Between a few scraps and Aunt Franka's diary, trying ot put together what maintained Julek.
He used to be the mainstay (only son, eldest child) after his father died, he had been educated in Germany at a High School of Commerce, (Dresden seems to sound right}, but he ended up being an “inventor” with a couple of patents to his name: one was a “Couvercle”, a cooking pot lid fitting different sizes of pots and fillable with water, which would heat up during the cooking process and could then be used as a bed-pan; the other had something to do with a pipe for smokers, but H, said it was utterly useless.
TABAK-CONTINENTALE[1]
Lubliner & Christner[2]
Berlin, November 26, 1915
Mr. Julian Baumgarten, LODZ
Although we do not accept the difference presented to us, we are willing to accommodate your proposal and authorize you to transfer the Mk. 1400 -- to our company as of February 20, 1916.
Yours sincerely,
?. Lubliner
La Journée industrielle, 10 mars 1932, p. 2/8
Blanchisserie du Printemps. — A limited-liability company recently formed for the operation of a laundry. Registered office in Clamart (Seine), 1, Place Ferrari. Capital: 300,000 francs, divided into shares of 1,000 francs.
Managers: Messrs. Salomon Schallit, industrialist, Paris, 5 Villa Jocelyn, 1 Square Lamartine; Julien Baumgarten, industrialist, Paris, 31 Rue Le Marois; and Harry Tarbe, Paris, 18 Rue Lambardie.
La Loi, 10 juin 1937, p. 2/4
That it has appointed as its first administrators, in accordance with Article 22 of the bylaws:
1) Mr. Julien Baumgarten, former industrialist, residing in Paris, 6 avenue Dodé-de-la-Brumerie;
2) And Mr. René Jean Charles Édouard Requet-Barville, property manager, architect, residing in Paris, 3 rue Georges-Berger.
Patent FR936678. November 20, 1946.
Don't have the details, but have found that, according to a subsequent US patent for a humidifier device:
French Patent Number 936,678, published on Jul. 27, 1948, describes a humidifying pad having a plurality of mounting holes. The French Patent Number 936,678 describes a device which is significantly different in structure from the present invention..
No evidence that he produced this.
Patent FR936679. November 20, 1946.
Don't have the details, but have found that, according to a subsequent German patent for a boil-over alarm pot lid:
The French document FR 936 679 describes a lid in the form of a truncated cylinder containing water and having a concave base, but forming a closed space resting on the pot, the use of which is similar to that of a kettle, in which the water placed inside spreads over the entire surface without leaving a protruding part in the middle. The cooking pots presented do not have a boil-over indicator.
According to letterhead on a couple letters, he did try creating a business with this cookpot lid.
The 1948 Foire de Paris (an annual major retial even), according to Wikipedia, "covered 45 hectares (110 acres) and included luxury goods such as leather and shoes for the first time since the war. It also had 23 television sets, which attracted thousands of people."
The Concours Lépine is an annual French invention competition (and appears to have overlapped with the 1949 internation invention competiton). Vermilion was the second place medal (ahead of bronze).
ChatGPT translation and transcription (doesn't include PSs on side). Presumably this relates to what Mom noted about some plan he had for pipes.:
January 11, 1951
Dear Janka,
Thank you very much for your detailed and kind letter. I value your loyalty especially highly. I ask you once more for clarification regarding the matters you mentioned.
When you reread your letter, you will see that these things must be discussed jointly and in person, because the content is serious and deeply thought out — especially concerning certain factories that show the right tendency but still remain a major question. If decisions are made there regarding this hypothesis, please name specific ones for me, as I myself can see very little of it.
One can easily compare this with the Humboldtian principle in your reflections. You have reported something important to me, something about which one must always continue speaking.
You go on to write about a type premium. Albert tobacco is mediocre. Nevertheless, the question of conversion for enterprises still applies. The tobacco is tested only in the customary, generally accepted way. These firms would certainly be interested in exporting it as raw material. Please tell me: where, or at what non-binding price?
Humboldtian law requires only three and a half years. Sales are not excluded but are now being prepared. In manufacturing, the cost per unit weight is approximately 1.50–1.70 francs (about 3 złoty).
Production, however, would have to follow specifications regarding raw materials and labor.
I allow no strength that a person possesses — no matter how small — to go to waste. I myself have had to endure difficult times with many sacrifices. I do not know the reflection of the blissfully fortunate.
