Das Gasapparat- und Gusswerk Akt.-Ges. Mainz Im Kriegsjahre 1918: Ein Gedenkblatt Zur Erinnerung An Das 75 Jähr. Bestehen Der Fabrik
Mainz: Gasapparat- und Gusswerk Akt.-Ges, 1918. First edition. Hardcover. Oblong Octavo. 14pp, 113 plates. Original padded brown pebbled boards with gilt lettering on cover. Decorative endpapers. Memorial publication on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Gas Device and Casting Factory AG in the war year 1918. Founded in 1843 during the time of recovery after the Napoleonic Wars the company produced a wide array of lamps and decorative craft items as well as heating devices fending off the fierce French and English competition over time to establish itself in Germany.
The accompanying text is delivered in stark patriotic tones: "Today the grown Germany fights the decisive battle for its place at the sun, for its existence, for its future. "The bells of fate ring with a dull buzz." What was diligently created over decades by the German people is in danger to be destroyed. That's the reason all of Germany stands armed for the holy battle "to be or not to be." But the armies, however big they may be, won't accomplish it alone. We recognize more and more that the modern war is decided by the perfect armament technology in its service. Our company is honored to be part of this major apparatus working for the relief of the fatherland..."
The production of lamps and decorative art was abruptly stopped when the war broke out. The conversion to the production of armaments was accomplished in short order and the workers trained accordingly. Women had to fill in when male workers were drafted by the army. The workforce in 1918 consisted of two thirds women and one third of men. At the beginning of the war mines, grenades and mortars were produced, then the factory focused on detonators, and the text of the book follows the production of these detonators through the whole factory, step by step. The descriptions is somewhat literary, mentions air raid alarms and the subsequent shutdown of the factory. Chapters on security measures and the human resources conclude the company history followed by patriotic closing words.
The 113 plates of b/w offset reproductions of photographs provide an in-depth view of the offices, the productions facilities of the factory and the dining hall as well as the welfare dining room, the transportation fleet, the powder magazine, the air raid bunker, and the factory fire department. Text in German. Binding with light wear along edges and light fraying at head of spine, light scuffing at tail, and rubbed. Starting at inside front cover with 14 page text part and first photographic plate lose with some staining along gutter. Partially starting at inside back cover. Binding in overall fair condition and shaky, photographic part in very good condition. fair to vg. Item #45176
Price: $475.00