Heinke
Encyclopedia
Heinke was a series of companies that made diving equipment
in London, run by members of a Heinke family.
Unlike Siebe Gorman, who had only one series of serial numbers for their diving helmets, except for the last productions (which were meant most probably for the Russian Navy), Heinke used many series of serial numbers for them.
Diving equipment
Diving equipment is equipment used by underwater divers for the purpose of facilitating diving activities. This may be equipment primarily intended for this purpose, or equipment intended for other puprposes which is found to be suitable for diving use....
in London, run by members of a Heinke family.
Timeline
- 1786: Gotthilf Frederick Heinke was born in PrussiaPrussiaPrussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
.- He became a coppersmith.
- 1816: Then or earlier he married Sarah, who bore him three sons and two daughters.
- 1816: John William Heinke (son of Gotthilf Frederick) born.
- 1818: Gotthilf Frederick Heinke opened an ironmongery shop business in London.
- 1818: Charles Edwin Heinke (son of Gotthilf Frederick) born.
- 1819: Gotthilf Frederick Heinke got a workshop at 103 Great Portland StreetGreat Portland StreetGreat Portland Street is a street in the West End of London. Linking Oxford Street with Albany Street and the busy A501 Marylebone Road and Euston Road, the road forms the boundary between Fitzrovia to the east and Marylebone to the west...
in London since 1819. - 1820: Gotthilf Henry Heinke (son of Gotthilf Frederick) born.
- 1839: Gotthilf Frederick Heinke opened a second premises at 3 Old JewryOld JewryOld Jewry is the name of a street in the City of London, in Coleman Street Ward, linking Gresham Street with The Poultry.William the Conqueror encouraged Jews to come to England soon after the Norman Conquest; some settled in cities throughout his new domain, including in London. According to Rev....
, London. - 1840: John William Heinke married Louisa Margaret Leathart.
Start of making diving helmets
- 1844: Around then Charles Edwin Heinke made his first diving helmet.
- Inspired by William F. Saddler, Heinke started using solid brassBrassBrass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
for diving helmets' breastplateBreastplateA breastplate is a device worn over the torso to protect it from injury, as an item of religious significance, or as an item of status. A breastplate is sometimes worn by mythological beings as a distinctive item of clothing.- Armour :...
s, instead of copper sheet. Heinke's diving helmets had three similarly-shaped circular windows. They did not have the outer protective grills as in other helmets; thus they had better visibility for divers, and it was easier to keep the windows clean. - Heinke's main competitor was Siebe GormanSiebe GormanSiebe Gorman & Company Ltd was a British company which developed diving equipment and breathing equipment and worked on commercial diving and marine salvage projects...
who also made diving helmets, and Heinke constantly tried to improve on designs. He introduced an additional exhaust valve on the front side of the breastplate, which is now called the "peppermill" because of the holes in its cover. This exhaust made it possible for the diver to ascend and descend much faster.
- Inspired by William F. Saddler, Heinke started using solid brass
- 1845; He brought in the "Pearler" helmet, with a square-pattern mould-cast (instead of oval and beaten) copper helmet. He became famous with this style. Their square breastplate made it easier for the diver to bend forwards to look for pearl oysterPearl oysterPearl oysters are saltwater clams, marine bivalve molluscs of the genus Pinctada in the family Pteriidae. They have a strong inner shell layer composed of nacre, also known as "mother of pearl"....
s on the seabed. The idea was later copied by companies such as Siebe after Siebe took over Hienke, and even by Morse DivingMorse DivingMorse Diving is a big USA maker of diving equipment. It started in 1837.Morse Diving is the oldest manufacturer of diving equipment in the world and the 412th oldest company ever, sharing its founding year with Tiffany and Co....
in the USA. - 1858: Around then the addresses in Great Portland Street were renumbered: 103 became 79.
- 1852: Starting then, William Robert Foster and others ran a firm 'Foster and Williams' supplying diving dresses and air hose at 87 Grange Road, BermondseyBermondseyBermondsey is an area in London on the south bank of the river Thames, and is part of the London Borough of Southwark. To the west lies Southwark, to the east Rotherhithe, and to the south, Walworth and Peckham.-Toponomy:...
, London. - 1858: Gotthilf Frederick Heinke applied for British citizenship, and was granted it.
