Part 2

When nineteen years of age he went to Paris in order to increase his stock of knowledge. There, in that capital of the World a greater range of vision was opened to him and he beheld the operation of that restless spirit of enterprise, which so mightily stirs the heart of the country. For the first time the youth was brought face to face with the enormous business carried on both with France and foreign lands and of which Paris is the centre. He surveyed the fruits of a free, active industry, the great highroads, upon which commerce flows from the mother country to distant lands, the realisation of a colossal traffic, which allows no article to escape its observation and flows in an ever moving wave between purchasers and consumers. Then his thoughts were carried back to his distant native land with its industry so cramped and fettered as to be altogether estranged from the great markets of the world and the possibility flashed across his mind, that matters might be rendered very different at home and native industry not only reconquer its honour and the renown of its pristine good name, but that it might also be led forth from its narrow prison and enabled to compete with the vigour and intelligence of the markets of the world and that it would thus ensure obtaining an honourable position.

At that time industrial life was in full activity at Paris, scarcely six years having elapsed since the revolution of July and Louis Philippe being firmly established on the constitutional citizen-throne.

Thus great hopes filled the breast of the young man and impelled him to follow up the ideas and plans of life he had adopted with all his energy.

After a sojourn of three years in Paris there fell upon him suddenly and unexpectedly, on the midst of his labours, the news of the death of his father and after first performing a previously contemplated journey to London, in order to enrich his store of knowledge and experience, he returned to his native land in August 1839.

Now was the time to carry out and realise all the ideas he had imbibed. The condition of his father’s manufactory was, as before stated, extremely unsatisfactory. Scarcely twenty workmen were employed and the annual business done amounted only to about 12000 florins. If that glorious future, which the young man had assigned to the manufactory in his imagination at Paris was to become a fact, it would involve carrying on a conflict with all the old perverted notions, to break with the cumbersome progress of former times and upon the ruins of the Nürnberg trade, which beheld itself excluded from the world’s market, to lay the foundations of a new commerce, which alone would be able to reconquer for the venerable commercial city of Nürnberg her ancient renown.

He was the man, who brought, in the first place certainly only the pencil manufacture, but therewith also native industry in general, into direct contact with the ideas of foreign countries.

Sure and gradual progress was however indispensable. The new proprietor adopted the device of:

“Truth, Respectability, Industry”

as the fundamental principle of his dealings, being firmly convinced, that no human undertaking, which aspires to a future and lasting success, can possibly exist, if it in any respect be based upon untruth, or at variance with that, which passes for right and respectable among men in general or, which ignores the duty of unwearying activity and energetic industry. These principles seemed to him all the more indispensable for his manufactory as he, by his position, rendered himself to a certain extent responsible for the weal and woe of so many souls.

The two brothers of the new proprietor had been destined by their father for other modes of occupation, there being at that time no prospect of the pencil manufacture maintaining them.

The present proprietor of the manufactory however, feeling confident of the success of his comprehensive schemes, took to himself in the year 1840 his second youngest brother =Johann Faber=, who at that time carried on an Hotel at Prague, in order to unite his activity with his own.

The pencils were then only manufactured in proportionally few and cheap sorts, but the new proprietor of the manufactory was soon induced to introduce finer sorts at proportionate prices.

While still at Paris he had endeavoured in every way by letters to his father to conduce towards the elevation of the manufactory and the improvement of the quality of the articles manufactured, but it was when he began to put his hands to the work himself that he first aimed at any material success.

These improved manufactures and especially his new so called Polygrade Pencils, which have met with the greatest renown especially among artists, were all marked with the name of the firm and, as they by reason of their increased price, the unavoidable consequence of improved quality, met with but little countenance among the Nürnberg merchants, the manufacturer travelled with them himself through Germany, Russia, Austria, Belgium, Holland, France, England, Italy and Switzerland and opened up business connexions with all the chief cities of Europe, which, with the continued improvements in his manufactures, soon found him a satisfactory custom and an ever increasing demand, important enough to raise itself above the narrow sphere of local interests.

In the interior of the manufactory two great improvements were undertaken, as nearly every year called for some new addition. In these new erections care was taken to construct them as roomy and light as possible, thus taking into consideration the health of the workmen and the fact that work is much better performed in sunny spacious rooms, than in gloomy dark vaults in which the air cannot be renewed, and that the pleasure and zest with which it is performed redounds to the benefit of the manufactory itself.

The countless departments of business, in which pencils are used, by degrees rendered an extensive and systematic classification necessary from the long easel-pencil to the smallest pocketbook-pencil.

