Considering the past, what echoes linger within these walls of Fritz Schulz jun. AG Chemische Fabriken? This complex now stands before us. It was once a hub of industry and innovation. Let’s delve into the story of Fritz Schulz jun. AG.
Fritz Schulz jun. AG began its journey in 1878. It started as oHG Fritz Schulz jun. in Leipzig. The company specialized in chemical factories and kieselguhr mines. They also made metal and cardboard packaging. Fritz Schulz jun. AG produced cleaning, care, and pest control products.
The construction of the Ingolstadt-Neuoffingen railway boosted kieselguhr extraction in Neuburg an der Donau. The Vereinigte Neuburger Kreidewerke Schulz & Philipp started kieselguhr production in 1893. This success led to the firms merging. They became a stock corporation in 1900.
Fritz Schulz jun. AG expanded internationally. It had subsidiaries like Fritz Schulz jun. Comp. in Lincoln near New York. Another was The Globe Polish Co. Ltd. in Stratford, London. World War I saw these assets seized. This caused a significant drop in sales. Afterward only the Leipzig factory and the Neuburg mine remained. There was also a stake in Fritz Schulz jun. AG in Aussig.
In 1949, the company was nationalized. It was renamed Chemisch-technischer Betrieb VEB Globus-Werke Leipzig. Later name changes included VEB Aerosol-Automat Karl-Marx-Stadt. It also became Betriebsteil Leipzig, VEB Wittol Wittenberg. Then it was Betriebsteil Autopflegemittelfabrik Leipzig. Finally, it was VEB Otto Grotewohl Böhlen. This was the Betriebsteil Autopflegemittel Leipzig. After privatization, production continued under Sächsischen Olefinwerke AG Böhlen. Eventually, the Fritz Schulz jun. AG production sites closed.
In 1942, Fritz Gustav Max von Philipp and Dr. Hans Waldemar von Philipp managed the corporation. Fritz was also the Royal Bulgarian Consul General. Dr. Hans was Royal Bavarian Consul General and Royal Bavarian Privy Councilor. The brothers built a villa in 1910-1911 designed by Otto Paul Burghardt. Only the park’s fence remains today. A police station now occupies the former park. The Fritz Schulz jun. AG administrative building was opposite this property. It housed the Bulgarian Consulate and a publishing house run by the von Philipps.
The factory complex was also known as Globus-Werke. Its headquarters were at Hardenbergstrasse 11 in Leipzig. The production building was erected in 1897 in Leipzig-Plagwitz. It expanded in 1905 and 1909/11. The address is now Limburgerstrasse 30. The buildings suffered damage during World War II. They featured modern reinforced concrete ribbed ceilings. Ornate decorations adorned the structure. The entrance featured a monumental Atlas statue holding a globe.
Production ceased in 1995. The site remained unused. However in 2016 the entire building complex was renovated. It now offers several residential units.
Fritz Schulz jun. AG was famous for cleaning and care products. Their range included polishes for leather and metal. They also made cleaning soaps and powders. Other products were gloss starches, moth repellents, and floor wax. They produced washing powder and car polish. They also created metal and cardboard packaging.
Trademarks of Fritz Schulz jun. AG included Globus-Putzextrakt for metal. There was also Globus-Putzseife and Globus-Scheuerpulver. They offered Globus-Messerputz-Pulver and Globus-Aluminium-Putz. For stoves, there was Globeline. For furniture, Glob-Politur. For floors, Bohnerwachs Globella. For shoes, Globin Edelschuhpflege. For insect control, Globol. For laundry, Globus-Brillant-Glanzstärke. For cars, Politur Globo. These names reflect the Globus-Werke name. Collectors still seek enamel signs featuring Globin cans.
After nationalization, the company mainly produced car care products. These included Karipol brand brake fluid and shock absorber oil. They also made cleaning agents like Klarofix and Elsterglanz polishing paste.
From humble beginnings to a sprawling factory Fritz Schulz jun. AG Chemische Fabriken shaped industry. It touched countless lives with its products. Today the renovated complex stands as a reminder of Leipzig’s industrial past and a symbol of urban renewal.