Godet

[Biro]

4

[Biro]

And just to add to the evidence... (these are not from the catalogue though...)

Marshall

[EK Hunter]

However, Eugene and Jean Godet (presumably Eugene's brother) continued to lease a space at 55 Charlottenstraße, and founded a new firm, which they called Gebrüder Godet, in 1931. Apparently this was legally defensible by the terms of the sale of J. Godet & Sohn to J.H. Werner. Somewhat disingenuously, Gebrüder Godet advertised themselves as the "Oldest Orders Jewelers" in Prussia, while J. Godet & Sohn, now part of J.H. Werner, advertised, "Since 1761."

In 1932, Werner moved their subsidiary J. Godet & Sohn, out of their Friedrichstraße headquarters and into new premises at 12 Unter den Linden. Gebrüder Godet got a leg up when they were chosen to design the Hindenburg Cross for those who participated in the Great War. Apparently the cross was personally designed by Eugene.

Here's my humble contribution. This J. Godet & Sohn AG. packet provides evidence in support of some of the information contained in the above-quoted paragraphs.

Best, Alex

[streptile]

Here's my humble contribution. This J. Godet & Sohn AG. packet provides evidence in support of some of the information contained in the above-quoted paragraphs. Best, Alex

Right, I agree. And we can date your packet between 1932 and 1937, since J. Godet & Sohn was at UdL12 only during that time.

Notice again that J. Godet & Sohn is entitled to write "Since 1761" and are at pains to distance themselves from their annoying competition, Gebrüder Godet: "only at Unter den Linden 12."

Thanks for posting, Alex.

[streptile]

Yes-indeedy-doodley-neighbour...

Thanks Marshall -- that's a really great catalogue.

[Biro]

Just throwing it out there - and I'm sure Trevor will be able to add more to this - but given that J Godet seemed to continue to operate right thru the various address changes and Werner made only a fleeting joint appearance in some advertising, is it beyond the realms of possibility that J Godet actually bought Werner, moved into their premises, etc.. etc.. ??

I know nothing of Werners history.

[streptile]

Hi Marshall,

I have considered that possibility, but in my opinion a few factors militate against it.

• I had read, in a few different sources, that J. Godet & Sohn was sold in the 1920s but no one seemed sure to whom.
• J. Godet & Sohn and Gebrüder Godet were clearly in some kind of especially close competition with one another after 1932 or so, yet Eugene Godet was proprietor of J. Godet before 1931, and Gebrüder afterwards. If he bought a company, instead of sold one, I'm not sure how that could be understood.
• J. Godet & Sohn was a publicly-traded company, responsible to its shareholders after 1923. I don't know if the family ever relinquished a majority position in J. Godet, but if they did, the company could have been sold without their consent (this is my present pet theory). This was a time of economic depression.
• The very few awards I have seen that are positively linked to Godet-Werner look nothing like Godets, but a lot like Werners.
• Immediately after the sale (whoever did the buying), J. Godet was relocated to Werner's headquarters until they were set up in their own, about two or three years later. At that time the tags on the backs of bars had the original Friedrichstraße address folded under, or cut off, but "Godet-Werner" was still visible. I think Werner continued to own J. Godet, but saw the value of letting the famous name fly on its own after a while.

For all that, your suggestion remains a possibility.

[EK Hunter]

Thanks for posting, Alex.

You're welcome Trevor. Glad to be able to contribute something to this interesting thread.

Best,

Alex

[saschaw]

Great, absoluetely great! I have something somewhere that I have not handy, but think it's nothing that has not yet been posted. If so, I'll add at some time...

* by the way, J. Godet & Sohn moved from Unter den Linden 12 to 53 in 1937, a fact I've not mentioned previously.

I'm not sure they moved. I've heard but am not sure that berlin house numbers changed at some point(s) - different numbers for same houses. Who would move within one street...

PS: No details, but I found on wikipedia: "Im Jahre 1937 wurde die Hausnummernzählung verändert."

[Dietrich Maerz]

Here is another piece of evidence. A letter from J. Godet & Sohn to the Präsidialkanzlei, dated 28. Ocvtober 1939. The interesting part is that the A.G (Aktiengesellschaft = public traded company) is crossed out and replaced by a KG (Kommanditgesellschaft = private limited partnership). The use of this letterhead indicates that the transformation from an AG to a KG just happened shortly before. Also note that the street number has been changed from 12 to 53.
The owner/managing director at that point in time was a certain A. Schultze.

[streptile]

The owner/managing director at that point in time was a certain A. Schultze.

A. Schultze running J. Godet... interesting.

All fascinating information. Thanks for posting your letter. Any further information you have on Godet, we'd love to see it.

Also, nice to see you over here.

[streptile]

Great, absoluetely great!

Thanks Sascha

...and for this clarification:

"Im Jahre 1937 wurde die Hausnummernzählung verändert."

[Biro]

Love this photo and it may as well reside in this thread...

The Brothers Godet shopfrontage.

Marshall

[Zepenthusiast]

Ummm....are there two PlMs, one with Oaks and one without, and the one without the oaks suggesting an overall larger medal body than the other???

[Don D.]

You'll need the Hubble Telescope to know for sure.