ANNOUNCEMENT / DEUTSCHE VERSION / ENGLISH VERSION
Content:
1. General Information
2. Rue Faubourg Saint-Antoine, Paris
3. L. Belle Succur, Rue de Faubourg No. 84 & 87
4. Quarry Owners or mostly Stone Cutters?
5. Subsidiaries in London and New York
6. The Companies from F.G.B.C.
7. The Names of Peoples within the history of F.G.B.C.:
1. General Information
This profile deals with the early history of F.G.B.C. The company was founded in the year 1845. As it is mentioned in the profile from
F. Ghelfi, Biroleau & Cie. (F.G.B.C.)
we have to deal with a historical point of view especially concerning the origin of the Italian family members names (Ghelfi, Giovannacci and Bardotti).
During the existence of the company there have been several changes, actually they used a nickname “Établissements Belle” with the Trademark of the five grinding wheels and the shortcut M.P.O.P. which stands for “Grinding Wheels, Stones, Tools und Products”
(“Meules, Pierres, Outillage, Produits”)
They company had a factory/warehouse down 61, Rue de Charonne. On the postcard from 1898 we find further more the information that the owned a steamplant “USINE A VAPEUR” and a waterworks “USINE HYDRAULIQUE”. The postcard contains a good content of important information. It mentions that the waterworks “USINE HYDRAULIQUE” was located at Canevara près Massa in Italy![1][2]
B. Ghelfi (Jean-Baptiste) was the brother of L. Ghelfi (Laurent) who later got a member of the company. This is documented on an old cheque and on the letterhead which was added to the beginning of this article.[3][5]
the company changed the Name to:
D. Giovannacci, L. & B. Ghelfi
87 Rue Faubourg St. Antoine (M.P.O.P.)
They also changed their location several times during the years.
The Office and their Store was located in the following locations:
84, Faubourg, St. Antoine
87 Rue Faubourg St. Antoine
106, Rue de Faubourg St. Antoine, Paris
2. Rue Faubourg Saint-Antoine, Paris
The location of the company within Rue du Faubourg was chosen very well already in past. The quarter around Rue Du Faubourg were well known since the 14th century housing a lot of furniture makers and wood workers. Those already settled there in the early times, this also because of tax incentives given from the king and the good location at river Seine, over which the wood could be transported directly to this quarter. Today you’ll still find a lot of tool shops, designer stores, woodworking stores still dealing with the product “wood”.
Here is an actual Google Street View picture of the old company from D. Giovannacci, L. & B. Ghelfi
In old documents we also find information to the building at 84, Rue du Faubourg. It was build in 1908 under order of Mr. Ghelfi (Object BAH-12-1908-55718), architect was Edouard Jacquemin.
Another actual picture from the entry
(C) 2015 by Alan / Mr. Wilson
3. L. Belle Succur, Rue de Faubourg No. 84 & 87
Another of the older pictures i found is from the year 1910. It was the time of the Great Flood of Paris called “Inondation” or the “Crue de la Seine” . Huge parts of Paris were under water as the river seine rose his water level about eight meters above normal level.
We can see that there is a small shop on the left side (2nd store from left) of the coach. The window advertisement says: Meules & Pierres Aiguiser à Polir. Just above that window it says L. BELLE.
Besides the shop of “Etablissement Belle” we see the house number 85, on the old cheques and letters is written.
Maison D. Giovannacci & L. & B. Ghelfi
L. BELLE Succr
87, Rue de Faubourg Saint Antoine
ci-devant: 84, même Rue
This means that the store or shop from the picture was situated in 87, Rue de Faubourg. Before they had their Store at 84, Rue de Faubourg.
