown Open 5 1/2 inches, Brim 2 1/4 inches, probably later 1930s. Made by Max Förster Hat Factory Altenburg (Thuringia) so a first for me (as far as I know). The felt is stiff but works well with this type of form and has a very nice color + finish. Also an interesting sweatband finish effect.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[habigman]

Max  Förster "Marke  Förster", "C.", Wool, 57 cm, 144 grams possibly 1930s.  Max Förster Altenburg (Thüringen) was a major hat factory up to WWII.  (Altenburg was a hat making center.)   I only have one other Max Förster and it's a Wool Soft Felt so happy to have found this Stiff Felt.  The seller of this Stiff Felt is located in Altenburg. 

 

[habigman]

DHZ October 1, 1919

[habigman]

Found by Matt on the FL.

Hut-Fabrik J. C. Förster & Sohn - Altenburg
invoice 24.02.1880: "1 Dutzend Knabenhüte" (= a dozen boys' hats)

https://sachsen.digital/werkansicht/287921/1?tx_dlf[double]=0&tx_dlf[pagegrid]=0&cHash=6d273ca184514979a4c26ee792b166f4

Should be connected to Max Förster Hutfabrik:

[habigman]

I found some interesting information about "Max Förster Haar und Wollfilz Hutfabrik" and J.C.  Förster & Sohn Hutfabrik mentioned in " Handbuch der Leistungsfähigkeit der gesammten Industrie Deutschlands, Oesterreichs Elsass-Lothringens und der Schweiz Volume 2 By Christoph Sandler · 1874"

Altenburg

Capital and residential town, 5 m south of Leipzig with 20,000 inhabitants

Max Förster, Hair and Wool Felt Hat Factory.
Founder in 1867 and owner Max Förster. He delivers 20 dozen hats daily and employs 10 workers

J. C. Förster & Son, Hat Factory.
Founded by Joh. Conr. Förster and owned by Gustav Förster since 1862. He employs 40 people.

Here is some more info on J. C. Förster & Sohn, Max Förster and other Altenburg Hat Factories.

No mention of J. C. Förster & Sohn, Gustav Förster or Max Förster in the following 1859 Address Book.

"Adressbuch aller Länder der Erde der Kaufleute, Fabrikanten, Gewerbtreibenden, Gutsbesitzer etc Zugleich Handelsgeographie, Produkten- u. Fabrikanten-Bezugs-Angabe · Volume 5 1859"

 

No mention of J. C. Förster & Sohn or  Max Förster.  Gustav Förster listed as a Hat Maker in this 1864 Address Book.

"Adreßbuch der Kaufleute, Fabrikanten und Gewerbsleute der Sächsischen Herzog- und Fürstenthümer Altenburg, Koburg-Gotha, Meiningen-Hildburghausen, Weimar, Reuß, u. Schwarzburg, Kreis Schleusingen, Schmalkalden, Suhl ; zugl. Handelsgeogr., Produkten- u. Fabrikaten-Bezugsangabe 1864"

J. C. Förster & Sohn (owner Gustav Förster) and Max Förster mentioned in this 1874 Handbook.  Also included are the other Altenburg Hat Factories.  What is interesting is August Schatte is the oldest Hat Factory in Altenburg.  I need to look into August Schatte and the others.

"Handbuch der Leistungsfähigkeit der gesammten Industrie Deutschlands, Oesterreichs Elsass-Lothringens und der Schweiz Volume 2 By Christoph Sandler · 1874"

Only Max Förster is listed in this 1890 Address Book.

"Adressbuch aller Länder der Erde, der Kaufleute, Fabrikanten, Gewerbetreibenden, Gutsbesitzer etc Volume 12 1890"

Altenburger Hat Factory (acting company), formerly Max Förster.  manor house owner at Neukirchen near Borna (hair and wool felt hat manufacturer) in this 1893 Address Book.  No mention of Gustav Förster or J. C. Förster & Sohn.

"Adressbuch aller Länder der Erde der Kaufleute, Fabrikanten, Gewerbtreibenden, Gutsbesitzer etc Zugleich Handelsgeographie, Produkten- u. Fabrikanten-Bezugs-Angabe · Volume 5, Part 1 1893"