Georg Schoenner (fl. 1851-1957) Nuremberg.

In 1851, Georg Schoenner Sr. (*1821;†1899) established a workshop in Nuremberg. His first recorded address was S.1635 (Grübelsstrasse 10) in 1852. In the 1840s, he undertook a period of travel to Vienna, where he spent his journeyman years learning manufacturing methods. One of the first German manufacturers of drawing instruments to invest in production machinery, he was able to mass-produce high-quality instruments, the majority of which were exported. In 1860, the factory employed a workforce of 10 individuals and was powered by a 3-horsepower waterwheel. By 1910, it had become the largest drawing instrument factory in the world, with a workforce of 475 and a 175-horsepower diesel engine. The founder's son, born in 1851, commenced employment with the company in 1864 and in 1877 became a partner in the firm.

In 1882, Georg Schoenner Jr. (*1851;†1921) became the sole proprietor of the company, and in 1901, he was awarded the title of Kommerzienrat. He was the holder of numerous patents, all of which related to drawing instruments, and were specifically concerned with improvements to compasses and ruling pens. Applications for patents were submitted in the United States, Germany, and Switzerland. He equipped the factory with sophisticated machinery, thereby establishing the company as one of Europe's foremost manufacturers. Following the founder's demise in 1921, the company was transformed into a general partnership, with the heirs assuming the role of partners. Subsequently, the role of director was occupied by Paul Georg Schoenner (*1879;†1953), grandson of the founder. In 1930, Hugo Kahn (*1895;†1980), an entrepreneur, acquired the Schoenner factory. Following the destruction of the Schoenner factory in the Gartenstrasse/Schanzäckerstraße during the Second World War, the new premises were located at Harsdörfferplatz 12. Production ceased in 1957. Another son of Georg Schoenner Sr., Jean Schoenner (*1853), was the founder of the toy factory Spielwarenfabrik Jean Schoenner in Nuremberg. 

Schoenner drawing set #102

The inside lid of this drawing set is embossed J. Herrmanstörfer Nürnberg. The edge of the case is marked 102, and the largest compasss is marked with a number 6. Dating from around 1860.

Jean Herrmanstörfer (*1823;†1898), painter and manufacturer of artist's colours, ran a shop retailing artist's supplies and stationary in the Winklerstraße 29 (called Palm's house) in Nuremberg [13]. The shop's roots go back to painter and artists' colour manufacturer Johann Christoph Schmidt (*1755;†1834) whom was registered Meister in 1786 [14]. Schmidt's nephew Johann Georg Lanzin (*1797;†1846) succeeded him in 1825 [15]. Herrmanstörfer acquired the business from Lanzin's widow in 1851 [16].

Jean Herrmanstörfer received his first drawing lessons from his elder brother, well known painter and photographer, Joseph Herrmanstörfer (*1817 Nürnberg;†1901 München). Jean studied painting at Kunstgewerbschule in Nuremberg, a study which he successfully completed in 1847. In the same year he moved from Schmaussengasse S.1613 to Winklerstrasse 29 [17]. During the 1850s and 1860s Herrmanstörfer was a selling agent for Georg Schoenner (see advert above). After Herrmanstörfer's death in 1898 the shop was continued by his son-in-law Carl Schradin (*1848) whom was made partner in 1892 [18]. After WW2 the shop relocated to Laufamholz, a district in east Nuremberg. 

Schoenner drawing sets #388 and #2694

Fig. 1. and 2. Set #388, the compasses in this set are prior to 1907 when Richter's patent was still in effect. The heads have a pivot joint similar to Riefler's Vasenkopf. The corner of the case is marked with a barely visible number 388. Fig. 3. and 4. Set #2694, the compasses in this set feature the straightening device patented by Schoenner in 1903, US723041A and is a further development from DE121855 patented in 1900. 

Fig. 1. Schoenner innovations, 1913 Technical Supply Company Catalogue [6]. Straightening device patent US723041A (1903), see also Post 1910 Catalogue, p. 69 [9].

Fig. 2. Schoenner innovations, 1919 A. Lietz Company Catalogue [11]. Compass head DE277608 (1913), needle adjustment DE262894 (1912), Circle L ruling pen US1412491A (1914).

