In my last Viennese portrait I talked at the end a bit about charming Viennese gentlemen. Today I want to look more deeply into this topic with a portrait of the protectors of women all over the world – the brothers Settmacher. They produced thimbles in the 14th district (Penzing) to protect women in all continents and some men too.
Ferdinand I., Josef I., Franz I., Ferdinand II., Josef II. and Franz II. produced thimbles from 1863 onwards. That male name symmetry might have been a guarantee for symmetrical products. And what products: in national colours or with borders of hearts/waves/stars/lilies of the valley/bay leaves/vine leaves or with pictures for instance from Franzl via Sissi to the Karlskirche, with Petit-point embroidery or with Salzburger Band. A crystal heart on top of it or a thimble as a give away. Made of aluminium, brass, silver-coated, gold-plated. Small charming pieces of art!
It started when Ferdinand I, a locksmith from the Erzgebirge, came to Penzing and founded the “Metal Ware Firm Ferdinand Settmacher“. He produced thimbles and umbrella parts. His brother Josef moved to Penzing too and Franz followed them. When Josef died his sons Ferdinand II and Josef II started managing the firm. A well had been built and they produced electricity themselves with diesel oil and a diesel engine. Moreover they expanded the production. “One of the largest buyer was the czarist Russia. Every month 700,000 thimbles – only of one kind – went to Russia.” [1] They sold thimbles to other firms as well; these firms complemented their production with these thimbles. For instance the Nadelburg thimbles are anonymous Settmacher thimbles.
In economic difficult times give away thimbles came into fashion. In 1927 one model was produced 2202000 times.
After World War II Hilda Settmacher, the daughter of Josef II, tried to manage the firm. In 1846 she meets Franz Groiss. And it happens – they fall in love and he becomes Franz II. And as always the ones who come to a family from outside are the sincerest and most committed members what his wonderful book about the firm (please see sources) shows.
More thimbles? Pictures, pictures…
Settmacher-Sources:
[1] „Fingerhutfabrik in Wien, gegründet 1863 / Thimble Factory in Vienna, founded 1863“ edited by Franz Groiss (Franz II.), translation by O. Adelhofer and E. Jahn, Eigenverlag, Wien 1990
District Museum Penzing (Photo Settmacher thimbles in the Museum)
