Lufthansa

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Lufthansa logo 1926
by Otto Firle 1918

Names:
--- "Deutsche Luft Hansa" (1926)
--- "Deutsche Lufthansa" (1933)
--- "DLH" (abbreviated, 1933)
--- "Aktiengesellschaft für Luftverkehrsbedarf" (1953)
--- "Luftag" (abbreviated, 1953)
--- "Deutsche Lufthansa Aktiengesellschaft" (1954)
--- "Lufthansa" (abbreviated, 1954)

Category: Transportation

Subcategory: Airlines

Founded: January 6, 1926 - Berlin, Germany - as "Deutsche Luft Hansa".

Founders: Merger between Deutscher Aero Lloyd (an airline formed in 1923 as a co-operation between the shipping companies Norddeutscher Lloyd and Hamburg America Line) and Junkers Luftverkehr, the in-house airline of Junkers.

Operations start: April 6, 1926, with the first scheduled flight from Berlin to Zürich via Halle, Erfurt and Stuttgart, operated by a Fokker-Grulich F II. The fleet consisted of 162 aircraft, of 18 different types. A flying expedition to China was the event of the year.

Operations end: April 1945 (Company formally dissolved on January 1, 1951).

Refounded (not as legal successor): January 6, 1953 - Cologne, Germany - as "Aktiengesellschaft für Luftverkehrsbedarf", abbrev. "Luftag"; renamed "Deutsche Lufthansa Aktiengesellschaft", abbrev. "Lufthansa", on August 6, 1954, when the company acquired the name and logo of the liquidated Deutsche Lufthansa thus continuing the tradition of a German flag carrier of that name.

Refounders: Luftag stems directly from the Bureau Bongers, formed in 1951 to prepare "the first rough sketches". Hans M. Bongers, traffic manager of the old Lufthansa, was appointed aviation adviser to the Minister of Transport and set up the Bureau Bongers in two rooms in the Cologne University building. This was followed, in January 1953, by the creation of a company with a capital of which major shareholders are the Federal German Government (74%), the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, and Federal German Railways, together with 125 smaller holdings, mainly in travel and transport. Dr. Kurt Weigelt, deputy chairman of the old Lufthansa, became the president.

Operations restart: 1955. Domestic services began on April 1, with two Convairs which took off almost simultaneously in Hamburg and Munich for a day of regular scheduled services. International flights started on May 15 to Madrid, on May 16 to London, and on May 17 to Paris. The first scheduled North Atlantic flight took place on June 8. These initial services were operated with a fleet consisting of four Lockheed 1049G Super Constellations and four Convair 340s, which by the end of the year had carried just over 74,000 passengers on an unduplicated route network of a little over 8,000 miles.

Interesting facts: The winged crest, by graphic designer Otto Firle, originated in 1918 with Deutsche Luft-Reederei, German airline established in December 1917, first company to merge with Junkers Luftverkehr to form Deutsche Luft Hansa.
"Luft Hansa", first name of the company, was a composite of "Luft" ("Air" in German), and "Hansa" (after the Hanseatic League, a powerful mediaeval trading group). The word was designed by F.A. Fischer von Poturzyn, who had written a book of the same name. "Aktiengesellschaft für Luftverkehrsbedarf", name of the refounded company in 1953, also abbreviated "Luftag", can be translated as Corporation for Air Transport Requirements.

Slogan (1926): «Fliegt in die Bäder» ("Fly to the beaches")

Property: Deutsche Lufthansa AG

Official website: http://www.lufthansa.com

Luft Hansa, the origins of the name (1925). F.A. Fischer von Puturzyn published this book entitled "Luft-Hansa", which examined the options open to aviation policymakers at the time.