Yet I am convinced that I am not secretly criticizing society, but rather speaking from experience, which today we have so long owed to self-satisfaction.
Never retract anything just because you suffer a loss with a step forward. I myself have often borne painful losses, but I endured them convinced that the right action opens opportunities.
You call my reserve vanity? Ask instead: why this fear? What lies behind it?
Two years wasted and so much malicious anger, followed by the greatest false report. Then nothing hidden anymore — I stand before open truth.
Will the family now act cautiously or wisely? The clarification of my state of mind came through severe experiences. Now I am calm, neither discouraged nor despairing. I too need my peace.
Do you feel that you have passed your trial properly?
I am very busy, for much is at stake, but I will not act rashly. Live continually in calmness and have confidence in your work.
Yours,
Julek
Liebe Janka!
Vielen Dank für Deinen ausführlichen und lieben Brief. Deine Treue besitze ich besonders hoch. Bitte ich Dich noch um eine Auskunft in Betrachtung der Sachen, die Du erwähnst.
Wenn Du Deinen Brief liest, so ist es die Bestimmung, gemeinsam, persönlich, zu besprechen, denn der Inhalt ist sehr schwer und tief durchdacht, besonders über gewisse Fabriken, die richtige Tendenz zeigen, aber eine große Frage bleiben. Wenn dort über diese Hypothese entschieden wird, bitte ich Dich, mir welche zu benennen — ich sehe ja nur wenig davon.
Humboldtsches Prinzip kann man leicht vergleichen bei Deiner Betrachtung. Du hast mir eine wichtige Sache berichtet, worüber man immer sprechen muss.
Du schreibst weiter über eine Typ-Prämie. Albert-Tabak ist mittelmäßig. Trotzdem gilt es die Frage einer Umstellung für Betriebe usw. Der Tabak wird nur so geprüft, wie man es gewöhnlich anerkennt. Diese Firmen hätten gewiss ein Interesse, als Rohmaterial exportiert zu werden. Bitte: wo oder gegen welchen unverbindlichen Preis?
Humboldtsches Recht braucht nur 3½ Jahre. Absatz ist nicht ausgeschlossen, sondern jetzt vorbereitet. In der Fabrikation kostet ungefähr ein Frangengewicht etwa 1,50–1,70, = ca. 3 zl.
Doch müsste die Herstellung nach Angaben erfolgen, welche Rohmaterial und Arbeit verlangen.
Jede Kraft, die jemand besitzt, lasse ich — wenn sie noch so klein ist — nicht verloren gehen. Ich habe selbst schwere Zeiten mit vielen Opfern durchmachen müssen. Ich kenne selbst den Spiegel eines Glückseligen nicht.
Doch bin ich überzeugt, dass ich nicht heimlich die Allgemeinheit schlecht mache, sondern aus der Erfahrung spreche, was wir heute so lange der Selbstzufriedenheit verdanken.
Widerrichte niemals etwas, wenn Du mit einem Schritt vorwärts einen Verlust erleidest! Ich habe selbst oft schlimme Verluste getragen, aber die richtige Tat, die Chancen gibt, sich zu erweitern, habe ich ertragen — überzeugt.
Du nennst meine Zurückhaltung Eitelkeit? Frage mich: warum diese Befürchtung? Was steckt dahinter?
Zwei Jahre vergeblich und so viel böse Wut, dann der größte Lügenbericht. Dann nichts Heimliches mehr — ich stehe vor offener Wahrheit.
Wird die Familie nun vorsichtig oder klug sein? Die Aufklärung meines Gemütes kam durch schwere Erlebnisse. Jetzt bin ich ruhig, weder verzagt noch verzweifelt. Auch ich brauche meine Ruhe.
Hast Du gefühlt, Deine Prüfung in Ordnung gebracht zu haben?
Ich bin sehr beschäftigt, denn es steht vieles auf dem Spiel, doch ich werde nicht leicht handeln. Lebe fortwährend ruhig und habe Vertrauen in Deine Arbeit.
Dein
Julek
Notes:
So some evidence of working with tobacco during the war. Lubliner & Christner was a tobacco manufacturer in Berlin. Was absorbed by another company sometime after the war.
A Lubliner relation? Seems too much of a coincidence, but maybe not uncommon.