Graetz AG

Graetz AG was a German manufacturing company and consumer-electronics brand founded in 1948 by Erich Graetz and Fritz Graetz in Altena, in the British occupation zone of postwar Germany. It was established as a successor to the family enterprise Ehrich & Graetz, a Berlin metalworking and lighting manufacturer founded in 1866 by Albert Graetz and Emil Ehrich. The postwar company concentrated primarily on radios and televisions, while also continuing production of the Petromax pressure lamp associated with the Graetz family. The earlier Ehrich & Graetz business had begun with kerosene lamps, burners and cookers for liquid and gaseous fuels. Its product range later expanded into electrical appliances and radio equipment. The company became internationally active before the First World War, with establishments in the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Bombay in British India. Between approximately 1910 and 1916, Max Graetz developed the Petromax lantern, a pressure lamp that became one of the best-known products connected with the Graetz name. Both world wars substantially affected the original Berlin operation. During the First World War, the factory was converted in part to military production, including ammunition-related components and a spirit-fuelled emergency lamp developed in response to petroleum shortages. During the Second World War, the company formed part of the German war economy and used forced laborers from several countries. Jewish forced laborers were deported from the plant during the February 1943 Fabrikaktion. The Berlin factory was seized by Soviet forces in 1945 and initially resumed production of basic metal goods such as pots and pans. After Berlin was divided, the original factory site in East Berlin was incorporated into the East German state-industrial system. It became VEB Graetz-Werk in 1948, then VEB Fernmeldewerk Treptow in 1950, and was merged into the state telecommunications and signaling enterprise later known as WSSB in 1953. The site subsequently came under Siemens after German reunification. Graetz AG represented the West German continuation of the family business. Its radios and televisions benefited from the postwar expansion of consumer ownership during the Wirtschaftswunder. In 1952, a research group within the company was separated to form Graetz Strahlungsmeßtechnik GmbH, a specialist business making radiation-measurement equipment such as Geiger counters. That company continued operating in Altena according to the referenced historical material. Graetz AG was sold in 1961 to Standard Elektrik Lorenz AG, commonly known as SEL, which was then part of the ITT group. In 1987, ownership passed to Nokia. The available reference material does not establish the current operating status of Graetz AG as a standalone company or provide a current consumer product catalog. The Graetz name nevertheless remains historically associated with German radios, televisions, pressure lamps, lighting equipment and specialist radiation-measurement technology.

The Graetz name originated with Ehrich & Graetz, a metalworking and lighting business founded in Berlin in 1866 by Albert Graetz and Emil Ehrich. Initially operating as Lampen-Fabrik Ehrich & Graetz OHG, the company manufactured kerosene lamps, burners and cookers using wood alcohol, paraffin, town gas, propane and natural gas. Under Albert Graetz's sons Max and Adolf, the enterprise expanded rapidly and built a large factory complex on Elsenstrasse in 1899. It also developed overseas establishments in the United States, France, Britain and Bombay. The company entered electrical manufacturing during the 1920s, producing radios and other appliances under the Graetzor name. Fritz Graetz assumed management in 1928. Max Graetz's work on the Petromax pressure lamp, developed approximately between 1910 and 1916, created a durable product association that survived the later division of the business. The First World War brought military conversion and shortages of petroleum. The factory produced ammunition-related parts and other military materials, while also making a spirit-fuelled emergency lamp that could be fitted to existing petroleum-lamp reservoirs. During the Second World War, Ehrich & Graetz again participated in war production and used forced laborers from multiple countries. Jewish forced laborers were removed from the plant during the February 1943 Fabrikaktion. Soviet forces took control of the factory in April 1945. Production resumed late in 1945 with basic metal goods. Following the division of Berlin, the original plant was located in East Berlin and was nationalized. It was designated VEB Graetz-Werk in February 1948, renamed VEB Fernmeldewerk Treptow in February 1950, and merged with VEB Signalbau Berlin in July 1953 to create the enterprise later known as Werk für Signal- und Sicherungstechnik Berlin. After reunification, Siemens acquired the former site. In the western occupation zone, Erich and Fritz Graetz founded Graetz AG in Altena in 1948. This company became a postwar producer of radios and televisions and continued manufacturing Petromax lamps. Its growth coincided with the West German economic recovery. A technical research group became the separate Graetz Strahlungsmeßtechnik GmbH in 1952, producing radiation-measurement devices including Geiger counters. Graetz AG was sold to Standard Elektrik Lorenz AG in 1961 and ultimately came under Nokia ownership in 1987. The available sources do not document a complete later chronology, current management, or a confirmed standalone operating status.

1. 1987Nokia ownership begins

   Ownership of Graetz passed to Nokia.

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2. 1961Acquisition by Standard Elektrik Lorenz

   Graetz AG was sold to Standard Elektrik Lorenz AG, then part of the ITT group.

