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(German Shipping Company)

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Wilhelm Wittig
Richard Schneider

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Wilhelm Wittig

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, based upon photo located by Jan Mertens, 8 June 2008 Wittig GmbH at Duisburg on the Rhine is a renowned supplier of shipping and industry related articles. See homepage, German only: All kinds of articles - 13.000 they tell us - from the almost insignificant to complete parts of ships are available, including flags and flagstaffs (under development, these -pity!): everything to have the vessel run smoothly and clean it, too. See left menu for 'Unsere Partner / Kunden' (i.e. our partners / customers) for a number of house flags, some of them still in the pipeline!
'Wir über uns' (i.e. Who we are) gives a history digest: founded 1898 as a shop by painter Wilhelm Wittig at Duisburg, expanding thanks to a growing number of customers in the shipping business. 1928-1936 led by widow Wilhelmine, son Paul taking over; starting from scratch after WW2, 1945. Third generation Karl-Ernst, 1956 and Wilhelm-Otto, 1957; German unity 1990 permits the foundation of ship renovation firm DSG in the former GDR with three local offices. Fourth generation, Frank and Ralf, since 1990; 2005, foundation of specialized firm E&W Yachting GmbH. At the moment there are two foreign Wittig branches: Wien (Vienna) in Austria and Zwijndrecht in the Netherlands.
The Dutch on-line Binnenvaartkrant ran an article in the 11th issue of this year (20 May 2008): select '11' on the page. Article on p. 35, providing historical information supplementing the homepage's text.
The house flag - to recall, if you do not operate inland ships your customers may still fly your flag day and night - was offered on German eBay - table flag size, really - offer no. 220070548204 (end 21 Jan 2007) put by "ohndangdang". Dimensions given as 15 cm x 25 cm.
Divided per saltire, red (top and bottom triangles) and white (hoist and fly triangles) bearing black initials 'W' (no serifs) on each white triangle; in the centre an emblem rendered in black and white: life saving belt with cords (no red space within, top nor bottom) and names 'WITTIG' (top) and 'DUISBURG' (bottom), said belt enclosing a picture of a ship sailing towards the hoist.
The same flag - the adult version, if I may be so bold - is shown in 'Flaggen auf dem Rhein' (1952 ed.) but without names on the belt. This detail may have been too small for the design, or the names did not appear on the flag then.
Jan Mertens, 8 June 2008

Richard Schneider

image by Klaus-Michael Schneider, based upon photo located by Jan Mertens, 8 June 2008

The Schneider company, established at the Kaiserhafen, Ruhrort (Duisburg) and active in the same branch of business, was taken over in 1995 and the combined firm was known as Wittig & Schneider KG till the establishment of Wittig GmbH, beginning 2002.
A table flag was offered on German eBay as no. 200087126276 (end 18 Mar 2007) put up by "freschkall", dimensions given as approx. 15 cm x 25 cm. Double-sided.
Red field bearing dark blue "Scandinavian" cross with location and company name in white, respectively: horizontally "AM KAISERHAFEN" (the 'AM' somewhat smaller) , vertically "SCHNEIDER" having the first letter 'E' in common.
I should add that the Kaiserhafen no longer exists as such: this part of the inland port is now completely filled up, providing space for terminals and logistics operators.
For further information click here
Jan Mertens, 15 June 2008

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