THE HISTORY OF THE FABER-CASTELL COMPANY
The 5th generation - Wilhelm von Faber (1852 - 1893)
1877 - 1893
Lothar von Faber´s only child, Wilhelm, is actively involved in the company from 1873 and in 1877 becomes designated successor. Wilhelm, who has an more artistic disposition, loses his two sons Lothar and Alfred Wilhelm at the early ages of three and four years.
Wilhelm, who suffered greatly from the death of his sons, also dies prematurely in 1893 at the age of just 42 years. He leaves behind a wife and three daughters. As a result, his father Lothar von Faber must once more manage the company until his death in 1896. His widow, Baroness Ottilie von Faber, then inherits the "A.W. Faber" company and manages the company until the turn of the century.
In 1900 Count Alexander Graf von Faber-Castell joins the management.
The 6th generation - Alexander Graf von Faber-Castell (1866 - 1928)
1900 - 1928
In 1898, Wilhelm von Faber´s eldest daughter and eventual heiress, Baroness Ottilie von Faber (1877 - 1944), marries Count Alexander zu Castell-Rüdenhausen, who is descended from one of Germany´s oldest noble families. Prior to his death, Lothar had prepared a testamentary disposition, by means of which he ensured that future generations would always have to integrate the name "Faber" into the new family name. Thus the new family line of "Count and Countess von Faber-Castell" comes into being as well as the new company name "FABER-CASTELL".
1898 in the world:
Marie Curie-Sklodowska discovers the radioactive element radium in uranium.
1903-1906
In 1903, the foundation stone of the large "New Castle" is laid - today it embodies a unique monument to Historicism and German Art Nouveau.
1903 in the world:
The first "Tour de France" starts in Paris.
1905
In 1905, Count Alexander launches the famous green "CASTELL" pencil range. The new product logo of the "Tournament of the jousting Pencil Knights" is introduced as a sign of a new high quality beating all competition. These knights are once more integral to the trademark today.
1905 in the world:
Albert Einstein publishes the so-called "Theory of Relativity".
1920's
In the 20´s, Count Alexander commissions the construction of new manufacturing facilities of substantial proportion at the Stein factory. The three-storey, light-filled manufacturing complex becomes a modern, exemplary production facility.
The 7th generation - Roland Count von Faber-Castell (1905 - 1978)
1928 - 1978
Following the death of Count Alexander in 1928, his son Roland takes over the company management.
1931/32
FABER-CASTELL acquires the "Johann Faber" pencil factory and thus simultaneously an interest in its "Lapis Johann Faber" subidiary in Sao Carlos, Brazil.
1948
The "TK" pencil, a new mechanical pencil for technical drawing, establishes itself successfully on an international scale.
1948 in the world:
The General Assembly of the United Nations proclaims the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
1955
1955 sees the setting up of the manufacture of wood-cased pencils in Ireland, where ballpoint pens are also produced at a later stage.
1960
A sales company is once again founded in France.
1960 in the world:
John F. Kennedy is elected president of the United States of America.
1962
Foundation of the writing and drawing utensils factory in Australia, today the leading manufacturer of text markers, ballpoint pens and felt-tip pens on this continent.
Faber-Castell establishes a highly efficient factory for text markers and felt-tip pens in Austria (Engelhartszell) and a sales branch in Vienna.
1962 in the world:
Marilyn Monroe's death.
1965
A ballpoint-pen factory is set up in Peru (Lima). As a leading manufacturer, it now also produces markers and felt-tip pens.
1965 in the world:
The "Oscar" goes to the movie "Doctor Shivago".
1967
Faber-Castell acquires the majority interest in the lead and coloured pencil factory in Sao Carlos (Brazil), today the largest world-wide.
1967 in the world:
The three European economic institutions EEC, EURATOM and ECSC merge into EC.
The 8th generation - Anton Wolfgang Count von Faber-Castell (born 1941)
since 1978
Following the death of his father Count Roland, Anton Wolfgang Count von Faber-Castell takes over the helm at the company in 1978.
1978 in the world:
New Spanish Constitution (parliamentary monarchy).
Faber-Castell starts the production of make-up pencils (Private Label).