4. Quarry Owners or mostly Stone Cutters?
Interesting is that its unclear on which topics of business their main-focus was. As they imported a lot of different types of stone which are visible on the old papers and pictures. They had a big range of stones to offer:
Sharpening Stones / Razor Hones
Arkansas Stones
Pierres D’Ecosse (Scottish Stones)
Pierres Du Levant
Pierres Du Lorraine
Stones from Norway
Stones from the Lombarde
Stones from the Pyrenées
Stones From Russia
Washita Stones
Grinding Wheels
Meules Grès Blanc, Meules Gris, Meules Rouge
It could be that their main business was dealing more importing huge amounts of stones and get them cut. On some of the older documents is written that they also sold the stones under commission. One Postcard mentions the wording sawmill (Sciere). Later we find documents[2] where they refer to quarries (Carrières) and factories (usines) they owned in:
La Nouvelle, La Vaûte, La Parisienne
(Gare Merviller-Vacqueville)
Neufmaison, La Boulaye
(Gare Pexonne)
Béménil-Bas, Bréménil-Haut, La Parisienne
(Gare Badonviller)
Some of the older documents also witness that the stones were also sold under commission to other sellers.
5. Subsidiaries in London and New York
Ghelfi & Droescher, 58 Warren Street, New York
The price list from the 01. January 1893[1] mentions that they also had subsidiaries in London & New York. The subsidiary is mentioned in the “Iron Age, Issue 47” from 1891, where a co-laboration between Ghelfi & Droescher, 58 Warren Street, New York is mentioned.[6]
Another source about the subsidiary in London couldn’t be found up to date.
Montedonico. Ghelfi, and Co,, 44 Sutton Street, Clerkenwell, London, England (updated 01.11.2016):
Jethro found a resource to the Cooperation of Ghelfi & Montedonico. The cooperation was announced to be started already in 1886 with Montedonico, Ghelfi & Cie. at Boulevard St. Martin 15. Then it seems that three years later the actual cooperation was dissolved and restarted on the 15th July 1889. It was announced in the London Gazette, 19th July 1889 on Page 3912 with the following text.[7]
“NOTICE is hereby given, that the partnership heretofore subsisting between us the undersigned, Giovanni Baptista Ghelfi and Joseph Montedonico, carrying on business as Hone, Oilstone and Grindstone Merchants, at 44, Sutton Street, Clerkenwell, under the style or firm of Montedonico, Ghelfi, and Co., has been dissolved, by mutual consens, as from the 15th day of July 1889. All debts due to and owing by the said late firm will be received and paid by the said J. Montedonico. – Dated this 15th day of July 1889. – G. B. Ghelfi / J. Montedonico“
6. The Companies from F.G.B.C.
This chapter should show a short overview of the changes in terms of the different companies. Because of a huge amount of information, which isn’t fully complete, this chapter only shows an extract. If there is any new information available i will update this overview. The companies are listed in a “timeline” from the first founding to the end. Additional information is italic blue. Dates are highlighted “D: 1928” which stands for an existing document which witnesses facts or dates.
Bardotti, Ghelfi & Cie.
founded: 1886 – 1889/1890
106, Rue du Faubourg St. Antoine, Paris
Usine: 67, Rue de Chemin Vert
D: 1886, 1889, 1890
Montedonico. Ghelfi, and Co.
(subsidiary / cooperation)
founded:1889 – XXXX
44, Sutton Street, Clerkenwell, London
D: 1889
D. Giovannacci & L. Ghelfi
founded: 1891 -1897
84, Rue du Faubourg St. Antoine, Paris
Usine: 61, Rue de Charonne
Usine Hydraulique: Massa (Italy)
Ghelfi & Droescher
(subsidiary / cooperation)
founded: XXXX – XXXX
58, Warren Street, New York
D: 1893, 1894
D. Giovannacci & L. & B. Ghelfi
“Scierie de Pierres”
founded: 1898 – 1908/1909
Logo: G & G (Giovannacci & Ghelfi)
84, Rue du Faubourg St. Antoine, Paris
Usine: 61, Rue de Charonne
Usine Hydraulique: Massa (Italy)
Jean-Baptiste (J.B. / B. Ghelfi) joined the business, Trademark was registered as *G & G*. Ghelfi’s sell share to Giovannacci in 1902, end of the year he re-sells the fund to Belle. Later a contract is created between Belle und Giovannacci and Giovannacci and the Ghelfi’s.