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3. 1952Radiation-measurement subsidiary established

   Graetz Strahlungsmeßtechnik GmbH was formed from an internal research group.

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4. 1948Graetz AG founded in Altena

   Erich and Fritz Graetz established the western successor company in Altena.

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5. 1928Fritz Graetz takes over management

   Fritz Graetz assumed management of the family enterprise.

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6. 1925Expansion into radios and electrical appliances

   The business began producing radios and other electrical equipment under the Graetzor name.

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7. 1910Petromax development period begins

   Max Graetz developed the pressure lamp later known as Petromax during the approximately 1910–1916 period.

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8. 1899Large Elsenstrasse factory complex built

   The rapidly expanding business built a major factory complex in Berlin's Elsenstrasse.

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9. 1866Ehrich & Graetz founded in Berlin

   Albert Graetz and Emil Ehrich established the Lampen-Fabrik Ehrich & Graetz OHG, the predecessor of the later Graetz brand.

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Historically positioned as a German engineering and consumer-electronics manufacturer, combining mass-market radios and televisions with lighting products and specialist technical equipment.

• PetromaxPressure lamp

  Petromax was a pressure-operated lamp developed by Max Graetz during the early twentieth century. It became the most recognizable product associated with the Graetz family and was produced in substantial quantities by the postwar Graetz AG in Altena. The lamp used pressurized fuel and a mantle to generate bright illumination, making it useful where electric lighting was unavailable.

• Graetz radiosConsumer electronics1925

  Radios became a central product of the postwar Graetz AG and reflected the company's transition from traditional metal and lighting manufacture into consumer electronics. Earlier radio production had been associated with the Graetzor name. The available sources do not identify individual models or a complete chronology of the range.

• Graetz televisionsConsumer electronics

  Television production was one of the principal activities of Graetz AG after its 1948 establishment in Altena. The business participated in the expansion of West German household electronics during the postwar economic boom. Specific television model names and launch dates are not established by the supplied reference material.

• Radiation-measurement instrumentsScientific and industrial equipment1952

  Graetz Strahlungsmeßtechnik GmbH originated from a Graetz research group in 1952 and produced radiation-measurement equipment, including Geiger counters. The specialist activity became distinct from the mainstream radio and television business and was reported as continuing in Altena.

• 1987Transfer of ownership to NokiaM&A

  The Graetz business had been under Standard Elektrik Lorenz and the wider ITT ownership structure since 1961.

  What changed. Ownership of Graetz passed to Nokia of Finland.

  Aftermath. Nokia became the reported owner of the Graetz brand, although the supplied sources do not establish the subsequent standalone operating structure.

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• 1961Sale to Standard Elektrik LorenzM&A

  Graetz AG was operating as a German radio and television manufacturer in the postwar electronics market.

  What changed. The company was sold to Standard Elektrik Lorenz AG, which was then part of the ITT group.

  Aftermath. Graetz became part of a larger telecommunications and electronics corporate structure.

  Source
• 1952Creation of a radiation-measurement specialist businessStrategy

  Graetz maintained research capabilities beyond its consumer-electronics operations.

  What changed. An internal research group was organized as Graetz Strahlungsmeßtechnik GmbH to develop radiation-measurement equipment.

  Aftermath. The specialist company continued as a distinct Altena-based activity according to the supplied historical reference.

  Source
• 1948Establishment of a western successor companyStrategy

  The original Berlin factory was located in the Soviet occupation zone after the war and was subsequently incorporated into East Germany's state-owned industrial system.

  What changed. Erich and Fritz Graetz founded Graetz AG in Altena and focused the new company on radios, televisions and continued Petromax production.

  Aftermath. The Altena company became the western continuation of the family brand, while the Berlin site followed a separate East German industrial history.

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• 1943Forced labor and deportation at the wartime Berlin factoryControversy

  The original Ehrich & Graetz factory used forced laborers from Germany, France, Russia and the Netherlands during the Second World War. Jewish forced laborers were deported from the factory during the February 1943 Fabrikaktion. These events form part of the historical record of the predecessor business associated with the Graetz name.

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• 1987Graetz ownership transferred to Nokia

  The Graetz business or brand came under the ownership of Finnish telecommunications and electronics company Nokia.

  M&A
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• 1961Graetz AG sold to Standard Elektrik Lorenz

  Graetz AG was acquired by Standard Elektrik Lorenz AG, then associated with the ITT group.

  M&A
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• 1952Graetz Strahlungsmeßtechnik separated from the company

  A research group within Graetz was organized as Graetz Strahlungsmeßtechnik GmbH, specializing in radiation-measurement equipment.

  Other
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• 1948Graetz AG established in Altena as a successor to the Berlin family business

  Erich and Fritz Graetz established the postwar Graetz AG in Altena after the original Berlin factory had been lost to the Soviet occupation zone.

  Other
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1. Ehrich & Graetz