The manufacture had, in consequence of its extensive foreign connexions, already become considerably improved and extended and the varying tastes, even the varying customs of the nations which used them, had to be taken into consideration. The manufacturer never ceased to study all wants, to subject his manufactures constantly to new trials, to avail himself of fresh experiences in order to surpass with his products all similar articles if possible.

The renown of his manufactures has penetrated to all parts of the world and it is not merely their widely extended use, that attests their excellence, but more especially the voice of those men, who make the greatest demands upon the manufactory. There are few Architects and Engineers who use any other article but _Faber’s pencils_, and the whole profession of artists has long since proclaimed A. W. _Faber’s_ pencil to be the very best for drawing purposes. Such men as _Cornelius_, _Kaulbach_, _Bendemann_, _Lessing_, _Horace Vernet_ have expressed themselves to this effect.

In accordance with this verdict is the result of the competition in the several industrial Exhibitions, both at home and abroad, in which _Faber’s_ pencils gained the victory all over all other manufactures of the same nature.

With the year 1849 a new era in the activity of the manufactory commenced. Ever since that year the products of the manufactory had met with recognition and custom in America and with the continued increase of the population it was to be assumed that the sale of the same would also constantly increase in importance, especially as the manufacture of leadpencils had not as yet taken firm root there and it therefore became a question of obtaining a generally acknowledged product of European manufacture, the excellence of which had been proved by the experience of years and its honest manufacture.

This induced the proprietor of the manufactory to establish a house at _New-York_ and entrust the management of the same to his youngest brother =Eberhard Faber=, who had just completed his study for the law at the universities of Berlin and Erlangen and was at that time engaged in acquiring the necessary mercantile knowledge in the establishment at Stein.

The trade with America thereby acquired a firm footing, the communication spite of the great distance became more regular and the connexion of the manufactory with the new world more close. As _England_, _France_, _Russia_, _Italy_ and the East had long since been open to _Faber’s_ manufactures, the idea of creating an universal trade appeared to be realised.

As in the American commercial metropolis, so also in Paris a house was founded, not merely to manage the important trade with France and the neighbouring countries, but also to minister to the fine tastes and elegant requirements of the French, which are of so much advantage to any product intrinsically excellent.

In like manner, in order to supply the requirements of _England_, _India_ and _Australia_, an agency was established in London in the year 1851 with M^{r.} _A. Heintzmann_, now _Heintzmann & Rochussen_, of N^o 9 Friday Street, City, E. C.

While thus the external relations of the manufactory continued steadily to extend themselves, its internal developement likewise advanced step by step.

On the very spot, where once the little house stood, the extensive factory premises are now erected on either side of the Rednitz, the water power of which river proving too insufficient and fluctuating, steam had to be called into requisition and a large engine erected.

As already stated, almost each year demanded an addition to the premises and considerable enlargements and alterations rendered necessary partly by the constantly increasing business and partly by sanatory or ornamental considerations, so that the very character of the locality underwent considerable change.

Gardens now enclose the whole establishment on three of its sides. In one of them stands the residence of the proprietor of the manufactory, _Lothar_, visible from afar by reason of the height of its situation and remarkable on account of the peculiarity of the style of its architecture; in the other the house of his younger brother, _Johann_, so that everything stands together in the closest connexion like the life of a large family.

The proprietor, while endeavouring in every way to advance all the ends of the manufactory in the most perfect manner, has not omitted to bear in mind at the same time the moral and material welfare of his workmen, whom he has accustomed himself to recognise as men and his fellow creatures.

In their interest there were in the first place factory rules drawn up, which regulated the duties and rights of the individual in the most precise manner and especially took cognisance of the moral conduct of the workman. They also gave the most diligent workmen and such as were more advanced in years, opportunities of increasing their income by ensuring them an increase of pay under certain conditions.

In order to awaken and encourage a spirit of frugality in the men and to render their future more comfortable and independant, a Workman’s Savings _Bank_ was instituted, with the following fundamental principles: Acceptance of the smallest deposit at any time; interest at four per cent to commence as soon as the deposit reaches the amount of five florins; deposits to be withdrawn only on account of some notoriously pressing necessity. This institution found immediate recognition and by degrees came into almost general favor, so that now many an individual, who formerly had to battle with economical cares, finds himself in the possession of a little property and rejoices in his wellregulated family affairs.

There is likewise a special fund for sickness.

A library has also been founded by the master of the manufactory, accessible both to the workman and his family and well used by them, at the same time too an infant school was started for the children of the work people. He likewise originated and supported with his own means the erection of a new schoolhouse, and embraced every opportunity of advancing the education therein.

