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Me Fecit Solingen Nicht

Written by Kim Schoeffel

 

1632 September 1

To: Burgermeister und Guild Masters von Solingen

Solingen, Westphalia

 

Greetings be unto you, the Burgermeister und Guild Masters von Solingen;

 

Ich bin Meister Lawrence Farha. I head the RAND Group of Grantville. I have taken the opportunity of retaining the Abrabanel family to represent my interests to you.

The swords you make have a centuries old reputation both now and in the future world, where Grantville has come from. I offer you the singular opportunity to manufacture distinctive products from the future. If this business proposition is successful, I have other items that may be offered in partnership.

I have sent two items for you to examine. Both of these classic pieces have important military applications. The KA-BAR knife was the signature combat knife of the United States Marine Corps. The United States Marine Corps was an elite military fighting unit of the future. The KA-BAR could be wielded as a combat knife or if slightly modified, attached to a musket or rifle as a bayonet.

The Swiss Army Knife could easily be renamed the Solingen or Swedish Army Knife. This knife is a smaller, multiple use tool. There are many types as shown in the accompanying brochure. I would recommend the one with a single blade, a screwdriver and file, and a saw blade. I also have some ideas on marketing these products.

If you agree to my proposal and we reach a negotiated contract, you can use these examples as working models. In addition I can provide information on how to increase your productivity and profit.

If you choose not to accept this offer I request all items be returned to my representatives and I will pursue discussions with less skilled Guild Masters elsewhere.

I regret that I am unable to come to present my proposal in person as my health is delicate. I look forward to hearing your reply.

 

Lawrence Farha

Chairman, RAND Group

Grantville

 

1632 October 13

TO: Meister Lawrence Farha

Chairman, RAND Group

Grantville

 

Greetings Meister Farha,

 

We, the Burgermeister and Guild Masters, are intrigued and honored by your proposal. We can make the pieces as evidenced by our first attempts which you now have in your possession. A small minority of the Guild Masters are firmly against any changes in our manufacturing process. In contrast, your representative has expounded on the benefits to Solingen. To our dismay, your representative is also discussing these benefits with journeymen, apprentices and local Committees of Correspondence.

If you are willing to invest 750 guilders, we are agreeable to this proposal. Please have your lawyers contact our lawyers to concluded this contract.

 

Burgermeister

Guild Master for Grinders

Guild Master for Cutlers

Guild Master for Sword Makers

Guild Master for Temperers

 

 

1632 December 6

 

Greetings to the Honorable Burgermeister and Guild Masters,

 

Let me begin by expressing my appreciation of your foresight in accepting my proposal. My representative has invested the monies you requested. Based on the contract, I understand I now own 30% of the Solingen Messer Werks.

As owners of the company, I highly recommend your representatives meet with a representative of the Higgins Sewing Machine Company to learn how to market the selling of common stock. This will increase the monies available to expand the company.

I have found further examples of goods we can produce. These include medical instruments, different types of shears or scissors and dinnerware.

If a small group, of say 6 representatives, consisting of a City Council Member, a willing Guild Master, three journeymen and an apprentice would come to Grantville, I will personally show them the wonders of Grantville. During this time, I will have them visit other manufactories and local experts. I will also pay any reasonable expenses.

 

 

Lawrence Farha

Chairman, RAND Group

Grantville

 

 

 

1633 Februar 12

TO: Mister Lawrence Farha

Grantville

 

Our representatives have returned from Grantville with distressing information.

The lodging provided for the apprentice and journeymen was far beyond what they needed. They could certainly have shared a room.

The tour of the "machine shop" offends our sensibilities. Using machine to do the work a fine craftsman does is an abomination. The fact this would improve production is meaningless.

The meeting with your local expert, Master Peter Jones was illuminating. His description on how metalwork could be polished to the high gloss sheen was informative.

The informal evenings our journeymen and apprentice spent at the Thuringen Gardens have made our blood boil. We keep hearing about unions, shares, and working conditions. They are now spreading these impossible tales to others through the Committees of Correspondence.

Finally, the presentation from the owner of the Higgins Sewing Machine Company proves an outrageous point. The owner, Karl Schmidt, told ...