Föhrenbach GmbH stalls at Hannover's expo 1948-1952 

I thought I would pull together all the information I have got from the wonderful Claudia at the Hannover Messe (export fair). She has kindly trawled the Messe archives and uncovered some interesting facts about Albert Föhrenbach GmbH in the years before it started producing airguns.

In summary, these are that:

1. It didn't exhibit in 1947, the first year of the export fair

2. In 1948 it exhibited, offering light metal cases with faux leather covering and farm equipment

3. In 1949 it offered metal cases, display cases for the clothing industry, household goods and metal scales, as well as tools for the farming/forestry industries

4. In 1950 it offered most of the goods mentioned above

5. In 1951 it did not exhibit

6. In 1952 it offered air pistols and rifles, with rifled and smooth-bored barrels, and sporting carbines (ie. firearms)

7. In 1953 it did not exhibit

The above information appears to confirm that the first year of airgun production was in fact 1951 (ref. Falke brochure stamped with 1951 date), although the factory may well have been gearing up towards it for some considerable time before then - recruiting, tooling, design and so on.

The models 80 and 90 underlevers were first advertised as "new" in 1952 (re. brochure stamped with 1952 date) so this can probably be considered the first year of production of the entire Falke airgun range.

The mention of "sportkarabiner" in the 1952 Messe catalogue suggests the company had already begun production of firearms although this is not supported by any other evidence, advertising literature etc, so far. It may be that it was happy to take advance orders for carbines without actually having started making them.

Here are scans of the relevant Hannover Messe katalogs, generously provided by the current Messe administration (any corrections to my translations above will be greatly appreciated):

<b><u>1948:</u></b>

<b><u>1949:</u></b>

<b><u>1950:</u></b>

<b><u>1952:</u></b>

and 1947, which shows Föhrenbach  was not present:

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NOTE:

Details of the Hannover Messe, taken from 

http://www.hannovermesse.de/en/about-the-trade-show/facts-figures/profile/history-of-hannover-messe

Deutsche Messe AG was founded on 16 August 1947 as Deutsche Messe- und Ausstellungs- AG (German Trade Fair and Exhibition Company) with a registered share capital of 1.2 million reichsmarks. This was an initiative of the British occupying forces in consultation with the commander-in-chief of the American zone.

After the war, Germany was characterized by physical devastation, industrial ruin and chronic food shortages. In order to show the world the kind of economic revival that entrepreneurs, workers and politicians were capable of jointly bringing about, the British military government decreed that the Germans were to organize a trade fair from 18 August to 7 September 1947. For, the victorious Western powers had decided that the only way for Germany to become economically self-reliant again would be through exporting its own goods.

Export-Messe 1947 Hannover

Consequently, on 18 August 1947, the first "Hannover Export Fair" was opened in five former production halls of the Vereinigten Leichtmetallwerke (United Light Metal Works). The aim was to present exportable post-war products bearing an official "Made in Germany" sticker from the so-called Bi-Zone, and the results were impressive. After 21 days, 736,000 visitors from 53 nations had attended. Some 1,300 exhibitors had presented products over a total display area of 30,000 sqm. This led to some 1,934 export agreements being signed, valued at around US$ 31.6 million. The symbol chosen for this event was the profile of Hermes, the God of trade, and even today this symbol continues to symbolize HANNOVER MESSE.

At first, almost everyone was skeptical about Hannover's chances of overtaking Leipzig - the former "exhibition capital" of the defunct German Reich. But in the years that followed, HANNOVER MESSE became a symbol of Germany's economic miracle. Back in 1948, the first telephone connection was established between the trade fair company and New York. In 1950, the first exhibitors from abroad took part in the renamed "Deutsche Industrie-Messe" ("German Industrial Fair") and, in 1961, the term "HANNOVER MESSE" was officially adopted. It soon became a renowned, world-class event for cross-communication between technology and industry.

Since cleaving off CeBIT from HANNOVER MESSE in 1986, both shows have become the trendsetters for industry and the flagship tradeshows among the many different trade fairs and exhibitions staged by DMAG in the state capital. Other events which regularly take place at the Hannover Exhibition Grounds are also recognized as world leaders in their respective field.