“Everything from a pin to a locomotive.” That was the ambitious motto of Prvn\u00ed \u010deskomoravsk\u00e1 tov\u00e1rna na stroje.
Prvn\u00ed \u010deskomoravsk\u00e1 tov\u00e1rna na stroje emerged from the sugar beet boom in the Czech lands. It was the 1860s. The factory construction started in 1871. It was near the state railway from Prague to Olomouc.
V\u00e1clav Nekvasil a Karl\u00edn builder spearheaded it. He had previously worked with Vincenc Dan\u011bk. Karl \u017didlick\u00fd a Jan Topinka joined him. They aimed to create a Czech-owned machine factory. This would challenge German dominance in the industry. Josef \u010cerm\u00e1k oversaw construction. Vojt\u011bch Novotn\u00fd became the factory director.
Initially, Prvn\u00ed \u010deskomoravsk\u00e1 tov\u00e1rna na stroje equipped sugar factories. These factories were in Beroun, \u010cesk\u00fdch Bud\u011bjovic\u00edch and Slavkov. They later diversified due to problems in the sugar industry.
In 1886, Prvn\u00ed \u010deskomoravsk\u00e1 took over bridge production. This was from the Prague Iron Company in Kladno. From 1886 to 1908, the bridge plant produced 1,524 railway bridges. It also made 560 road bridges. The Industrial Palace and Pet\u0159\u00edn Lookout Tower featured its constructions.
A new locomotive department started in 1899. By 1917, Prvn\u00ed \u010deskomoravsk\u00e1 had produced 877 locomotives.
In 1907, it co-founded the car maker Praga with Ringhoffer.
In 1921, Prvn\u00ed \u010deskomoravsk\u00e1 merged with Kolben’s factory. This created \u010ceskomoravsk\u00e1-Kolben. It had 4,700 workers and 640 employees. Emil Kolben led the company. In 1927, it merged with Dan\u011bk’s factory in Karl\u00edn. This formed \u010ceskomoravsk\u00e1-Kolben-Dan\u011bk (\u010cKD). \u010cKD had 7,560 workers and 1,240 employees.
During a 1945 air raid, the Libe\u0148 plant suffered heavy damage. After nationalization, the factory revived production.
However, after the revolution, Prvn\u00ed \u010deskomoravsk\u00e1 tov\u00e1rna na stroje couldn’t compete. It couldn’t compete with modern Western factories. Most buildings were demolished in the late 20th century. A sports hall and shopping center replaced them.
The establishment of Prvn\u00ed \u010deskomoravsk\u00e1 tov\u00e1rna na stroje marked a pivotal moment. It symbolized Czech industrial ambition. Though its physical presence has faded, its legacy remains. The factory helped shape Prague’s landscape and industrial heritage. Its contributions to engineering are still evident today.