The Weil Brothers

The Příbram company of the Weil brothers started in 1889. The founders were Karel Reichner, a timber merchant in Březové Hory, and Josefa Weilová (*1858 Trhové Dušníky, + 1942 Terezín). The object of the business was "Production and sale of tomb wreaths made of pearls, rosaries, their parts and pilgrim goods". In 1903-1912, Josefina's husband David Weil (*1852 Vysoká u Příbramě, +1912 Příbram) became involved in the management of the company. In 1919 the company became a Weil family company under the name "Bratří Weilové a spol., factory of pilgrim and metal goods in Příbram No. 134/IV". The Weil children Oskar (*1892, +1945 London), Leo (*1883, +1942) and Marta (*1886, + after 1967) married Raková became partners. Another son, Otto (*1884, + after 1921 Prague), owned the company Otto Weil & Co. from 1909 - a factory for the production of metal goods in Příbram, no. 191/V, which produced mainly mirrors.

In 1940, the occupation authorities imposed administration over this Jewish property, and in May the factory was taken over by the national administrator. Part of the Weil family perished in the concentration camps. In 1948, the company was nationalised and incorporated into the company Rudné a tuhové doly Příbram (Ore and Solid Mines Příbram); it was deleted from the commercial register in 1957.

The main business of the company was pilgrimage goods according to catalogues or on specific orders. The goods went almost all over the world (USA, Italy, Romania, Yugoslavia). Soon most of the production was exported. Later, traders from South America, Egypt, Arabia and the Middle East also showed interest in the products.

A new factory building was built in 1903 and strategically located near the railway station. The company's personnel policy was very interesting, as it tried to accommodate its employees to a large extent, providing them with factory meals, for example. Employees had to follow strict work rules, but received insurance and other benefits. The number of employees ranged from about fifty to ninety.

Source: Outline of the History of the Weil Brothers' Factory for Pilgrimage and Metal Goods in Pribram. Podbrdsko XX, 2013, pp. 108-138.

Published by: PhDr. Věra Smolová, Director of SOA Příbram