PM&M [Germany / Saxony-Anhalt / Althaldensleben (Haldensleben) (01)]

The two independent villages of Althaldensleben ("Old Haldensleben") and Neuhaldensleben ("New Haldensleben") existed until 1938, when they were merged to form the town of Haldensleben. Schmelzer & Gericke was originally located in the Althaldensleben part of the town.

Friedrich Schmelzer (*1834-09-12 in Wiche/Unstrut, †1904-09-28 in Neuhaldensleben) spent most of his youth in the town of Calbe, where he later completed his commercial apprenticeship. From 1854 onwards, he worked as an accountant at the Siderolithfabrik Schulze & Bauermeister in Althaldensleben, before joining the Siderolithfabrik Raschke & Co. as a partner in early 1858.

When it became known that Raschke would retire in 1861, Schmelzer's father-in-law, August Gerike, stepped in, purchasing the rights from Raschke and securing the factory's future as its financial backer. This enabled Schmelzer to begin producing fine German earthenware in 1863, becoming the second producer after Steingutfabrik Witteburg in Bremen-Farge.

Shortly afterwards, pottery production was discontinued entirely and the related production facilities were sold to make room. This marked the first step towards the construction of the new earthenware factory, a process that was finalised shortly before Karl Gerike, a mechanical engineer and Schmelzer's brother-in-law, joined as a partner.

[1] Schmelzer & Gerike (1865 until 1932)

The company was able to benefit significantly from the construction of the Magdeburg-Oebisfelde railway. From 1868 onwards, it was enlarged and rebuilt several times, eventually becoming a popular model company.

Schmelzer strove to secure an excellent position for the company in overseas exports, with the support of the Hamburg export firm J.&M. Salomon, the company soon became the first German producer to compete with the English in the earthenware trade on the world market. This success was partly due to the constant effort to create tasteful shapes and lighter products that were still durable. Althaldensleben products were highly successful, eventually winning the gold medal at the Porto Allegro world fair in 1881 and the silver medal at the Antwerp world fair in 1886.

Following Friedrich Schmelzer's death in 1904, his sons, Friedrich jun. and Johannes, continued the business under the same name. By around 1907, the factory employed more than 1,000 workers and continued to grow. Schmelzer & Gerike was one of the first companies in the area to utilise a large steam engine; in 1917, Ascherslebener Maschinenbau Act.-Ges., vormals W. Schmidt & Co., delivered a two-cylinder steam engine with an output of 150 hp (which was quite a beast at that time).

The company undoubtedly had a decisive influence on the economic and infrastructural development of Althaldensleben in the second half of the 19th century. However, things quickly went downhill during the global economic crisis. Despite a brief struggle and continued exports of cereal bowls to the US until late 1929, the brothers were forced to close in 1932.

Comment(s)

One fact that may confuse people is that some items made by Schmelzer & Gerike represented the same style used by Schiller & Gerbing, and also featured a plain "S&G" mark (not shown here) that was strikingly similar to that of the Bohemian company. While the Schmelzer & Gericke mark is stamped onto the item, the Schiller & Gerbing mark is impressed. However, there are still enough people around who incorrectly attribute such items.

Marks