D: 1897, 1898, 1902, 1908, 1909, 1910
D. Giovannacci, L. & B. Ghelfi
L. Belle Meules & Pierres a Aiguiser & A Polir (1906)
L. Belle Succr. (1916)
L. Belle & M.P.O.P. (1926)
Founded: 1908/1909 – XXXX
Établissement Belle Veuve Valentin Ghelfi Proprietaire & M.P.O.P. (1935)
Logo: M.P.O.P. (Meules, Pierres, Outilllage, Produits )
84, Rue du Faubourg St. Antoine, Paris
Usine: 61, Rue de Charonne
Usine Hydraulique: Massa (Italy)
later 87, Rue du Faubourg St. Antoine, Paris
Usine et magasin: 72, Rue St.-Maur, Paris
Founder/Owner: Giovannacci & Ghelfi’s, later Belle
change of location from 84, Rue du Faubourg
to 87, rue Du Faubourg
F. Ghelfi & Cie.
“Maisons F. Ghelfi & Cie. Birolleau Réunies”
Meules & Pierres a Aiguiser & A Polir
Founded: 1903 – XXXX
7, Rue de Charlot, Paris
Founder/Owner: Ferdinand / Ferdinando Ghelfi
F. Ghelfi & Cie.
“Birolleau Fils Proprietaires”
47, Rue Saintonge, Paris
Owner: Ferdinand Ghelfi, later Antonin Birolleau
Separate existent Company / Claim from Bell against Ferdinand Ghelfi, who worked under Bell before. The Company operated besides the one owned by Belle.
D: 1913, 1916, 1922, 1925, 1931, 1933
F. Ghelfi, Birolleau & Cie.
“Nouvelle Societe des Anciens Etablissements”
Date: 1952 – 1974
(R.C. Seine 57 B 22776, R.C. Seine 273 273,
R.C. Paris 572.227.767)
47, Rue Saintonge, Paris
Founder/Owner: XXXX
D: 1952, 1968, 1974
Ets Ghelfi-Birolleau
Date: 1969 – XXXX
Founder/Owner: Maurice Birolleau
Birolleau & Cie.
Date: 1981 – XXXX
“Maurice Birolleau gérant”
Founder/Owner: Maurice Birolleau
Nouvel Ancien Ets F. Ghelfi Birolleau
Date:XXX – XXXX
156, rue Tolbiac Etage 2eme Droite
7. The Names of Peoples within the history of F.G.B.C.:
Actually its really hard to research this companies profile because due the early founding of the company in 1845 a lot of time has passed by and more or less only a little amount of information is still available. So if any more information about these names is available and how the people fit together i well appreciate any information!
Also due the immigration to France we have names appearing written in Italian and french language which makes it more complicate. So i added the names in both languages. If there was further more Information available i added those to the persons name.
Bardotti:
Bardotti
Birroleau’s:
Birolleau Antonin
Birolleau Maurice
Ghelfi’s:
Ghelfi, C. (Constantin/Constantino)
Ghelfi, F. (Fernand/Ferdinando)
Ghelfi, J.-B. (Jean Baptiste / Giovanni Baptista)
Ghelfi, M. (Maurice)
Stone Dealers
Ghelfi, L. (Laurent/Lorenzo)
Ghelfi, P. (Paul-Diedonné)
Ghelfi, V. (Valentin/Valentino)
Giovannacci’s:
Giovannacci, D.
others involved:
MM. Hélin
MM. Malaspina
MM. Capriata-Démosthènes Jean
Zanarelli, F. (Francois)
cooperation Partners for Export Business:
Severin Robert Droescher (SRD)
Store: 58, Warren Street, New York [USA]
Montedonico G. (Joseph / Giuseppe)
Store: 44, Great Sutton Street, Clerkenwell [UK]
Chronology of used Documents and Pictures:
1889
Bardotti, Ghelfi & Cie. Pricelist
106, Rue de Faubourg, Saint-Antoine, 106
1889
Cooperation of Giovanni Baptista Ghelfi &
Giuseppe Montedonico has started on 15th July 1889 in Clerkenwell, London, England.