The social life of the workmen was also taken into consideration and the taste for more elevating amusements, invigorating alike to soul and body, encouraged. Of an evening they would meet in two singing societies to indulge in the good German song, or on Sundays they would amuse themselves with the crossbow in the free, fresh air of God’s Nature in the neighbouring forest, or again on festive occasions they would all meet together like one large united family for a sociable convivial repast.

Finally, care was also taken that the workman should mix with the world outside the factory, for which purpose a number of them were sent by the master of the factory to the Industrial Exhibition at Munich in order that they might themselves see the fruit of their labour publicly exposed to view and honorably mentioned, and at the same time obtain a glimpse of other branches of industry.

Further, in order to provide new dwellings for the workmen a large building was erected, of pleasing external proportions, and other buildings were converted into workmen’s dwellings. The houses themselves contain separate apartments, which afford the families at a low rent a much pleasanter abode than could be obtained in most of the houses in the towns. Nor is there any constraint; the houses are open to any body and the domestic regulations introduced in the interests of the community are of that nature, that they are cheerfully complied with by everyone. Thus there reigns in these premises a spirit of order and contentment, which alone can make life agreeable.

The village of _Stein_ did not formerly possess any church. For years all exertions to found a separate parish there remained fruitless, until at last the year 1861 brought their reward and in that year, in which the manufactory celebrated its hundredth anniversary, the peaceful clang of the bells for the first time invited the faithful to divine service in the newly erected church, the cost of which had been defrayed by the master of the factory entirely from his own means, out of concern for the spiritual welfare of his workpeople and attachment to his own native place.

The formerly neglected little village has assumed quite a different appearance since then. From afar the slender gothic steeple of the church may be seen rearing its pinnacle proudly aloft, while the smoke of the surrounding shafts tell of busy industry and labour. The former picture of want has given place to a certain degree of wealth and the little garden of the humble house been converted into two large parks.

Simultaneously however with this prosperity in general the manufactory had of course to experience some unpleasant incidents and obstinate struggles. The universal demand for _Faber’s_ manufactures was not slow in inducing other manufacturers to imitate and pirate the trademark of the manufactory, which is to be found on all articles manufactured there, and thus to pass off upon the public spurious goods possessing nothing more than the external similarity to the genuine articles, and which could scarcely aspire to mediocrity, which frauds were often repeated, coming to light in various countries.

The manufacturing firm of Rubenstein at Moscow adopted the plan of making use of _Faber’s_ trademark and wrappers for their own manufactures and then to circulate them in the Russian market. These malpractises were carried on for a length of time in spite of every exertion to put a stop to them and the prohibition which the Russian Governement issued against the firm in question. Manufactures with spurious trademarks were constantly turning up in Russia until King _Maximilian_ of Bavaria during his protracted stay at Nürnberg in the year 1855 suppressed the evil. His lively interest for reviving industry had already induced him to decorate the proprietor of the manufactory with the order of merit of St. Michael, firstclass, in the year 1854, on which occasion he likewise honoured the factory at _Stein_ with a visit and made himself acquainted with all the details of its operations from the mouth of the manager of the factory, and as at that time these malpractises were brought before his notice he gave the matter all his attention and promised some assistance.

Nor had we to wait long for this, for shortly afterwards _Lothar Faber_ received a communication from the State ministry of the Royal House and Foreign affairs, stating, that, by the intervention of the Royal Bavarian Embassy at St. Petersburg, the evil had been put a stop to by the Russian Government; all the articles marked with _Faber’s_ trademark together with the stamp destroyed, and the manager of the Russian manufactory compelled to give assurance in writing that he would no longer pirate _Faber’s_ trademark, in default rendering himself liable to legal penalties.

In New-York similar frauds were also carried on. Pencils manufactured in Nürnberg with _Faber’s_ trademark and in precise imitations of his wrappers were imported and sold by the firm of Winterhoff, Piper & C^{o.}. Complaint having been made, the Customhouse at New-York, at the instance of the examiner appointed for the department of “Literature, Writingmaterials and fine Arts”, detained one case of these spurious articles, whereupon the courts of law prohibited all further sale in the town and county of New-York.

A still more cunning fraud was perpetrated at Nürnberg. A deaf and dumb lithographer by name Georg Wolfgang Faber was put forward, whose name was to be made use of. The similarity of the surname and wrapper exactly copied from those of _Faber’s_ manufactory were sufficient to make the public believe that they really had the genuine article from _Faber’s_ manufactory before them. On the intervention of the authorities, whom _Lothar Faber_ put in motion, the reputed manufacturer was subjected to an examination, which proved him to be altogether incapable of producing such a thing as a serviceable article and shewed that he had only lent his name to other speculators, whereupon the Royal Government of middle Franconia withdrew the licence for pencil making from the said G. W. Faber.

