Heiko's Roots Before East Germany, Gdr, Cold War?

[Buzzie]

HEIKO was the largest producer of fountain pens in East Germany from 1950-ish until 1990, when they were purchased by Schneider. Who were they, what were they, before they became state-owned by German Democratic Republic? What was their origin? When did they begin? Surely there was a reason the GDR based its pen production in the Treuhand. Gotta be a story here, somewhere in history.

 

 

[Buzzie]

A cartridge fountain pen made by VEB Schreibgeraete, Betriebsteil Heiko in Wernigerode, Harz.
The Schneider GmbH produces writing instruments - in the GDR, Heiko fountain pen was made here.

Before GDR?

[Kaweco]

Hello Buzzie

Heiko was founted by Walter Heise. The Walter Heise KG, Fabrik für Bürobedarf was located in Halle an der Saale and Wernigerode. Where did you get the information from, that Heiko had been the largest? I think Markant or Imperial also had been great trade marks among more than 100 others in East Germany like Greico, Goldring, Ric-Lei, Wegu or Ursus.

The German "Handbook of Paper and Office Organization" from 1949 listed Heiko as a "KG" =Kommanditgesellschaft. This is a private organization with a managing board of a few "Kommanditisten". The governement of The GDR made a collectivization of larger private companies (more than 7 employed !) and transfered them to state owned VEBs = Volks eigener Betrieb. After(!) the breakdown of the GDR and reunion with West Germany, the Treuhand selects industrial companies which have a good chance to survive in the world market and closed, yes, nearly destroyed many others. Actually many West German producers took an advance by the terminated or sold out eastern labels.

Kind Regards

Thomas