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Vlim · 01-09-2008, 07:10 AM

Some background info on the American link:

Ludwig Loewe: a report written on the 30th of December, 1870. This report was written after he spent some 3 months in the USA, studying American production methods.

(Translated from German)

"The idea our company had and that had not been implemented in Europe at all was present on a very large scale there. All important producers, a large number of them exists there, specialize in producing one system and they constantly look for the most efficient way to produce the largest volumes possible. This means they are constantly developing machinery that can perform these repeating tasks autonomously and this insures they are not depending on the good will and the technical skills of every individual worker. The technical aids they have at their disposal go far beyond the imagination of any german machine builder; from the largest machine up to the smallest tool, everything is part of a uniform system which has been optimized to the smallest detail with the upmost care.

The means, which are needed to create such an environment must be, as a result, enourmous. But the performance of these factories is equally large. Even the layman will understand this when he hears the figures; we visited a factory which produced 1,000 machines a day, several others which made 500 machines a day and some, who also produced less, up to 100 machines a day. We found none whose production was so low as the maximum of our companies, 50 - 75 machines a day, and our factory is supposed to be the largest in Europe."

Ludwig Loewe, report on his visit to the USA between 25th of january 1870 and the 3rd of april, 1870. Complete report published in "Die Rationalisierung im Deutschen Werkzeugmaschinenbau", 1924. Partially reprinted in "Die Geschichte der Ludw. Loewe & Co. Actiengesellschaft Berlin - 60 Jahre Edelarbeit 1869 bis 1929", 1929.

The Mauser brothers also had access to American products and developments. Their brother Franz Mauser moved to the USA in 1853 and worked for the Remington company until his death in 1893. A Remington representative, Samual Norris, in turn spent his days in Europe representing the company products during European trials. This resulted in a period of 3 years where the Mauser brothers worked for Samual Norris and Remington until 1869/1870.

Guenther Quandt, who took over the wheel of the DWM / Mauser conglomerate in 1928, also spent a lot of time in the USA, visiting companies and researching production methods.

Of course, Hugo Borchardt spent a lot of time in the USA, even became an American citizen before he returned to Europe and ended his days working for Loewe, later DWM.

01-09-2008, 07:10 AM	#22
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,032 Thanks: 1,018 Thanked 3,873 Times in 1,184 Posts	Some background info on the American link: Ludwig Loewe: a report written on the 30th of December, 1870. This report was written after he spent some 3 months in the USA, studying American production methods. (Translated from German) "The idea our company had and that had not been implemented in Europe at all was present on a very large scale there. All important producers, a large number of them exists there, specialize in producing one system and they constantly look for the most efficient way to produce the largest volumes possible. This means they are constantly developing machinery that can perform these repeating tasks autonomously and this insures they are not depending on the good will and the technical skills of every individual worker. The technical aids they have at their disposal go far beyond the imagination of any german machine builder; from the largest machine up to the smallest tool, everything is part of a uniform system which has been optimized to the smallest detail with the upmost care. The means, which are needed to create such an environment must be, as a result, enourmous. But the performance of these factories is equally large. Even the layman will understand this when he hears the figures; we visited a factory which produced 1,000 machines a day, several others which made 500 machines a day and some, who also produced less, up to 100 machines a day. We found none whose production was so low as the maximum of our companies, 50 - 75 machines a day, and our factory is supposed to be the largest in Europe." Ludwig Loewe, report on his visit to the USA between 25th of january 1870 and the 3rd of april, 1870. Complete report published in "Die Rationalisierung im Deutschen Werkzeugmaschinenbau", 1924. Partially reprinted in "Die Geschichte der Ludw. Loewe & Co. Actiengesellschaft Berlin - 60 Jahre Edelarbeit 1869 bis 1929", 1929. The Mauser brothers also had access to American products and developments. Their brother Franz Mauser moved to the USA in 1853 and worked for the Remington company until his death in 1893. A Remington representative, Samual Norris, in turn spent his days in Europe representing the company products during European trials. This resulted in a period of 3 years where the Mauser brothers worked for Samual Norris and Remington until 1869/1870. Guenther Quandt, who took over the wheel of the DWM / Mauser conglomerate in 1928, also spent a lot of time in the USA, visiting companies and researching production methods. Of course, Hugo Borchardt spent a lot of time in the USA, even became an American citizen before he returned to Europe and ended his days working for Loewe, later DWM.