Georg Gerlach & Co. A.G., Berlin

The early years

Another relatively early real photo card printing and publishing business. The full company name read first: Elektro-Photographische Anstalt Georg Gerlach & Co. (EPG) Business found listed in Berlin address book 1902 for the first time.
Converted into an joint-stock company on 10 October 1903, officially registered on 3 December 1903. Business capital 240,000 Marks. Director of the board and major shareholder (he held several patents for real photo card printing machinery) was the businessman Georg Gerlach, Chausseestr. 81, Berlin N 4. The house the Gerlach business was found first, (on 4th floor) and where G. Gerlach also lived first as well as a Wilhelm Gerlach (brother?). He was a former army officer and business partner/director. Moved away late 1903. The building was owned by the Stollwerck Bros. chocolate company.

Gerlach business was booming during the early years. Dividends up to 12% were paid to shareholders. The business capital raised by 460,000 Marks in May 1906 and in December the same year by another 300,000 Marks. Business capital now 1,000,000 Marks. The original long company name (ELP) was shortened to Georg Gerlach & Co. A.G. effective 31 May 1906.

The new big factory

The company (and banks) spent some 1,825,000 Marks for the nearby property Chausseestr. 42 (10,650 square metres) in April 1907. Here a huge 5-story building was erected, known as "Gerlach‘s Hof" (see illustration). GG & Co. AG moved into their new home in May 1908. Although they occupied not the entire quite huge building. Much was for rent (trade/flats).
The company business capital in shares was increased to 1,600,000 Marks in 1911. However, starting with business year 1912 GG & Co. AG produced nothing but (heavy) financial losses.

GG & Co. had not joined the the bromide photo printers and publishers cartell in early 1912. They were the biggest of three companies not member of NBC (Neue Bromsilber Convention), Berlin. NBC announcing offensive measures against GG & Co. and the other two smaller companies. Finally in August 1913 Gerlach & Co. A.G. joined the NBC cartel again.
They had also a new triangle "Delta" logo registered in June 1913. Not seen on any real photo cards yet. But GG & Co. A.G. produced also many other photographic prints.

The final years

In 1918 the real photo printing production (Fabrik für Bromsilber-Erzeugnisse) was finally closed. The company was continued as publishing house (Verlag von Bromsilbererzeugnissen) amd can be traced until about late 1923.
Georg Gerlach had left the board of directors in late June 1915. New head of the board was a John Hirsch (April 1915). Since January 1918 a new member of the board of directors was a Moritz Manes who actually was one of the owners/managing directors of (the local competitor) Photochemie GmbH.

Georg Gerlach & Co. A.G. Grundstücksverwaltung (property management/owners of houses Chausseestr. 40-42) which was run as a separate business for some years already, remained at old address until the late 1920‘s and then moved offices to Lichtensteinallee 1. Directors were Karl Ulrich and Conrad Weiss.

An article (5 pages/well-illustrated) on GG & Co. is found in TPA 29.

More information on next page with GG & Co. A.G. postcard selection.