Luft Hansa, newspaper announcement (Evening star, Washington, D.C., February 21, 1926). «42 AIR LINES PLANNED. Huge Projects to Be Launched in Germany Soon. BERLIN, February 20 - The German Aerial Combine, the Deutsche Lufthansa Aktiengesellschaft - a fusion of the Aero Lloyd and Junker Companies - plans to begin its activities by opening 42 aerial lines extending all over Germany and to many foreign countries. One-day flights are scheduled from Berlin to Moscow. Negotiations are contemplated with the Czechoslovakian government for the organization of an air service to Dresden, Prague and Vienna».

Luft Hansa, the first ever scheduled flight (April 6, 1926), from Berlin to Zürich via Halle, Erfurt and Stuttgart, Fokker-Grulich F II aircraft.

Luft Hansa, Fokker-Grulich F II aircraft (1926)

Luft Hansa poster "Fliegt in die Bäder" ("Fly to the beaches", 1926  by Hans Vogel)

Luft Hansa poster "Fliegt in die Bäder!" ("Fly to the beaches!", 1927 by Hans Vogel)

Luft Hansa, passengers and airfreight had to be weighed (photo 1928)

Luft Hansa poster (1932 by Otto Arpke)

Luftag refounders on the company's first day (January 6, 1953): from left, Chairman Hans M. Bongers, Federal German Minister of Transport Hans-Christoph Seebohm, Technical Director Gerhard Höltje, and Chairman of the Supervisory Board Dr. Kurt Weigelt.

Lufthansa, the first cabin crew members (February 1955) were ready for flight operations; they started work with route proving flights in March.

Lufthansa, four commemorative stamps (March 31, 1955) issued to mark the post-war re-establishment of Lufthansa Airlines and the resumption of domestic and international flights.

Lufthansa, first timetable (April 1, 1955)

Lufthansa, the first two flights operated by the new company (April 1, 1955): two Convairs CV-340 took off almost simultaneously in Hamburg (photo above) and Munich (below), for a day of regular scheduled services.

Lufthansa celebrate 60 years (april 1955-2015). To honor their 60th Anniversary, Lufthansa had "Yankee Tango" (Boeing 747-8 D-ABYT, above) painted in a livery that resembled what the 747 fleet looked like in the 1970s when Lufthansa began flying 747-100 and -200 variants.

BMW (motorcycles): 1st model ever

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BMW logo 1917

Name: "BMW R32"

Category: Motorcycles

Subcategory: Standard

Designer: Max Friz

Producer: BMW - Bayerische Motoren Werke (founded on March 7, 1916 in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, by Franz Josef Popp, Karl Rapp, and Camillo Castiglioni)

Production start: 1923 - Munich, Bavaria, Germany (debut on September 28, 1923 at the Berlin Exhibition)

Discontinued: 1926

First price: 2,200 Reichsmark

Features: BMW R32, the first BMW motorcycle, was produced using the two-cylinder four-stroke boxer engine previously supplied to other manufacturers. This was modified for transverse configuration and fitted with a directly blocked three-speed transmission. Instead of a chain drive, which is susceptible to wear-and-tear, the force of the drive was transferred to the grease-filled bevel gear casing on the rear wheel by means of a cardan shaft. The longitudinally ribbed cylinders were cast in a single piece together with the cylinder heads and feature vertical valves. Engine Type: four-stroke two-cylinder flat twin (boxer). Bore/stroke: 68 x 68 mm. Cubic capacity: 494 cm3 / 30 in.3. Maximum power: 8.5 HP at 3,200 RPMs. Compression ratio 5.0 : 1. Valves per cylinder: 2 SV. Carburetion system: 1 carburettor Type BMW Spezial 22mm. Engine lubrication: forced-feed lubrication. Oil pump: gear pump. Clutch: single discs, dry. Number of gears: 3. Shifting: manual. Gear ratios: 2.27 / 1.50 / 1.08. Rear wheel ratio: 4.41 : 1. Bevel/crown wheel: 17 / 75 teeth. Generator: magneto generator (on request). Ignition: Bosch magneto ignition. Spark plugs: Bosch W 145. Type of frame: twin-loop, tubular. Front suspension: twin cantilever spring. Rear suspension rigid (none). Wheel rims: 26 x 2.5. Tires front: 26 x 3. Tires rear: 26 x 3. Brakes front: drum brake Ø 150 mm (1924 and on). Brakes rear: block brake. Length x width x height: 82.7 x 31.5 x 37.4 inches (2100 x 800 x 950 mm). Wheel base: 54.3 inches (1380 mm). Tank capacity: 3.7 gals. (14 liters). Unladen weight, full tank: 269 lbs. / 122 kg. Fuel consumption: 78 MPG (± 3 liters / 100 km). Oil consumption: ± 6.2 quarts / 1000 miles (± 2.5 liters / 1000 km). Top speed: ± 60 MPH (± 96 km/h).