1893
D. Giovannacci & L. Ghelfi Pricelist 01.01.1893
84, Rue Du Faubourg, Saint Antoine
Steamplant: 61 Rue de Charonne
Succursales in New York und London
1894
D. Giovannacci & L. Ghelfi Cheque 31.01.1894
84, Rue Du Faubourg, Saint Antoine
1897
D. Giovannacci, L. & B. Ghelfi Cheque 25.11.1897
84, Rue Du Faubourg, Saint Antoine
1898
D. Giovannacci, L. & B. Ghelfi
Office and Storage: 84, Rue Du Faubourg, Saint Antoine
Steamplant: 61 Rue de Charonne
Succursales in New York und London
1909
L. Belle Cheque 18.03.1909
87, Rue Du Faubourg, Saint Antoine
(CI-Devant 84 mème Rue)
1916
L. Belle Succr Letter 28.12.1916
D. Giovannacci, L. & B. Ghelfi
87, Rue Du Faubourg, Saint Antoine
(CI-Devant 84 mème Rue)
1920
F. Ghelfi & Cie. Cheque and Invoice 20.06.1922
Maisons F. Ghelfi & Cie. et Birolleau réunies
47, Rue de Saintonge, Paris (Annexe, 7 rue de Charlot)
1922
F. Ghelfi & Cie. Letter 21.04.1922
Maisons F. Ghelfi & Cie. et Birolleau réunies
47, Rue de Saintonge, Paris (Annexe, 7 rue de Charlot)
1922
F. Ghelfi & Cie. Invoice 12.05.1922
Maisons F. Ghelfi & Cie. et Birolleau réunies
47, Rue de Saintonge, Paris (Annexe, 7 rue de Charlot)
1923
L. Belle Succr Envelope 27.06.1923
Maison D. Giovannacci & L. & B. Ghelfi
87, Rue Du Faubourg, Saint Antoine
(CI-Devant 84 mème Rue)
1925
F. Ghelfi & Cie. Letter 12.12.1925
47, Rue de Saintonge, Paris (Annexe, 7 rue de Charlot)
1926
L. Belle Letter 29.03.1926
D. Giovannacci, L. & B. Ghelfi
87, Rue Du Faubourg, Saint Antoine
(CI-Devant 84 mème Rue)
1931
F. Ghelfi & Cie. Invoice 12.12.1925
47, Rue de Saintonge, Paris (Annexe, 7 rue de Charlot)
1933
F. Ghelfi & Cie. Letter 30.10.1933
47, Rue de Saintonge, Paris (Annexe, 7 rue de Charlot)
1935
Établissements Belle (Veuve Valentin Ghelfi Propriétaire)
Letter 22.08.1935
D. Giovannacci, L. & B. Ghelfi
87, Rue Du Faubourg, Saint Antoine
(CI-Devant 84 mème Rue)
1952
F. Ghelfi Birolleau & Cie. Invoice 11.06.1952
47, Rue de Saintonge, Paris
1966
F. Ghelfi Birolleau & Cie. Letter
47, Rue de Saintonge, Paris
1974
F. Ghelfi Birolleau & Cie. Pricelist 01.04.1974
47, Rue de Saintonge, Paris
1985
F. Ghelfi Birolleau & Cie. Letter
47, Rue de Saintonge, Paris
2015
Pictures from Mr. Wilson 13.10.2015
84, Rue du Faubourg, Saint Antoine
References:
[1] Prix Courant 01.01.1893 from D. Giovannacci & L. Ghelfi
[2] Postcards from 1898 from D. Giovannacci, L. & B. Ghelfi
[3] Invoice 22.08.1935 from D. Giovannacci, L. & B. Ghelfi
[4] Cheque 31.01.1894 from D. Giovannacci & L. Ghelfi
[5] Cheque 25.11.1897 from D. Giovannacci, L. & B. Ghelfi
[6] The Iron Age, Issue 47 from 1891
[7] The London Gazette, 19.07.1889, Page 3912
Many thanks to
Alan (Mr. Wilson), Jethro (Fikira), Mike (Modine),
Jörg (Jollo74) and Andrea G. Hollat
© text and pictures
RAZOR LOVE STONES
created: 02.02.2016 / edited: 01.11.2016
PROFILE – 001
notes of changes:
11/2016 – added connection to cooperation of
Ghelfi & Montedonico
11/2016 – re-edited chronology of documents, the information on subsidiaries (chap. 5) and the company overview (chap. 6)
07/2019 – updated pricetables from 1893 and 1897
Razorlovestones 
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