I like to present you an informative research’s result on a recently answered topic; look here:
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Sorry there fore, that I’ve waited now more then two weeks to answer: I had the impression of me, that I’m not competent enough there fore; also because I don’t know Danish — but now I’ve made an attempt, assisted by my knowledge of Dutch and German. I hope that my research and results would be correct as it could be. Please apologize; maybe I’ve made some misinterpretations.
Thank you all!
Here follows a — not dated — report on the Danish Plated Company Madsen & T. Baagøe, in Copenhagen:
Madsen & T. Baagøe
Elektroplet- og Nysølvvaarefabrik
KØBENHAVN
Fabrikationen af Electroplet opnaaede her i Landet først for ca. 40 Ar siden nogen Betydning, men voksede i Aarenes Løb saaledes op, at Produktionen herhejemme, navnlig i de sidste 10 Ar, har advikletsig til en betydelig Industrigren,der beskjæftiger et ret anséligt Antal Arbejdere.
De danske Frembringelser paa dette Omraade have ogsaa opnaaet en Fuldkommenhed saavel i Henseende til Forarbeidelse, der bliver hver enkelt Gjenstand til Del, fremfor de fra Udlandet indforte Electropletvarer.
De Fleste ville vistnok — ialfald af Navn — kende det „gode gamle engelske Plet“, der fra Aarhundreders Begyndelse og omtrent de paafolgende 40 Aar importeredes hertil. Disse fortrinlige , solide og smukt forarbejdede Gjenstande findes endnu i adskillige Hjem, men de Færeste tænke paa, at disse Sager dengang blev betald med Priser, som nu umuligt kunde opnaas i den almindelige Handel. Det var derfor kun de velhavende Huse, der kunde anskaffe denne Luksus , og de gamle simple Jerngafler vare endnu ikke afløste af de elegante sølvlignende Electroplet-Gafler. Forholdene have siden den Tid aldeles forandret sig, saaledes ad det solideste og smukkeste Fabrikat nu frembringes herhjemme, og det billige og mindre gode importeres, ja, saavidt ere vi i de seneste Ar naaet, at Eksporten af dansk Electroplet har taget et Opsving, som tegner til at blive af virkelig Betydning, og det har vist sig, at vi f. Eks. I Sverig, Norge og Finland dristig kunne optage og tildels fortrænge Konkurrensen met det engelske og tyske Fabrikat. — Ved saaledes at udvide Markedet for denne smukke Industrigren, er man naaet til at fremstille Varen saa billigt, at Electroplet ikke mere er en Luksus-, men en Nødvendighedsartikel, der findes i ethvert Hjem.
Blandt der Fabrikanter, der have bidraget til at hæve denne forholdsvis nye Industri til sit nuværende Standpunkt, indtager Firmaet Madsen & T. Bagøe ubestrideligt en særlig fremragende Plads, og navnlig er det dette Firmas Energi og Dygtighed, der har skabt os et Marked i Utlandet.
Firmaet begyndte sin Virksomhed i 1874 under meget beskedne Forhold ved hovedsagelig at indføre udenlandske Pletvarer og kun fabrikere saadanne solidere Gjenstande, hvor den sværere Sølvbelægning tjente til at grundlægge den Tillid, som Madsen & T. Baagøe i Aarenes Løb erhvervede sig, en Tillid som i særlig Grad er nødvendig i denne Branche fremfor i nogen anden.
Det varede dog ikke længe, inden Værkstederne fik deres første Udvidelse, men Opsvinget begyndte dog navnlig ved Anskaffelsen af forbedrede Maskiner og Værktøier i 1882. Allerede 3 Aar senere viste det sig nødvendigt yderligere at udvide Fabriken, og denne blev i 1885 henflyttet til sin nuværende Plads i Tordenskjoldsgade Nr. 30. Samtidigt anskaffedes en store Gasmotor, kraftigere Svingpresser o. s. v., og Fabrikationen kom nu til fald Udvikling, saaledes at 40 — 50 Arbejdere stadigt beskæftigedes, medens man maatte lade Gravørere, Ciselørerere og et større Antal Poleresker arbeide udenfor Fabriken. — Fabrikationen er en af de interessanteste, men maaske mest compliceerede af alle Industrigrene, idet Handværket, Chemien, Maskiner og Værktøjer af alle Arter anvendes til Fremstillingen af de mange smukke og ofte værdifulde Gjenstanden. Der beskæftiges derfor baade Tegnere, Metaltrykkere, Metaldrejere, Slibere, Bestikarbejdere, Monteurer, Galvanoplastikere, Gravørere, Støbere, Polerere o. s. v. Foruden Arbejdere til at betjene særlige Maskiner af forskjellig Art.
Firmaets Couvert-Artikler (Skeer, Gafler og hvad derunder henhører) ere almindelig velbekjendte for deres smukke Forarbejdelse og store Holdbarhed, og Fabriksmærket M.&T.B. er saa godt indført hos Publikum, at der i Skandinavien næppe findes mange Guldsmede, der ikke føre Skeer og Gafler med dette renommerede Stempel. Madsen & T. Baagøe ere Indehavere af flere Patenter paa forbedrede Forsølvningsmethoder, hvorved Sølvbelægningen gjøres sværere paa de for Slid særligt udsatte Steder af Skeer, Gafler o. s. v.