- 1863: Some members of the Heinke family (including Frederick William Heinke (son of John William Heinke) started a firm "Heinke Brothers", 78-78 Great Portland StreetGreat Portland StreetGreat Portland Street is a street in the West End of London. Linking Oxford Street with Albany Street and the busy A501 Marylebone Road and Euston Road, the road forms the boundary between Fitzrovia to the east and Marylebone to the west...
, London, "Submarine Engineers"; that firm lasted until 1867. - 1869: Charles Edwin Heinke died suddenly.
- 1870: John William Heinke died suddenly. These two deaths disorganized company business.
- Soon after, Frederick William Heinke and one John Davis AICEAICEAICE may mean:*The American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise*The Association of Independent Competitive Eaters*The Association of Independent Creative Editors*The Advanced International Certificate of Education*The American Institute of Chemical Engineers...
formed a new firm 'Heinke & Davis' at 176 Great Portland StreetGreat Portland StreetGreat Portland Street is a street in the West End of London. Linking Oxford Street with Albany Street and the busy A501 Marylebone Road and Euston Road, the road forms the boundary between Fitzrovia to the east and Marylebone to the west...
, London. It moved to 2 Brabant Court, Philpot Lane, London. It was bankrupt by January 1879.
- Soon after, Frederick William Heinke and one John Davis AICE
- 1871: Gotthilf Frederick Heinke died.
- 1871: Gotthilf Henry Heinke started a new business 'C.E.Heinke & Co, Submarine Engineers'.
- 1883: Frederick William Heinke died of fever in Canada.
- 1884: Gotthilf Henry Heinke retired for ill health, and sold his compamy to Robert Fox (his brother in law) and William Foster.
20th century
- 1902: Robert Fox died. 'Foster and Williams' was merged into 'C.E.Heinke & Co, Submarine Engineers'.
- 1904: The lease on Great Portland Street expired. Production was moved to Foster and Williams's premises.
- 1905: The company got 10,000 more square feet of work area.
- 1905: All Heinke helmets made until 1905 had the butterfly style wingnutWingnutPterocarya, often called wingnuts in English, are trees in the walnut family Juglandaceae. They are native to Asia. The botanic name is from Ancient Greek pteron, "wing" + karyon, "nut".-Description:...
s; after that regular wingnuts were used. - 1922: C.E.Heinke & Co, Submarine Engineers became a limited company 'C.E.Heinke & Co Ltd, Submarine Engineers', making a good living from standard diving equipment.
WWII and after
- WWII blitz: Many company records were lost.
- 1950: After this date the firm's fortunes declined, as with Siebe GormanSiebe GormanSiebe Gorman & Company Ltd was a British company which developed diving equipment and breathing equipment and worked on commercial diving and marine salvage projects...
. - Mid to late 1950's: the firm starts making aqualungAqualungAqualung may refer to:* Aqua-lung, a type of diving equipment* Aqua Lung/La Spirotechnique, a French manufacturer of diving equipment* Aqua Lung America, a US company that makes diving equipment, subsidiary of the French company...
s (tradenamed "Heinke-Lung"). - 1958: Heinke donated the Heinke Trophy to the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC). This trophy is awarded annually to the BSAC branch judged to have done the most to further the interests of its own members and of the BSAC.
- 1961: The firm was incorporated into Siebe GormanSiebe GormanSiebe Gorman & Company Ltd was a British company which developed diving equipment and breathing equipment and worked on commercial diving and marine salvage projects...
. Before this, the Heinke company's records were burnt by its last director. The last Heinke diving helmet went out of production in 1961. A few helmets were given the tag of "Siebe-Heinke", but eventually the name Heinke completely disappeared. - 1967-8: Siebe Gorman stops using the tradename 'Siebe Heinke'.
Unlike Siebe Gorman, who had only one series of serial numbers for their diving helmets, except for the last productions (which were meant most probably for the Russian Navy), Heinke used many series of serial numbers for them.
External links
- Heinke
- C.E.Heinke
- The Heinke Trophy Award
- http://www.archive.mksac.co.uk/History/gear/images/history1.JPGLink to early 1950's advertisement for a Heinke-Lung (aqualung made by Heinke)
- Similar with Hans HassHans HassHans Hass is a diving pioneer known mainly for his documentaries about sharks, the energon theory, and his commitment, later in life, to the protection of the environment. He was born in Vienna, Austria.-Early years:...
and Lotte HassLotte HassCharlotte Hildegard Hass is the second wife of the Austrian naturalist and diving pioneer Hans Hass and worked as an underwater model and actress in several of his films...
