Genealogy
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The Holtzapffel family has spanned many generations several of which had an extremely important influence on ornamental turning during England's Victorian Era.
Click thumbnail images below to view the Holtzapffel family tree.
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John Jacob Holtzapffel I (1768–1835)
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Biographies
John Jacob Holtzapffel I (1768-1835)
J. J. Holtzapffel was born and lived in Strasbourg (then part of France) where he trained as a turner. He moved to London in 1792 and worked for two years in the workshop of the famous mathematical instrument maker Jesse Ramsden (1762-1800). Then, in 1794, he setup a mechanical and toolmaker business, initially as a partnership with Francis Rousset. During its first years, the shop made anything requested, including ammunition casings and inventor's models. In 1795, John Jacob began the lathe production for which the firm was to become famous. From 1795 to 1803, they produced and sold 385 lathes, including Holtzapffel's first rose engine lathe in 1797. Of particular importance is the overhead drive system he developed in which a treadle-powered arrangement of pulleys and belts rotates a shaped cutters, which had a variety of sizes and profiles. This enabled an unending profusion of surface decorations to be made on an item while still mounted on the lathe. From 1804 to 1826, John Jacob formed a partnership with his assistant Johann Georg Deyerlein (who was born in Mannheim and came to Britain in 1789) and conducted business under the name Holtzapffel & Deyerlein. (Holtzapffel lathes were not numbered until Deyerlein joined the firm.) Deyerlein became ill and died in October of 1826. John Jacob's son Charles joined the business in 1827 and by year's end the firm had officially become Holtzapffel & Co. Read letters by J. J. Holtzapffel I, and other related documents.
Charles Holtzapffel (1806-1847)
Charles joined his father's company at age 21, soon after Deyerlein died. He took over the business nine years later when his father died and continued to develop the machinery and attachments for ornamental turning. He also invented other devices including machinery for printing banknotes, a dividing engine for the graduation of drawing scales, and an apparatus for tracing geometrical figures on glass. In 1838, Charles published his "A New System of Scales of Equal Parts: Applicable to Various Purposes of Engineering, Architectural and General Science," as well as the related "List of Scales of Equal Parts." He then published several of the multi-volume treatise Turning and Mechanical Manipulation, which were intended as a work of general reference and instruction on the lathe. Volume 1, "Materials, Their Differences, Choice, and Preparation; Various Modes of Working Them, Generally Without Cutting Tools," was his father's work and published in 1843. Charles wrote Volume 2, "The Principles of Construction, Action and Application of Cutting Tools Used by Hand; And Also of Machines Derived from the Hand Tools," was published in 1846. Vol. 3, "Abrasives and Miscellaneous Processes, which Cannot be Accomplished with Cutting Tools," remained uncompleted when Charles died at age 41. By that time, the firm had sold approximately 1500 lathes. Charles Holtzapffel was a member of the Council of the Institute of Civil Engineers, and was Chairman of the Mechanic's Committee of the Society of Arts. Read Charles Holtzapffel obituary, memorial, will, and other related documents
Amelia Holtzapffel (1831-1894)
Amelia took over the firm upon her husband's early death, as their eldest son John Jacob II was only eleven years old at the time. She posthumously published Charles' partially completed Vol. 3 of Turning and Mechanical Manipulation in 1850, and continued to manage the firm until 1853. Her marriage to George Caulkin Budd produced further lineage to the company a generation later, after her brother John Jacob II, who did not have any children, led the company from 1867 to 1897.
John Jacob Holtzapffel II (1836-1897)
Since John Jacob II was a minor when his father died, it would be twenty years after his fathers death until he became head of the firm, which he ran until 1896. He completed Vol. 4, "The Principles and Practice of Hand or Simple Turning," which was published in 1879. (He also made the 750 woodcut illustrations that it contains.) Vol. 5, "The Principles and Practice of Ornamental or Complex Turning," was published in 1884.The examples shown in Vol. 5 attest to his fine abilities as an ornamental turner. It would have contained more information but J. J. had planned to write a Vol. 6 detailing the rose engine and geometric chuck, which was never produced. However, J. J. did go on to publish a revised and enlarged edition of Vol. 3 in 1894. Today, Vol. IV and V of the series are often called the "Bible of Ornamental Turning" because they are such comprehensive books on all aspects of the craft. J. J. is credited with having brought the cost of an ornamental turning lathe down to a sum which a "mere gentleman" could afford. He also refined and improved lathe design resulting in a combination that was both elegant and functional. Although he married in 1862, John Jacob had no children. His sister (also named Amelia) married George Calkin Budd and produced five children, among them George William.
George William Holtzapffel Budd (1857-1924)
John Jacob's nephew, George William Budd adopted the Holtzapffel name and became head of the firm in 1896. He enjoyed sharing admiration and advice for the art of ornamental turning and was a skilled artist himself. He was also a Justice of the Peace, a Past Master of The Worshipful Company of Turners, and a constant Judge at that Company's Exhibition. His son, John George succeeded him. Read George W. Holtzapffel Budd obituary
John George Holtzapffel Budd (1888-1968)
From 1919, John George helped with the business, becoming head in his turn. In 1927, John George announced that due to increased costs of production after the war, combined with their clients' tremendous preoccupation with the automobile over ornamental turning, they would be closing their doors. The last lathe produced was Holtzapffel No. 2557, made in 1913-14 and sold in November 1928. No other business matched the Holtzapffel family in the production of ornamental lathes.
