Berlin-Neuroder Kunstanstalten A.G. & Silberbrom
General Company Information
This was one of the major German printing/fancy paper companies; big in postcards, too. The joint-stock company was set up on 4 January 1888. The name read Neuroder Kunstanstalten A.G. vorm. Conrad, Treutler und Taube until 15 October 1900. The big factory of the chromolithographic fine arts printers Conrad, Treutler & Taube from Neurode, Silesia, was the backbone of the new business. They had 30 flatbed presses (litho) for production in 1885 already. The origins of this company said to go back to the 1850‘s.
On 15 October 1900 Neuroder Kunstanstalten AG and Berliner Kunstdruck- und Verlagsanstalt vormals A.&C. Kaufmann, Berlin joined forces and became BNK A.G. With big factories in Neurode/Silesia, Braunau/Bohemia (erected in 1888-1889 on own property = meant access to the markets of Austro-Hungarian Empire) and Brandenburg/Havel (former A.&C. Kaufmann printing factory). By mid-1914 BNK took over the share majority of Albrecht & Meister A.G. (Amag), Berlin-Reinickendorf.
Another factory of the BNK group was always said to be found at Dresden, the source of the BNK real photo cards. No information ever found that BNK had set up an own real photo printing business, so likely they had taken over an already existing company. Which this had been remained a mystery for long.
Elsner & Latta, Dresden
Photograph. Schnelldruck-Industrie Elsner & Latta KG, Pfotenhauerstr. 16, Dresden. Both partners came originally from Berlin. The limited partnership was set up in May 1901 and was taken over by BNK in September 1902. Paul Latta (photographer) had left the partnership earlier already. BNK took over also the patent (no. 130,990 class 57c) for an automatic exposing machine for real photo printing registered for Hermann Theodor Wilhelm Elsner and Paul Latta dated 9 December 1900.
The former E&L business was moved into a new erected rear building at Photohauerstr. 28. BNK spent quite some capital into new production facilities. Later notices found in trade periodicals say that some 150 persons were employed here.
E&L had published also typical real photo card designs. To find any these days turns out to be very difficult. Should show their name or initials or more likely the "Photorapide Dresden" or the November 1901 registered trade "Rapid E.L. Dresden" logo. Information on any finds very welcome.
Take a look at some of the many(!) BNK real photo card issues:
BNK Real Photo Postcards
BNK leaves Dresden/SDK takes over
Late 1914 BNK placed adverts in "Papier-Zeitung" offering the entire Dresden real photo printing plant for sale. BNK had full access now to the Amag photo production facilities. These were of some size after the former Aristophot AG real photo production had been moved to the Albrecht & Meister AG factory, Berlin-Reineckendorf.
New Photo Card Printing Business set up
The former BNK photo printing company at Pfotenhauerstr. 28/30 became home of another real photo printer/publishing company using the SDK logo. This was Silberbrom Dresdner Kunstanstalt GmbH set up im March 1915. Managing director was Wilhelm E. Oskar Fischer.
The limited company established in troublesome WW1 years had a relatively short history. Which is not really surprising. By the mid of 1920 SDK run into liquidation. Finally the company was deleted from Dresden trade records early 1921.
See a selection of Silberbrom (SDK) postcards:
Silberbrom (SDK) Postcards