Theodore Alteneder (*1822,†1899), Philadelphia.

Early years in Kempten, Bavaria

       Theodor Alternder was one of 5 children born to Hammersmith Johann Alteneder (†1855) and Anna Maria Haggenmüller (*1803;†1879) in the town of Kempten in Bavaria [1]. His parents ran an ironmongery business in Kempten. Actually there were two Kemptens. Altstadt-Kempten (or Reichsstadt Kempten), largely enclosed by walls and towers, retained its medieval character and was predominantly Protestant; Neustadt-Kempten (or Stiftstadt Kempten) surrounding the Residenz was more of a tranquil market town and was predominantly Catholic. In the early 1800s both towns together had a population of 6500 inhabitants.

        In 1833, at the age of 12, Theodor was one of 24 students who enrolled for classes at the newly established Gewerbs-Schule in Kempten [2]. During the 2 year course, 35 hours per week, the following subjects were taught: arithmetic, geometry, religious studies, drawing lessons, encyclopedia, natural history, French language, world history, geography and German language [3].

        Theodor was a good student, for his industriousness in class he was awarded a copy of Brand's Unterricht in der Naturwissenschaft at the end of the first year, and in the second year he was awarded a copy of Leng's Lehrbuch der Gewerbskunde. In 1840, his sibling Carl (*1826;†1902), enrolled for one year at the Gewerbs-Schule [5].

        In 1838 Theodor attended the Handwerks-Feiertags-Schule (Handicraft Holiday School) [6]. He was then 16 years old and in training to be a Schlosser (=locksmith). Classes were held on Sundays and holidays from 10:00 to 12:00. The Handwerks-Feiertags-Schule was associated with the Gewerbs-Schule. Subjects taught were in practical arithmetic, geometry and geography, as well as lessons in ornamental and architectural drafting. 

        In 1841 Clemens Riefler (*1820;†1876) founded a workshop producing drawing instruments and simple pendel clocks in the village of Maria-Rain, not far from Kempten. In the same year Theodor started apprenticeship with Clemens Riefler, but how long his apprenticeship lasted is unknown [Starck 1925, p.112].         

Philadelphia 1848 to 1900

         In 1848 Alteneder siblings Theodor, Carl and Louisa decided to cast their lots in the New World and initially settled in Philadelphia. Before coming to America, Louisa married Ferdinand Augustus Wurm, a professor of music and teacher of 7 foreign languages. Professor Wurm, a graduate of the University of Munich in Bavaria, had been the director of music in Kempten under appointment of the King of Bavaria. All 4 boarded the Brig Abeona in Amsterdam, and after a voyage that took 77 days, arrived in New York on 29 June 1848. In 1851 Judson Female Institute in Marion, Alabama, engaged Wurm as their musical director [9].

         Carl, Americanizing his name to Charles, married Anna Barbara Hahn in 1852 and became a successful farmer in Muscatine County, Iowa [1]. Two other siblings would remain in Germany, Josephine and Carolina. The latter would marry merchant Christian Brem in Kempten.

          In late 1849 or early 1850 Theodore made a trip back to Germany. On his return to the U.S. he is listed as a passenger aboard the bark Caroline that departed from Bremen on 9th March 1850 and arrived in New York on 9th May, 1850. A few weeks after his arrival in the U.S., on 16 July, 1850, Theodor patented his compass-joint (US7501A). Riefler patented his Vasenkopf [8] on 11 July, 1850 [10]. Both patent dates and Alteneder's trip to the US coincide - but was this deliberate? Was the reason for Alteneder's trip to confer with his former employer Riefler for the purpose of coordinating the patent applications?

          Later in the same year Theodore established a business as a mathematical instrument maker. His first listing is in McElroy's Philadelphia City 1853 Directory and has his address at 9 Marshall Street and lists his occupation as machinist.           

To be continued...

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[1] Portrait and biographical album of Muscatine County, Iowa, Acme Publishing House, Chicago 1889, p.338. [Internet Archive]

[2] Verzeichniss der jenigen Schüler aus der Alt- und Neustadt Kempten welche den ersten Kurs der neuerrichteten Gewerbs-Schule in der hiesigen Stadt im Schuljahre 1833/34 besuchten. [Bavarikon]

[3] Wolfgang Petz 2008; Eine Schule in ihrer Zeit, in ihrer Zeit, Bescheidene Anfänge: Von der Gründung bis zum Ersten Weltkrieg.

[4] Jahres-Bericht über die K. Gewerbs-Schule zu Kempten vom Schul-Jahre 1834/35. [Bavarikon]

[5] Jahresbericht über die Königliche Landwirthschafts- und Gewerbsschule in Kempten. 1839/40. [Bavarikon]

[6] Jahresbericht über die Königliche Landwirthschafts- und Gewerbs-Schule...1837/38. [Bavarikon]

[7] A Century of Precision Instruments, Commercial America Vol. 51, 1954, p.29. [Google Books]   

[8] 150 Jahre Riefler [Internet Archive] 

[9] Contributions to Education, Volume 511, Teachers College, Columbia University, 1932, p.179.

[10] Riefler's Vasenkopf patent, Kunst- und Gewerbeblatt...Koningreich Bayern 1850, p.656. [Bavarikon]

[11] Beschreibung neuen Zirkel-Vasenkopfes mit Kugel-bewegung; Kunst- und Gewerbeblatt des Polytechnischen Vereins für das Koningreich Bayern 1853, p.690-691. plate XV1. [Bavarikon]

[12] Kemptner Zeitung. 1850 = Jg. 67 1850. p.84 [Bavarikon], Augsburger Tagblatt. 1850,1/6 = Jg. 21 1850,1/6, p,532 [Bavarikon].  

[13] Königlich Bayerischer Polizey-Anzeiger von München 1854, p.215 [Bavarikon] 

[14] Sylvester Kirby Stevens - 1948 Pennsylvania: Titan of Industry, Vol. 2, p.18-20. [Google Books] 

[15] A Century of Precision Instruments, Commercial America Vol. 51, 1954, p.29. [Google Books]  

[16] 'Alteneder pattern', The American Engineer, Vol. 20, 1890, p. 217. [HathiTrust]

[17] McElroy's 1853 Philadelphia city directory [Internet Archive]