Kalkbrenner, Christian

Factory owner, politician

born: 25.02.1857 in Wiesbaden

died: 01.05.1924 in Wiesbaden

Kalkbrenner was one of the most influential personalities in Wiesbaden between 1890 and 1913. He took over his father's company around 1888, steadily expanded the business and received important orders for the German army. His cooking appliances consumed only about half as much coal as stoves of other designs and provided enough hot water for crew baths. The resulting savings were considerable. In 1899, he merged his company with Maschinenfabrik Philippi to form Maschinenfabrik Wiesbaden GmbH. In the years that followed, it developed into an economically prosperous company.

Kalkbrenner took an active part in local politics for more than two decades: he was a member of the citizens' committee from 1889-91, a city councillor from 1891-99 and 1906-11, and became a city councillor in 1911. In addition to his many and varied activities in municipal bodies, he had a significant influence on local political decisions as chairman of numerous associations. For example, in 1882 he was co-founder of the "Rhein-Taunus-Club", Wiesbaden section, 1890-1912 chairman of the "Sprudel" carnival society and for many years on the board of the Kurverein. From 1902-21 he was chairman of the house and landowners' association. He was also a member of the supervisory board of the Vorschussverein, a board member of the Wiesbaden Commercial Association and the Wiesbaden Beautification Association.

Kalkbrenner earned lasting merits with the construction of the Erbenheim racecourse, the shooting range behind the Fasanerie and the observation tower on the Hohe Wurzel.