Mecanophot Emil van Bosch, Strasbourg
Little-known source of photo cards
This company appears to be not very familiar to many (German) ppc collectors and researchers. Not helpful in this case is that background information not easy to find or often contradictory. Here is what I have digged out so far.
Emil van Bosch came from a photographers' family from Frankfurt/Main. By the late 1880‘s he took over a photographer business in Strasbourg/Alsace. Since 1895 a van Bosch photo studio found at Broglieplatz 4, Strasbourg. Some sources say van Bosch sold his studio around the turn of the century to concentrate on photo paper development. I know that 1906 a "Nachf./successor" was added to studio name, the new owner was a Wilhelm Bosholm. Ownership (name read now J. van Bosch) changed again in late 1914. Although another business note still reads that the owner had been van Bosch. Anyway, the owners were photographers Max Meier and Ernst Passoth now. The new business name read: M.L. Meier & Passoth, formerly Atelier van Bosch.
The Mecanophot Business
Emil v. Bosch usually described being a businessman and later industrialist, with office at Strasbourg, Seelosgasse 14 (photo papers and photographic supplies). His photo paper factory, and home of Mecanophot real photo printing and publishing company, was in nearby Schiltigheim, Alsace. Managing directors were Dr. phil. Hartmann first together with E. Muttray.
Mecanophot Emil van Bosch business was officially registered (business capital 90,000 Francs) in October 1904. The Mecanophot horseshoe with v.B. inside logo was registered as trade mark on 23 January 1905 (application entered on 29 October 1904) in Germany. The horseshoe logo found imprinted on address side, but likely on earlier issues only. The more popular logo was "M v.B." with card number arranged on image at lower left or right corner.
I rarely find any M v.B. business information, also no (postcard) advertising or reviews, in old German trade periodicals. But not surprising when you understand that the major production of Mecanophot concentrated on French speaking markets. Mecanophot van Bosch also not present at the (international) Leipzig paper trade fairs. Some other French companies attended.
Bosch photopaper the major business?
The van Bosch (matt) photo paper (Diamond brand) was offered in a number of display adverts in German photography related publications for several years.
E. van Bosch GmbH became part of the big photopaper manufacturer group Vereinigte Fabriken photogr. Papiere A.G. (establ. 1874/"Crossed Swords" photo paper logo), Dresden. E.v.B. company headquarters were moved from Strasbourg-Schiltigheim to Dresden in January 1912. First operating as separate company with offices at Blumenstr. 80, but run by directors from parent company already. The E. van Bosch business said to had been taken over completely some time in 1915.
The huge factory of Vereinigte Fabriken photogr. Papiere A.G. was found at Blumenstr. 80. The Bosch photopaper fitted well into the range of papers produced by the Dresden company. The entire factory was destroyed in February 1945.
And what happened to Mecanophot?
What happened to the Mecanophot photo printing/publishing business in Schiltigheim, is unclear yet. Closed, or moved and continued/taken over by someone else. Later Cie Alsacienne des Arts photomécaniques (CAP), was found at Strasbourg-Schiltigheim.
I think that the two companies, photo printing/photo paper factory, although bearing the name of E. van Bosch, should be treated as two separate operations. Mecanophot surely used Bosch photopapers first, but Emil v. Bosch appears to had concentrated solely on the photopaper business. When this happened is not known. The Dresden company took over the Bosch photopaper business, and not Mecanophot. Emil van Bosch is listed in the Strasbourg 1914 address book as being retired.
Assuming the numbering system of Mecanophot v.B. photo cards to be consecutive, the designs published run to 3000+range. Wish I would know how long Mecanophot was in real photo card (printing) business. Probably until about 1910-11?
Below I show two promo cards for "Schwerter" (postcard) photopaper produced by Vereinigte Fabriken photogr. Papiere A.G. The two ladies seen could fit into the card designs range published/printed by Mecanophot v. B. In case you have spotted them by chance somewhere else, please let me know. Thank you!
On this site you can view 100‘s of Mecanophot cards:
https://rthcards.co.uk/VGP/cardspage2.html?dir=Mecanophot