Timeline of Notable Dates
Below are important historical events related to Holtzapffel & Co.
1768 — John Jacob Holtzapffel born. He lives in Strasbourg (then part of France) and apprentices as a mathematical turner.
1792 — John Jacob moves to London and starts a business for manufacturing various tools.
1794 — John Jacob establishes Holtzapffel & Co., initially as a seven year partnership with Francis Rousset.
1795 — Holtzapffel begins lathe production. First lathe delivered on June 31st, 1795.
1795 — First Holtzapffel screw mandrel lathe delivered on December 20th, 1795.
1797 — First Holtzapffel rose engine lathe delivered on February 17th, 1797.
1804 — John George Deyerlein joins the firm in partnership with John Jacob.
1826 — Deyerlein dies (October).
1827 — Charles Holtzapffel enters into firm.
1835 — John Jacob Holtzapffel dies at age 67. His son Charles takes over. By this time, the firm has sold more than 1500 lathes.
1843 — Charles publishes Volume I of Turning & Mechanical Manipulation.
1846 — Charles publishes Volume II of Turning & Mechanical Manipulation.
1847 — Charles Holtzapffel dies at age 41. Widow Amelia Vaux Holtzapffel takes over management of the firm.
1850 — Amelia publishes unfinished Volume III of Turning & Mechanical Manipulation from Charles' writings.
1867 — John Jacob Holtzapffel II becomes head of firm.
1879 — John Jacob publishes Volume IV of Turning & Mechanical Manipulation. (1881 as per SOT 13:47)
1884 — John Jacob publishes of Volume V of Turning & Mechanical Manipulation.
1894 — John Jacob publishes revised and enlarged edition of Volume III of Turning & Mechanical Manipulation.
1896 – John Jacob Holtzapffel's nephew, George William Budd, becomes head of the Holtzapffel firm and changes his last name to Holtzapffel the following year.
1897 – John Jacob Holtzapffel II, grandson of the original founder, dies at age 58.
1914 — The last lathe to be produced by Holtzapffel is made in between 1913 and 1914, and is later sold at the closing of the business in November 1928.
1919 — John George Holtzapffel Budd, the son of G.W.H. Budd, takes an active part in running the Holtzapffel firm.
1928 — The lathe business is given up, and the inventory and stock is sold off. At this point, the Holtzapffel firm becomes a common retail shop along with a sub-contracting engineering business.
1932 — An associate firm conducts business as Walkers & Holtzapffel (Walker was Budd's brother-in-law) and is also known simply as Walkers during the period 1929-1931. One of that company's main activities is producing model railway equipment.
1938 — The remnant business is taken over by Sharpleshall Ltd., also known as Sharples Hall Works.
1768 — John Jacob Holtzapffel born. He lives in Strasbourg (then part of France) and apprentices as a mathematical turner.
1792 — John Jacob moves to London and starts a business for manufacturing various tools.
1794 — John Jacob establishes Holtzapffel & Co., initially as a seven year partnership with Francis Rousset.
1795 — Holtzapffel begins lathe production. First lathe delivered on June 31st, 1795.
1795 — First Holtzapffel screw mandrel lathe delivered on December 20th, 1795.
1797 — First Holtzapffel rose engine lathe delivered on February 17th, 1797.
1804 — John George Deyerlein joins the firm in partnership with John Jacob.
1826 — Deyerlein dies (October).
1827 — Charles Holtzapffel enters into firm.
1835 — John Jacob Holtzapffel dies at age 67. His son Charles takes over. By this time, the firm has sold more than 1500 lathes.
1843 — Charles publishes Volume I of Turning & Mechanical Manipulation.
1846 — Charles publishes Volume II of Turning & Mechanical Manipulation.
1847 — Charles Holtzapffel dies at age 41. Widow Amelia Vaux Holtzapffel takes over management of the firm.
1850 — Amelia publishes unfinished Volume III of Turning & Mechanical Manipulation from Charles' writings.
1867 — John Jacob Holtzapffel II becomes head of firm.
1879 — John Jacob publishes Volume IV of Turning & Mechanical Manipulation. (1881 as per SOT 13:47)
1884 — John Jacob publishes of Volume V of Turning & Mechanical Manipulation.
1894 — John Jacob publishes revised and enlarged edition of Volume III of Turning & Mechanical Manipulation.
1896 – John Jacob Holtzapffel's nephew, George William Budd, becomes head of the Holtzapffel firm and changes his last name to Holtzapffel the following year.
1897 – John Jacob Holtzapffel II, grandson of the original founder, dies at age 58.
1914 — The last lathe to be produced by Holtzapffel is made in between 1913 and 1914, and is later sold at the closing of the business in November 1928.
1919 — John George Holtzapffel Budd, the son of G.W.H. Budd, takes an active part in running the Holtzapffel firm.
1928 — The lathe business is given up, and the inventory and stock is sold off. At this point, the Holtzapffel firm becomes a common retail shop along with a sub-contracting engineering business.
1932 — An associate firm conducts business as Walkers & Holtzapffel (Walker was Budd's brother-in-law) and is also known simply as Walkers during the period 1929-1931. One of that company's main activities is producing model railway equipment.
1938 — The remnant business is taken over by Sharpleshall Ltd., also known as Sharples Hall Works.