Max Friz
Urach, Oct. 1, 1883
- Tegernsee, June 9, 1966,
the German engineer
who developed the
BMW R32 motorcycle

Interesting facts: BMW is set up in Munich during World War One as the successor to Rapp Motoren-Werke, an aircraft engine plant founded in 1913. Its first product is the IIIa aircraft engine, containing legendary engine designer Max Friz's altitude carburettor. On July 21, 1917, Rapp-Motorenwerke is renamed Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH. The outlook for the fledgling company brightens up with the development of the two-cylinder M2 B 15 engine - which is also supplied to several motorcycle manufacturers. In consideration of the two cylinders arranged opposite to one another, as well as the pistons operating in the opposite direction, these power units are referred to as "Boxers". This engine found its main use in Nuremberg-based Victoria motorcycles, helping them to outstanding success in 1921. The neighbouring aircraft manufacturer, Bayerische Flugzeug-Werke, also fitted the BMW engine into their Helios model, together with a transmission likewise supplied by BMW. In 1922 it sells its engine production and the name BMW to Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (Bavarian Aircraft Works) and moves into their factory. The aircraft-maker's founding date, 7 March 1916, thus becomes the new founding date of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG. General Director of BMW Franz Josef Popp and Design Director Max Friz agreed to a near-term solution of redesigning the Helios to make it more saleable and a long-term solution of an all new motorcycle design. This new design was designated the BMW R32 and began production in 1923, becoming the first motorcycle to be badged as a BMW, and the foundation for all future boxer-powered BMW motorcycles.

Property: BMW Bayerische Motoren Werke AG - BMW Motorrad

Producer website: http://www.bmw-motorrad.com

BMW R32 engine (1923). The first engine product by BMW was the M2 B15, and engineer Max Friz used this as a basis for the R32.

BMW R32, drawings were completed in only four months (1923)

BMW R32 factory in Munich, Bavaria, Germany (1923)

BMW R32, the first BMW motorcycle (1923)

BMW R32 and its designer Max Friz in a commemorative stamp (2008)

BMW Motorrad celebrates 90 years (1923-2013). Over 40,000 participants at the 13th BMW Motorrad Days (July 5 to 7, 2013), Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Munich.

BMW Motorrad celebrates 100 years (1923-2023) with a special exhibition at the BMW Museum in Munich, Germany

Faber-Castell

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Faber-Castell logo 1906

Original name: "A.W. Faber" (1761)

Name: "Faber-Castell" (1900)

