G. P. LAMMERT
627
50%
There was published yesterday an interview with a resident of the Colony who can look back to his arrival here fifty years ago. One of the oldest European residents, however, who was born here seventy-two years ago, is Mr. George P. Lammert, one of the partners of Lammert Brothers, the well-known auctioneers. The name, however, goes back even further, also in the auctioneering business, for the first-comer of the family was Mr. G. R. Lammert, who arrived in the late Fifties, and founded the firm of Lammert, Atkinson and Company, in partnership with Mr. J. Atkinson, in 1860. They were also ship-chandlers and general commission agents, and had an office in Queen's Road. It was at the outset a concern doing a fair amount of business, and in 1864, besides the principals, we find Messrs. Geo. Whitehouse, Jose M. Guedes, Jr., E. F. Fonseca, and W. P. Morrison as assistants.
The name of the firm continued unchanged until 1890, when the eldest son took over the concern and it was given the firm name of G. P. Lammert, the change to Lammert Bros. not occurring until 1920, with G. P. and H. A. Lammert as partners. The senior of these gentlemen was born in the Colony as long ago as 1862, and has a fund of reminiscence of the old days.
The firm is the oldest auctioneering and appraising business at present existing in Hongkong, with an unbroken record of 74 years.
LANE, CRAWFORD & CO.
"Dramaticus": Apparently Messrs. Lane Crawford in the early days of the history of that firm were, among other things, auctioneers. From an old advertisement, I observe that they were in this line of business in the early 50s and as late as 1873 their sales-rooms were to the fore.
I also note that this firm must have had a wharf on the waterfront for there is notice given of the auction sale of a water-boat of 50 tons burden. At the same time, they advertised that their new steam tug Seagull of 35 h.p. was prepared to tow vessels at moderate rates.
I wonder if you can tell me where, at this date, was their sale room and also on what portion of the old water front was situate their wharf.
I have heard that at one time they had a shop in Queen's Road just to the west of the present Queen's Theatre, the approach to which was up some outside stairs. The establishment had its back entrance in Des Voeux Road. It would be interesting to learn if Messrs. Lane Crawford always had had their premises on this site, in which case, in all probability, their wharf would be on the sea front where Des Voeux Road is at present.
It is not easy to give replies to all the above queries, but most of them can be answered.
The firm of Lane, Crawford, Ltd., although not quite as old as Hong Kong itself, is very nearly so, being established in 1850. It owed its inception to a member of the British Mercantile Marine, Mr. T. A. Lane, in whose mind the project of founding the firm originated. Mr. Lane was the master of a sailing vessel trading to Hongkong in 1848. The Colony had then only been in existence for seven years and, as natural, Mr. Lane found difficulty in obtaining the necessary supplies for his ship. When he returned Home, he joined forces with a friend, Mr. Ninian Crawford, and raising the necessary capital, they formed the firm of Lane, Crawford & Co.
The two pioneers returned to Hongkong in 1850 and started business on the waterfront in a building of the matshed type almost on the site, at present occupied by Messrs. Whiteaway, Laidlaw & Co. The firm grew in space, and
G. P. LAMMERT
627
50%
There was published yesterday an interview with a resident of the
One of the Colony who can look back to his arrival here fifty years ago. oldest European residents, however, who was born here seventy-two years ago, is Mr. George P. Lammert, one of the partners of Lammert Brothers, the well-known auctioneers. The name, however, goes back even further, also in the auctioneering business, for the first-comer of the family was Mr. G. R. Lammert, who arrived in the late Fifties, and founded the firm of Lammert, Atkinson and Company, in partnership with Mr. J. Atkinson, in 1860. They were also ship-chandlers and general commis- sion agents, and had an office in Queen's Road. It was at the outset a concern doing a fair amount of business, and in 1864, besides the principals, we find Messrs. Geo. Whitehouse, Jose M. Guedes, Jr., E. F. Fonseca, and W. P. Morrison as assistants.
The name of the firm continued, unchanged until 1890, when the eld- est son took over the concern and it was given the firm name of G. P. Lammert, the change to Lammert Bros. not occurring until 1920, with G. P. and H. A. Lammert as partners. The senior of these gentlemen was born in the Colony as long ago as 1862, and has a fund of reminiscence of the old days.
The firm is the oldest auctioneering and appraising business at present existing in Hongkong, with an unbroken record of 74 years.
LANE, CRAWFORD & CO.
"Dramaticus": Apparently Messrs. Lane Crawford in the early day's of the history of that firm were, among other things, auctioneers. From an old advertisement, I observe that they were in this line of business in the early 50s and as late as 1873 their sales-rooms were to the fore.
I also note that this firm must have had a wharf on the waterfront for there is notice given of the auction sale of a water-boat of 50 tons burden. At the same time, they advertised that their new steam tug Sea- gull of 35 h.p. was prepared to tow vessels at moderate rates.
I wonder if you can tell me where, at this date, was their sale room and also on what portion of the old water front was situate their wharf.
I have heard that at one time they had a shop in Queen's Road just to the west of the present Queen's Theatre, the approach to which was up some outside stairs. The establishment had its back entrance in Des Voeux Road. It would be interesting to learn if Messrs. Lane Crawford always had had their premises on this site, in which case, in all prob- ability, their wharf would be on the sea front where Des Voeux Road is at present.
It is not easy to give replies to all the above queries, but most of them can be answered.
The firm of Lane, Crawford, Ltd., although not quite as old as Hong Kong itself, is very nearly so, being established in 1850. It owed its inception to a member of the British Mercantile Marine, Mr. T. A. Lane, in whose mind the project of founding the firm originated. Mr. Lane was the master of a sailing vessel trading to Hongkong in 1848. The Colony had then only been in existence for seven years and, as natural, Mr. Lane found difficulty in obtaining the necessary supplies for his ship. When he returned Home, he joined forces with a friend, Mr. Ninian Crawford, and raising the necessary capital, they formed the firm of Lane, Crawford & Co.
The two pioneers returned to Hongkong in 1850 and started business an the waterfront in a building of the matshed type almost on the site, at pre- sent occupied by Messrs. Whiteaway, Laidlaw & Co. The firm grew space, and
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