Proceedings were likewise taken against a Pencilmanufacturer at Fulda, who had manufactured and circulated upwards of seven thousand dozen leadpencils with the false stamp “A. W. Faber”. The Criminal Court of the Electorate of Hesse in a decision dated 2^{nd} September 1856, condemned the defendant, on account of fraud, to a pecuniary fine of 50 Thalers and further to four weeks imprisonment, a decision, which the supreme Court of Appeal at Cassel absolutely confirmed. Similar events took place in other countries with like results.

As the proprietor of the factory has hitherto proceeded against many persons at home and abroad who had attempted to manufacture and sell pencils in imitation of those of his firm he will further use all his efforts to suppress every deception foisted upon the public.

In the meanwhile the manufactory assiduously endeavoured to attain to perfection in its products. As the stock of blacklead began to disappear in the mines of Cumberland, it succeeded, by its perfected manipulation of the material, in producing so many grades of hardness and supplying such an extensive variety of pencil, that no demand could present itself without meeting with satisfaction among the great choice of manufactures.

In the opinion of connoisseurs the finest sorts even surpass the best Cumberland leadpencils in their lasting and uniform degrees of hardness, their greater firmness and durability as also in the increased purity of the lead. In addition to this they possess such an amount of softness and delicacy, as to be able to stand comparison in this and every particular with the Cumberland pencils. Besides this, and in addition to several other improvements relating to their external appearance, the most useful and ornamental shapes for pencils of the finer descriptions were devised and introduced, and still more recently the socalled “_Artist’s pencils_” were added to the list of novelties and immediately met with the most universal recognition, which soon stimulated other manufacturers to attempt imitations.

In the midst of these exertions the news was suddenly received, that that, which the English had so long sought for and which the perfected system of manufacture still stood much in need of in order to yield more than was previously possible, had been found. A new blacklead mine had been discovered. _Johann Peter Alibert_, merchant of the first class at Tabasthus in Siberia, had undertaken an exploring expedition in the mountainous eastern portion of Siberia, partly to search for gold. He examined the sand of the rivers Oka, Belloi, Kitoi and Irkutsk, and in one of the mountain ravines in the vicinity of Irkutsk lighted accidentally upon specimens of pure blacklead. _Alibert_ immediately recognised the value and importance of the material and instituted strict investigations until in the year 1847 after much labor and exertion he arrived at the conviction that, in a branch of the mountain range of Saian among the heights of the Batougol mountains four hundred versts westward of the town of Irkutsk, close to the frontier of China, a primitive deposit of blacklead must exist. He addressed himself at once to the task of opening a mine in order to bring the costly material to the surface.

At first the blacklead met with proved to be no better than the refuse Cumberland blacklead, and upwards of three hundred tons of this quality had to be removed before a deposit of the best and purest blacklead was finally opened up. Pieces were soon obtained weighing as much as eighty pounds. The Academy of Sciences at St. Petersburg, before which body _Alibert_ laid his samples of blacklead for analysis, declared the same to consist of the same elements and possess the same properties and consequently to be of precisely the same nature as the Cumberland blacklead. _Alibert_ now proceeded to England where he visited the declining blacklead mines of Cumberland and convinced himself by personal observation of the exhaustion and decay of the same. He thereupon submitted his samples of blacklead to some of the most extensive English leadpencil manufactories for examination, who unanimously confirmed the verdict of the Academy at St. Petersburg, pronouncing the quality of the Siberian blacklead to be excellent and in no way inferior to the Cumberland lead.

It had cost _Alibert_ eight years of unremitting labour and a capital of one million Francs when he beheld his enterprise crowned with this certainly unexpected success.

He now turned his attention to rendering the newly discovered material available for the manufacture of pencils. Having convinced himself that _Faber’s_ manufactory was the most extensive in existence and that it circulated the largest amount of fine goods in the world, he applied to the same with a proposition for an agreement, by virtue of which his blacklead was to be taken solely and exclusively by that establishment for the manufacture of pencils.

The firm on the other hand, having thoroughly convinced themselves that the newly discovered blacklead was quite equal to the genuine and best Cumberland blacklead in quality, willingly entertained this proposition of _Alibert’s_, so that in the year 1856 a contract was entered into between the manufactory and _Alibert_ and sanctioned by the Russian Government, according to which all the blacklead, which comes from the Siberian mines is to be delivered to _A. W. Faber’s_ manufactory, and to no other establishment for the purposes of pencil manufacture, now and for all time.