Category: Home - Office - School

Subcategory: Stationery

Founder: Kaspar Faber

Founded: 1761 - Stein, Bavaria, Germany

Features: Pencil-makers were first recorded in the imperial city of Nuremberg around the year 1660. Numerous craftsmen also set up shop in the surrounding villages, but especially in Stein, just within the Marquisate of Ansbach. Here artisans were not subject to the same strict controls as in Nuremberg, so they had a competitive advantage. One of them was the cabinet-maker Kaspar Faber. At first he worked for local traders, but in his spare time he produced pencils on his own account. Soon he became so successful that he was able to set up his own business. In 1761 he opened a small workshop. Pencils made of pure graphite easily crumbled and broke, thus in 1771 Faber undertook the first attempts to improve pencils by using ground graphite, which he mixed with sulfur, antimony, and binding resins. The technique of gluing pencils into wooden sticks was already well known in Nuremberg at that time, but Kaspar Faber did not use it. From these humble beginnings, Faber-Castell has became one of the world's largest and oldest manufacturers of pens, pencils, other office supplies (staplers, slide rules, erasers, rulers, etc.) and art supplies, as well as high-end writing instruments and luxury leather goods.

Interesting facts: During his lifetime (1730-1784), Kaspar Faber's pencil production business was still on a small scale. After his death, his son Anton Wilhelm (1758-1819) took over the business, which was already doing well. He acquired a plot of land on the edge of Stein, with a workshop that within a few years he had built up into a flourishing manufactory. At the age of 51 Anton Wilhelm handed over to his only son Georg Leonhard (1788-1839) what was already documented as a pencil factory and the company that still bears his initials. Georg Leonhard realized that foreign experience was decisive for the future of his company, and so he sent his son Lothar (1817-1896) abroad. And it was in the progressive cities of London and Paris that the eldest son Lothar developed the ideas that within a few years were to raise the factory in Stein to the ranks of an international company. Lothar Faber secured a decisive market advantage when he acquired the sole mineral rights to a graphite mine in Siberia in 1856. In 1861, the company celebrated its hundredth anniversary. By then it had 250 employees and had cornered a significant share of the market. In the same year, the first pencil factory opens in New York, headed by Lothar Faber's brother Eberhard (1822-1879). Baron Lothar von Faber developed an industrial company during the 19th century with trade relations all over the world. In 1870 the name A.W. Faber was officially entered in the US Register of Companies; the company was registered in Russia that same year, and registration followed in Great Britain, Italy, France, and Spain. Lothar von Faber's only child Wilhelm (1851-1893) was the designated heir: he joined the company in 1873, but died in 1893, at the early age of 42. After Lothar's death in 1896, his widow Ottilie ran the company until the turn of the century, assisted by some faithful employees. Wilhelm von Faber's eldest daughter and subsequent heir Baroness Ottilie von Faber (1877–1944) was married in 1898 to Count Alexander zu Castell-Rüdenhausen (1866-1928). Two years later he joined the board of management which he headed after the death of Lothar's widow in 1903. Count Alexander created trademarks with his noble descent, his name "Castell" and the image of the knights' tournament that have been distinctive down to the present day. The enterprise has remained in the Faber family for generations.

Property: Faber-Castell

Official website: http://www.faber-castell.com

Kaspar Faber (1730-1784), cabinet-maker, carpenter, entrepreneur, founder of Faber-Castell, and his son Anton Wilhelm Faber (1758-1819), who took over the business

Faber company, pencil factory estabilished at Stein, Bavaria, Germany, 1761
(Asher & Adams' New Columbian Rail Road Atlas and Pictorial Album of American Industry, 1875)

Faber company, ads on American newspapers offer imported Faber's pencils (1847. Left: The national whig., Washington, D.C., May 17 - Right: Vermont watchman and State journal, Montpelier, Vt., July 29)

Faber company, first opening in USA. Eberhard Faber moved to the United States in 1848 and in 1849, opened a stationery store at No. 133 William Street, NYC. (advertisement from Wilmington journal, Wilmington, N.C., Jan. 7, 1859).

Faber company, pencil factory estabilished in New York, 1861
(Asher & Adams' New Columbian Rail Road Atlas and Pictorial Album of American Industry, 1875)

Faber company in 1861. The factory opened near New York to produce pencils for the North American market without having to import them was headed by Lothar's youngest brother Eberhard Faber (front row, 2nd from the right).