De næsten utallige andre Artikler, - Servicer, Bordopsatser, Plat-Menager, Brødkurve, Stager, Presentérbakker etc. -, hvoraf der for hver Artikels Vedkommende stadigt fremstilles nye Mønstre, deels passende for Smagen herhjemme og deels Eksporten, have paa Grund af den altid smagfulde Stil og omhyggelige Forarbejdelse, selv for ganske billige Gjenstandes Vedkommende, saaledes vundet Publikum for sig, at Firmaet utvivlsomt kan siges at have den største Omsætning i denne Branche i Skandinavien. I en Aarrække har Fabriken været Leverandør til den danske Marine, og saagodt som alle større Hôteler, Bade-Etablissementer og Restaurants ere monterede af Madsen & T. Baagøe.
Det aarlige Sølvforbrug andrager ca. 2 Centner Chem. rent Sølv.
Samtlige Arbejdere ere for Firmaets Regning forsikrede i „Hafnia“ mod Ulykkestilfælde.
Madsen & T. Baagøe Factory Interior (Date unknown)
Here follows my translation from Danish:
Madsen & T. Baagøe
Electro Plated & Nickel Silver Ware Factory
Copenhagen
The manufacture of Electro Plated obtained in this country only for some 40 year since no significance; but grew in the course of years, following up the country’s internal production; especially in the last 10 year has developed to a significant industrial sector, which occupied a fairly considerable number of workers.
The Danish productions in this activity have also been achieved perfection; both in regard to manufactures, which will give each object, the appearances and quality, as those from abroad, imported Electro Plated Products.
Most people would probably - at any rate by name - know the "good old English Sheffield Plated" that beginning of the century and about then following 40 year was imported. These excellent, sturdy and beautifully processed objects are still in several homes; but if they remember that these things were then paid with prices, which are now impossible, could be achieved in the trade in general. It was therefore that only the wealthy houses could purchase this luxury; and for the other, the old simple iron forks had not yet replaced by the elegant silver-like electro plated forks. Conditions have since then completely changed; so along the solidest and beautifulness’ products are now generated at home; and the cheap and in quality inferior imports, yes, as far as we are in the last year have take notice, that export of Danish electro plated has taken an upturn, with promises to be of real significance; and it is proved that we for instance in Sweden, Norway and Finland bold capable of absorbing, and partly displace concurrences of the English and German products. - In order to expand the market for this beautiful Industry Branch, it is necessary to produce products so inexpensive, that electro plated products are no longer a luxury, but a necessary article, available in any home.
Among the manufacturers who have helped to highlight this relatively new industry to its current point of position, holds the company Madsen & T. Bagøe undeniably one of the highest places; and especially it is this company's energy and skill, that has made for us a market in the Foreign.
The company began its activities in 1874 under very modest circumstances by mainly introducing foreign electro plated goods; and only fabricated such special objects, where the harder silver lining served to sound the trust. A trust, so as Madsen & T. Baagøe in the course of years acquired. A confidence on a special level is required in this industry, rather than in any other.
It was not long before the shops had their first extension; but the recovery began, however, especially by acquisition of improved machinery and tools in 1882. Already 3 years later it became necessary to further expand the factory; and this was in 1885, transferred to its present place in Tordenskjoldsgade No. 30. Simultaneously was acquired a large gas engine, heavier flywheel presses, etc.; manufacturing became a appropriate development, so that 40 to 50 workers are still employed in the factory, meanwhile engravers, chaser and a larger number of polishers were home workers. - Manufacturing is one of the most interesting, but perhaps most complicated of all industries; with hands work, chemistry, machinery and tools of all kinds, used for the manufacture of many beautiful and often valuable objects. Employed therefore were designers, lathe operator, caster, turner, jointer and solders, grinders, galvanizer, engraver, chaser, and polisher, etc. Additional they’ve had workers who operated specific machinery of different kinds.
Company’s flatware-items (spoons, forks and what’s who ever) are generally well-known for their beautiful processed quality and high durability; and Company’s Brand M. & T.B. is so well established with the audience, that in Scandinavia hardly exist many. Nobody else was leader in spoons and forks, in relation to this well known Trademark. Madsen & T. Baagøe are holders of several patents on improved Galvanizing methods; whereby silver coating is done harder on those points of vulnerable wear and tear on spoons, forks etc
The almost innumerable other articles are Services, Place plates, Cruet-Sets, Bread Baskets, Candlesticks, Serving trays etc. - for every article they ever produced new patterns; partly suitable for the country’s taste, and partly export oriented. The reason there fore was, to have always a tasteful style and careful preparation, even for very cheap objects. So they won the audience for that. Company certainly can be said to have the largest turnover in this Industry in Scandinavia. In a series of years has the factory become Supplier to the Danish Navy; and as good as all, supplier of major Hotels, Bathing establishments and Restaurants. They all are equipped by Madsen & T. Baagøe.
The annual silver consumption is around 2 hundredweight chemically pure silver.
All workers are on the company's costs insured by "Hafnia" against accidents.
Source for Illustration and Danish version of text:
Industrieforeningens Bibliotek (Samling)
Danmarks Tekniske Universitetsbibliotek (DTUB) (Samling)
http://www.past.dk/artefacts/0000/0737.tkl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Kind regards silverport
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