IDENTITY STATEMENT
Reference code(s): GB 0074 LMA/4015
Held at: London Metropolitan Archives
Title: FALK STADELMANN AND COMPANY LIMITED {LAMP AND MANTLE WHOLESALER AND MANUFACTURERS, GAS AND ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE MANUFACTURERS}
Date(s): 1887-2007
Level of description: Collection
Extent: 1.46 linear metres
Name of creator(s): Falk Stadelmann and Company Limited | manufacturers of heating and lighting equipment x Falks Limited x Falk Industries Limited
CONTEXT
Administrative/Biographical history:
The company is described in the Post Office Directory of 1888 as glass manufacturers and importers of gas fittings, paraffin lamps, glasses, chimneys, gasburners. It was established in 1881 and was incorporated as a limited company in 1887. Around 1880, Falk Stadelmann immigrated to London from Hochberg, Germany. The directors of the company were Mr S. Guiterman (Chairman), Salomon Falk (Managing Director), and Bernhardt Thurnauer (permanent Director). It was a private company in 1908. By 1914, the company (with around 900 employees) was a manufacturer of all material associated with lighting and heating, with their specialities being oil lamps, gas mantles and electric lamps. By 1920, it became one of the largest oils companies in Britain. The German 'Veritas' trademark was made available to Falk Stadelmann in London, and during the inter-war years it became a major brand (the company marketed all kinds of wick and candle lamp). In 1928, it was reverted to a public company. By 1930, it employed around 3,000 people.
The company suffered poor trading years in the late 1960s, causing it to go into decline. It was taken over by Jessel Investments in the 1960s, and Jessel Securities acquired Falks Industries (including its subsidiaries Stoves Limited and Falks Veritas) in 1970. The company changed its name to Falks Limited in 1962 and to Falks Industries Limited in 1970. Subsidiary companies included Falks Heating Limited and Falks (N.Z.) Limited (until 1951 known as Welsbach Light Company of Australasia Limited).
By the 1960s and 70s, the company manufactured incandescent gas mantles, electric cables, electric bells and bell indicators, neon luminous cable signs, lighting fixtures, industrial light reflectors, heating and cooking appliances for gas, and electricity and petroleum.
Addresses:
1887- 1888 Mar: 43 Farringdon Road; 1888-1890: 68A Cowcross Street Smithfield (Oil trade counter moved to Cowcross Street/ Gas department, offices, showroom, stock rooms and warehouse remains at 43 Farringdon Road); 1890-?: 83-93 Farringdon Road; 1970: 16 Finsbury Circus (when Jessel Securities take over).
CONTENT
Scope and content/abstract:
Records of Falk Stadelmann and Company Limited, manufacturers of heating and lighting equipment, 1887-1980. The records include minute books, resolutions/declarations, reports/accounts, registers, letter books, ledgers, catalogues and brochures, journals and newsletters, historical notes, memorandum and articles of association/related papers, a signature book, and annual returns.
ACCESS AND USE
Language/scripts of material: English
System of arrangement:
LMA/4015/01: Corporate; LMA/4015/02: Shares; LMA/4015/03: Administration; LMA/4015/04: Finance; LMA/4015/05: Sales and advertising; LMA/4015/06: Staff and employment; LAM/4015/07: History; LMA/4015/FH01: Falks Heating Limited: Corporate; LMA/4014/FH02: Falks Heating Limited: Finance; LMA/4015/FN01: Falks (NZ) Limited: Corporate; LMA/4015/FN02: Falks (NZ) Limited: Shares; LMA/4015/FN03: Falks (NZ) Limited: Finance.
Conditions governing access:
These records are available for public inspection, although records containing personal information are subject to access restrictions under the UK Data Protection Act, 1998.
Conditions governing reproduction:
Copyright rests with the City of London.
Physical characteristics:
Fit
Finding aids:
Please see online catalogues at: http://search.lma.gov.uk/opac_lma/index.htm
ARCHIVAL INFORMATION
Archival history:
The records formed part of the archive of Jessel Securities Limited which was distributed by the Business Archives Council in 1997.
Immediate source of acquisition:
Deposited in multiple accessions in 1997, 2003 and 2008.
ALLIED MATERIALS
Related material:
Other records from the archive went to Tyne and Wear Archives (W. France Fenwick and Company Limited) and Merseyside Maritime Museum (Sandbach Tinne and Company Limited and Demerara Company Limited).
DESCRIPTION NOTES
Date(s) of descriptions: July to October 2009