Fig.  3. Left: earliest known Schoenner hallmark, c. 1890. Right: Schoenner hallmark 20th c.

Fig. 4. Schoenner was a supplier to Sears Roebuck. Sears Roebuck Fall 1923 catalogue, p.673 [Internet Archive].

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REFERENCES / NOTES

[1] Kolesch & Company Illustrated Catalogue and Price-List 1917 p. 63-73.

[2] STARCK, Georg; Die Entwicklung der Deutschen Reißzeugindustrie, Universitätsverlag von Robert Noske in Borna-Leipzig, 1925.

[3] Amtlicher Katalog der Ausstellung des Deutschen Reiches  By Universal Exhibition (1873, Wien), page 502.

[4] Georg Schoenner; Stadtlexikon - Stadtarchiv Nürnberg

1851 gründete Georg Schoenner in der Breiten Gasse einen Handwerksbetrieb. Durch den Einsatz neuer Techniken gelang ihm die Herstellung von Reißzeug in bisher nicht gekannter Qualität. Unter seinem Sohn Georg, der die Fabrik 1877 übernahm, erweiterte und mit Spezialmaschinen ausrüstete, zählte das Unternehmen europaweit zu den Branchenführern. 1957 stellte die Firma S., die inzwischen an den Harsdörfferplatz verlegt worden war, die Produktion ein. Weltruf besaß auch die Spielwarenfabrik von Jean Schoenner, eines weiteren Sohns des Firmengründers. 

[5] VIJFMAAL sloegen de nazis ’s werelds grootste passer fabrikant alles uit handen...

VIJFMAAL begon Hugo Kahn opnieuw zonder één passer [KB Delpher: De Telegraaf 19-11-1960]

[6] Technical Supply Company Catalogue 1913; Tec Brand drawing instruments. p.46.

[7] Festschrift zur 40sten Hauptversammlung des Vereins Deutscher Ingenieure in Nürnberg 1899 p.477-479. SLUB Dresden.

[8] C.F. Pease Catalogue, Chicago 1928; p.118-138. Brands Chicago and Franklin were manufactured in Chicago. Sweet's Architectural Catalogue, 1925, p.3, Internet Archive.

[9] Catalogue and price list of the Frederick Post Company 1910. The drawing instrument brands Primo, Excelsior, University, Corona are all by Schoenner.

[10] A.S. Aloe Company Catalogue and price list of civil engineers' and surveyors' instruments, architects' and draughtsmen's materials and supplies. 1910. Drawing instruments from p.166 to 213; brands Peerless, University, Ideal, Standard, Victor are all Schoenner. US pat. 762848 on p.174, and pat. 755396 and straightening device on p.175 are by Schoenner.

[11] The Lietz Co. catalogue of surveying and drawing instruments 1919. p.324 to 367. Ranges in this catalogue: Circle L, Circle T, Circle Z, Junior, and Prep are all by Schoenner.

[13] Jean (aka Johann Martin) Herrmanstörfer (*1823;†1898): Nürnberger Künstlerlexikon, p.632. Stadtarchiv Nürnberg C 7/II Niederlassungsakten Nr. 13040. He married his first wife Johanna Maria Franziska (Fanny) Werner (*1826;†1855) in 1852. He married Benedikta Katharina Pauli (*1826;†1895) in 1856.

[14] Nürnberger Kunstlerlexikon p.1349-1350.

[15] Allgemeines Intelligenz-Blatt der Stadt Nürnberg. 1825, Jg. 78, p.1087. [Bavarikon]

[16] Nürnberger Kunstlerlexikon p.632.

[17] Fränkischer Kurier, 1. Mai 1857 [Bavarikon]

[18] Johann Carl Jakob Schradin (*26. November 1848, Fürth): Stadtarchiv Nürnberg C 22/II Nr. 24/2122 An, Stadtarchiv Nürnberg C 7/II Niederlassungsakten Nr. 18160. He married Helena Juliana Klara Barbara Herrmannstörfer in 1881.

[19] Georg Schönner Reisszeugfabrik; Gross-Industrie und Gross-Handel von Nürnberg-Fürth und Umgebung, 1894, p.164-165 [MDZ]