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Wilhelm Detmers became a partner in Radecker and Co. in the 1880s and was still with it, though living in Hamburg, at the time of liquidation of the company in 1914.
This somewhat tortuous account of the partnerships, changing of firm names, and former employees forming new companies illustrates some of the complicated relationships in the business community in Hong Kong, especially among the individuals who never developed such large trading interests as companies like Melchers, Siemssen and Co. and Arnhold, Karberg and Co.
Radecker, Hagedorn and Co., Krummenacher and Co., Vogel Hagedorn and Co.
Radecker and Co. was among the German firms placed in liquidation in 1914. Richard Hermann Radecker from 1862 to 1864 was an accountant in Schellhass and Co. He was briefly with Elmenhorst and Co. before he went into partnership with F.W. Hagedorn as Radecker, Hagedorn and Co. in July 1865 (GG July 1865). Mr. Radecker retired from the firm in 1867, but the business was continued by the remaining partners as Hagedorn and Co. (GG 5 Jan. 1867). Mr. Radecker continued as an independent merchant until he joined with Joseph Krummenacher in the firm of Krummenacher and Co. (GG 2 Jan. 1869). From 1876 to 1882, Richard H. Radecker appears in the jury lists as a merchant in the firm of Radecker and Co. He died in Hamburg on 12 April 1884, aged forty-four years (DP 23 May 1884).
Joseph Krummenacher, who joined up with Mr. Hagedorn in 1869, had been since 1866 a partner in the firm of Sander and Company (DP 29 Sept. 1866, GG 8 Feb. 1868). Mr. Krummenacher last appears on the jury list in 1872.
Frederick William Hagedorn began his business career in Hong Kong in 1864 as an assistant in the firm of Hesse, Ehlers and Co. In July 1865, he and Richard H. Radecker became partners. He continued the business when Mr. Radecker left the firm in 1867 (GG 1 July 1865, 5 Jan. 1867). Hagedorn and Co. took on two new partners in 1868, and the name of the firm was changed to Vogel, Hagedorn and Co. The new partners were Emil Vogel and Heinrich Kirchhoff (GG 15 Feb. 1868). In 1877, Mr. Hagedorn retired from this company (DP 3 Sept. 1877).