Erhard and Sohne
Erhard and Söhne was founded in 1844 by Carl Gottlieb Erhard and his two sons, Carl and Julius, in Schwäbisch Gmünd, about 50km east of Stuttgart in Baden-Wutttemberg, Germany. Carl Gottlieb Erhard, originally from Großheppach and the son of a priest, settled in Schwäbisch Gmünd after marrying into the Debler family. He initially became a partner at the firm Gerber & Co., which he acquired in 1843 for 100,000 guilders. The following year, he established Erhard & Söhne with the help of his sons. The company, which is still in operation today, remains one of the oldest family-run businesses in the city, now in its sixth generation.
Carl Gottlieb Erhard recognized a market opportunity in producing fire-gilded hardware, which was previously imported at high costs. To fill this gap, he recruited skilled craftsmen and ensured his sons received top-tier training in engraving and metalwork. Julius, the more creative of the two, focused on design, while Carl took on the commercial leadership.Erhard & Söhne quickly became a significant player in Schwäbisch Gmünd’s history, specializing in fashionable accessories made from brass and bronze, sometimes silver-plated or gilded. Their finely crafted miniature pieces, including dollhouse furniture, became highly sought-after by collectors. Other popular products included bookbinding tools, buttons, buckles, and gloves.
Initially, the company’s primary markets were England, America, and the various German states, which had yet to unify. In 1864, the factory expanded, continually innovating new products and earning a reputation as a “testing factory.” By 1900, Erhard & Söhne had grown to 3,000 employees, necessitating the construction of a new factory building.In addition to their expertise in working with bronze, brass, copper, and tin, the company also began producing items from precious metals. A major breakthrough came in 1904 when Erhard & Söhne patented a brass inlay manufacturing process. Between 1900 and 1910, their gilt-brass dollhouse furniture and accessories became a huge export success, especially in the United States. The company also introduced innovative products such as the spin-ashtray in 1938 and was granted a patent for the thermo-mug in 1956. Their product range spanned from luxury goods and religious artifacts to electrotype copies of historic cultural objects.
Erhard and Sohne attributed box from Jacksons Antique
Erhard and Söhne became particularly well-known in the collector community for their high-quality ormolu dollhouse furniture and accessories, produced until the mid-1920s. The company’s golden era was the early 20th century, but as it increasingly focused on mechanical engineering and toy production, its fortunes declined.After World War II, Erhard & Söhne played a crucial role in the development of the Unimog (Universal Motor Gerät), a multi-purpose vehicle that became widely used around the world. Under the name Erhard Automotive, the company became an important manufacturer of tracked vehicles and multi-use vehicles.Today, Erhard & Söhne remains a leading manufacturer in Europe, particularly in the automotive industry. The company’s history reflects its transition from hand-crafted, artisanal products to mass-produced industrial design, adapting to changing times while maintaining its legacy of craftsmanship.
Unimog Black and White Photograph credit: special Mercedes Benz trucks