Anton Wingen Jr., Solingen | RZM M7/51
The Anton Wingen Jr. (Othello) Stahlwarenfabrik company began in 1888. It registered with the Solingen chamber of commerce on November 11, 1901. Wingen first came to the spotlight during WWI when traditionally designed hunting and combat knives became popular among the troops. Many knives with stag-grips and etched blades were made at that time. Those knives, along with early bayonets and close combat knives featured the "Othello" trademark. The Othello brand and "moor's head" were influenced from Shakespeare's Othello, Moor of Venice. The trademark was adopted by Wingen when it purchased Wilhelm Hasselbach's business during the First World War. The armored knight holding a sword (Der geharnischte Ritter) trademark was registered in 1895 by "Wilhelm Clauberg AG." By 1913 the company had employed 300 factory workers and administrative employees. In this early period, Wingen had a great influence over revolutionizing forging processes and shaping technological advancements with injection/compression molding techniques. On May 20, 1920, Anton Wingen moved to the Gas Straße 54 premise. A 1922 advertisement features Wingen promoting its offerings which included: straight razors, pocket knives, cutlery, scissors and hunting knives. By the end of the 1920s, Wingen was focused on capturing the kitchen accessory business. In 1928-30 the firm was owned by Anton Wingen Jr., and his sons: Walter, Arthur and Hans. Arthur left in 1932 to trade on his own under the business name "Chromolit-Besteckfabrik Arthur Wingen" (who also made HJ knives see pg. 860) and focused on cutlery manufacturing. Anton Wingen died in 1935, allowing Walter and Hans Wingen to assume control. Walter's son Heinz then joined the company, but died young. That same year Wingen assumed the RZM number M7/51. During the Third Reich era, Wingen manufactured: HJ knives, Police bayonets, SA/NSKK, Army and 1st and 2nd Model Luftwaffe daggers among some other edged weapons. Wingen also assumed the "R.B.Nr. 0/0878/0018" code that was used on combat knives and the Wartime letter-code: "qyg" for K98 bayonets. While many blades were produced, Wingen remains best known for its Hitler Youth knives. After WWII Wingen continued to make quality knives and the company resorted back to the Othello brand. In 1951, the third heir, Erika Wingen joined the company as a manager. The company then resorted back to the recreations of the traditional 1920 era. The products were marketed as "Othello Classics." Othello concentrated on manufacturing: cutlery, household knives, carving sets, steak knives along with hunting and folding knives. Exports into US markets became a great success. In 1990, Erika Dahmann, Hans Wingen's daughter was owner. Come 1995, production ceased and stock, fixtures, fittings, and the "Othello" brand name were sold to Manfred Schmidt. The rights to the "Anton Wingen Jr." name however remained with Dahmann. Under new ownership, the company rebranded itself as a home good store under the name "Maitland-Othello Manfred Schmidt". The business drastically slowed down in 1997, yet it is likely some manufacturing and sales still persisted. In 2015, the Chinese company "Guangdong Master Group Co., Ltd." wholly purchased the Othello name and rights. The company now focuses on two brands "Othello" and "Momscook" and markets itself as a "one-stop kitchen solution." Manufacturing is now in China, with a concentration on: pots, pans, drinkware, utensils and knives. The company has a retail location in: Frankfurt, Germany and in Kowloon, Hong Kong. The new company claims its history back to Anton Wingen Jr./Othello in 1888 and remains in business to this day.
| Maker | Anton Wingen Jr. |
| Location | Solingen |
| RZM Number | RZM M7/51 |
| Trademark | Armored Knight Holding a Sword | Othello |
| Founded | 1888 |
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Reference:
Hogle, N. (2021). The Collector’s Guide to Hitler Youth Knives.