Faber company, American advertisement
(Orleans independent standard, Irasburgh, Vt., Sept. 21, 1869)

Faber company, catalogue (1884)

Products from their branches opened in Stein (1761), New York (1849), London (1851), Paris (1855), Geroldsgrün (1861), Vienna (1872), St. Petersburg (1874), Noisy-le-sec (1881) and Berlin (1884). Faber company expanded internationally and launched new products under Kaspar Faber's ambitious great-grandson, Lothar.

Faber company, erasers line (1897)

Faber company, packaging of historic pocket pencils "Castell 9000" (1908)

Faber-Castell celebrate their 250th anniversary (1761-2011)

Playmobil

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Playmobil System logo 1974
by Rainer Willingstorfer

Series name: "Playmobil System"

Figures name: "Klicky"

Category: Toys

Subcategory: Plastic figures

Inventor: Hans Beck

Producer: Geobra Brandstätter (founded by Andreas Brandstätter in 1876)

Invented in: 1974 - debut February 2 at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg

Production start: 1974 (Germany and Benelux) - 1975 (worldwide)

Features: Playmobil is a line of toys produced and marketed since 1974 by Geobra Brandstätter in Zirndorf, Germany. The plastic figures, at 7.5 cm tall, fit in a child's hand and its facial design was based on children's drawings - a large head, a big smile, and no nose. Parts make up each figure: hair, head, torso, inner mechanism, two arms, and a set of legs. The first product series, introduced in 1974, were: Knights, Construction workers and Native Americans. Each of these three themes had it's own color. Boxes containing knights and medieval accessories were green, construction sets were blue, and boxes with Indians and wigwams were red. In the seventies, a Playmobil figure was also known as a "Klicky", referring to its typical klicking sound. A "Klicky-Tag" was printed over the cover picture. The tag also shows the number of figures contained in a particular box. Female figures were introduced in 1976.

Interesting facts: In the Sixties, Geobra had been producing hoola-hoops and large plastic toys, but in the early 70s the rising oil prices imposed on Geobra Brandstätter demanded that the company turn to products that required less solid plastic material. So, the company's owner Horst Brandstätter asked the German skilled craftsman Hans Beck to develop little toy figures for children achievable with less plastic. Hans Beck spent three years from 1971 to 1974 developing what became Playmobil. He conducted research that allowed him to develop a toy that would not be too complex but would nevertheless be flexible. He felt that too much flexibility would get in the way of children's imaginations, and too much rigidity would cause frustration.
Playmobil makes its first official appearance in 1974 at the company trade fair at geobra Brandstätter in Zirndorf. In February, at the International Toy Fair in Nuremberg, a Dutch firm agreed to buy a whole year's production. Playmobil began to be sold worldwide in 1975, and has remained a popular toy ever since. By court decision, the Playmobil figure is an original piece of art and, therefore, is copyright protected for up 70 years following the death of the creator.

Quote (Hans Beck): «My figures were quite simple, but they allowed children room for their imagination»

Property: Geobra Brandstätter Stiftung & Co. KG

Product website: http://www.playmobil.com

Playmobil, sketch by Hans Beck. The figures had small noses, which disappeared later. (1971)

Playmobil, design by Hans Beck. In the initial design, the legs can be moved separately. (1972)

Playmobil, images from patent (February 5, 1972)

Playmobil, figures prototypes. Before these, some wooden prototypes were realized. (1973)

Playmobil, first series: Knights, Construction workers and Native Americans (1974)

Playmobil, first packages and sets (1974)

Playmobil, first catalog (1974)

Playmobil, first female figure (1976) and first castle (1977)

Hans Beck (Greiz, May 6, 1929 - Markdorf, Jan. 30, 2009), the creator of Playmobil. Top: in 1975 with Horst Brandstätter (left), Playmobil's owner and the great-grandson of the company's founder.

Playmobil celebrates 40th anniversary at London's Pirate Castle (April 30, 2014)