Who were the people behind F.G.B.C…?
(written by Jethro aka Fikira, historyrazors.wordpress.com)
“F.G.B.C.” produced & sold many sharpening stones, for example:
“pierre La Lune”, “Special Stone only for Good Razors”,
“New Master Stone”, … This article (split up into different chapters)
reveals the history behind the company
Chapters:
- “F.G.B.C., Introduction”
- “Ghelfi family”
- “Birolleau family”
- “Demosthènes, Malaspinas”
- “Bardotti, Giovannacci”
- “L. Belle”
- “Zanarelli, Galtié”
- “Short detailed chronology” & “In conclusion”
Chapter: “Demosthènes, Malaspinas,,..“
1886/ 1 January
Formation of the company “Bardotti, Ghelfi and Co”
(gallica.bnf.fr Link, Archives commerciales de la France Link)
Durée: 3 ans du 1er janv. 1886 … Cette nouvelle Société est chargée de la liquidation de la Société entre MM. Bardotti et Ghelfi, et de celle entre MM. Hélin et Malaspina,
qui ont pris fin le 1er janv. 1886 … “
Duration: 3 years from 1/1/1886 … The new company is
responsible for the liquidation of the company between Messrs. Bardotti and Ghelfi, and the one between
MM. Hélin and Malaspina, which ended on 1/1/1886 … “
1889/ 18 April (Publication) / 1889/ 24 February (Act)
Formation of “Ghelfi & Cie”
(Probably since 1 January 1889)
(gallica.bnf.fr Link, Archives commerciales de la France Link)
fab. de pierres en tous genres, faub. St-Antoine, 106.
– Durée: 6 ans … Acte du 24 Fév. 1889″
fab. stones of all kinds, faub. St-Antoine, 106.
– Duration: 6 years … act of 24 February 1889″
1890/ 10 Juin
(gallica.bnf.fr Link, Archives commerciales de la France Link)
Paris. – Demosthènes (Jean),
nég. en pierres et meules à aiguiser,
faub. St.-Antoine, 106,
sous le nom de “Demosthènes et Cie”…”
Paris. – Demosthenes (Jean),
merchant stones and grindstones,
faub. St.-Antoine, 106,
under the name “Demosthenes et Cie” …”
1890/ 6 September
(gallica.bnf.fr Link, Archives commerciales de la France Link)
1e Ghelfi (Constantin); 2e Malaspinas (Léopold);
3e Capriata-Démosthènes (Jean), ayant fait en commun, sous la raison Ghelfi et Cie, puis sous celle de “Démosthènes et Cie”, le commerce de pierres et meules à aiguiser,
faub St.-Antoine, 106 …”
1st Ghelfi (Constantin); 2nd Malaspinas (Léopold);
3th Capriata-Démosthènes (Jean), first under the name “Ghelfi & Cie” , then under the name
“Démosthènes & Cie”, with business
“sharpening- and grindstones”, faub St.-Antoine, 106…”
Conclusion:
I believe it is very likely that “Malaspinas” worked with “Ghelfi”
from 1886 until 1890 (before 1886 he worked with MM. Hélin).
“Capriata Demosthènes Jean” on his turn worked for a short
time with Ghelfi since 1889 (maybe earlier) until 1890…
“Ghelfi (Constantin)”, “Malaspinas (Léopold)” and
“Capriata-Démosthènes (Jean)” first worked together
under the name “Ghelfi & Cie” (since 1889),
this company became “Démosthènes & Cie“.
Eventually they went bankrupt under the name
“Démosthènes & Cie“, and not as “Ghelfi & Cie“
1893
(gallica.bnf.fr Link ; Annuaire-almanach du commerce, de l’industrie,
de la magistrature et de l’administration … 1857-1908 Link)
“Bardotti, Ghelfi & Cie”, et “Ghelfi et Cie”.
Manufactures de meules et pierres à aiguiser et articles à polir.
…
“Faub.-St-Antoine, 56 et 66”, usine à vapeur,
“passage du Chantier, 5″.”
“Bardotti, Ghelfi & Cie” and “Ghelfi & Cie“.
Manufactures of grind-, sharpening stones
and polishing articles.
…
“Faub.-St-Antoine, 56 & 66“, steam plant,
“passage du Chantier, 5″.”
Although it is clear that Demosthènes was the successor of
“Bardotti, Ghelfi & Cie” and “Ghelfi et Cie“, these names were
kept in use, as if they still existed on their own
(with the mentioning of: “see Demosthènes & Co”)
(gallica.bnf.fr Link ; Annuaire-almanach du commerce, de l’industrie,
de la magistrature et de l’administration … 1857-1908 Link)
(Voir Demosthènes et Co)”
(See Demosthènes & Co)”
(gallica.bnf.fr Link ; Annuaire-almanach du commerce, de l’industrie,
de la magistrature et de l’administration … 1857-1908 Link)
1893/ 3 August
“Capriata Demosthènes Jean”, “passage du Chantier, 5”
went bankrupt on 3/8/1893 under the name
“J. Demosthènes & Cie“
(gallica.bnf.fr Link, Journal officiel de la République française 1881 Link)
“Capriata Demosthènes (Jean), marchand de pierres et
meules à aiguiser, “passage du Chantier, 5”,
faisant le commerce sous la raison
“J. Demosthènes et Cie”…”
“Capriata Demosthènes (Jean), stones and
grindstones merchant, “passage du Chantier, 5”,
was trading under the name “J. Demosthènes et Cie”…”
1897
“Demosthènes & Cie” started a new company, still at
“Faub.-St-Antoine, 66” (not anymore at “Faub.-St-Antoine, 56“)
Most probably this happened just after the
bankruptcy, 3/8/1893, since all of Ferdinando GHELFI‘s
children were born at “Rue du Faubourg St. Antoine 56”
between 5 Jan. 1894 and 1899, telling us that Ferdinando GHELFI
came to live here before 1894 (Also see chapter “Ghelfi family”)
The steam plant of “Demosthènes & Cie” moved from
“passage du Chantier, 5” to “passage du Chantier, 16“
(gallica.bnf.fr Link ; Annuaire-almanach du commerce, de l’industrie,
de la magistrature et de l’administration … 1857-1908 Link)
Manufactures de meules et pierres à aiguiser et articles à polir
…
Faub.-St-Antoine, 66, usine à vapeur, passage du Chantier, 16.“
Manufactures of grindstones, sharpening stones and polishing articles
…
Faub.-St-Antoine, 66, steam plant, passage du Chantier, 16.“
Again, Demosthènes was the successor of “Bardotti, Ghelfi & Cie”
but the latter name was kept in use, probably for marketing
purposes; “Demosthènes & Cie” was written in bold
lettres, while “Bardotti, Ghelfi et Co” was written in
plain letters; a bit further on the same page we see:
(gallica.bnf.fr Link ; Annuaire-almanach du commerce, de l’industrie,
de la magistrature et de l’administration … 1857-1908 Link)
66, pass. du Chantier, 16.“
At the moment, I don’t have further information…
•
⇐ Previous chapter: “Birolleau family”
⇒ Next chapter: “Bardotti, Giovannacci”
Razorlovestones 