Falk, Stadelmann and Co
From Graces Guide
of 91 Farringdon Road, London, EC1. Telephone: Holborn 7654. Telegraphic Address: "Lamps, London". (1937)
- 1854 Salomon Falk was born.
- c1880 He emigrated to London from Hochberg in Germany.
- 1881 Company established.
- 1882 His first sales list is dated 16th January, when he states he has set up as a Manufacturer's Agent and Importer having supplied his clients for six years prior to that date. It is not known if he was, in those six years, working for Stadelmann's from Germany on his own account, or for the previous four years in Germany for a firm called Ungers in England.
- 1885 Salomon Falk was granted permission to give up his Wurttenberg nationality and to live permanently in England.
- 1887 The directors of Falk, Stadelmann and Co were Mr S. Guiterman, Chairman, Salomon Falk, Managing Director, and Bernhardt Thurnauer, permanent Director. Incorporated as a limited company.
- 1914 Manufacturers of all material used in connection with lighting and heating. Specialities: oil lamps, gas mantles, electric lamps. Employees 900. [1]
- Falk, Stadelmann developed into the largest oil lamp company in Britain, taking over famous names like James Hinks and Son around 1920.
- The German "Veritas" trademark was made available to Falk, Stadelmann in London, initially for gas lamp mantles.
- The brand was to became a major name in the interwar years in the UK, when Falk, Stadelmann marketed all kinds of wick and candle lamps.
- In the 1930s the firm employed around 3,000 people.
- 1937 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Veritas Perfection and Quick Meal Oil Cooking Stones. Blue Boy and Blue Ace Oil Stoves. Cooking Stoves for caravan use. Puritan Oil Heating Stoves. (Stand No. 506) [2]
- During and after WW2, Falk, Stadelmann needed to find new ways to compete with the two largest lantern manufacturers in the UK the Tilley Lamp Co and Willis and Bates
- Falk Stadelmann's final decline occurred after poor trading years in the late 1960s. It was taken over by Jessel Investments, who sold off all property and ceased manufacturing activities.
See Also
- [1] Pressure Lamps Web Site