- Establishment factory
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Collection
- Sigmund
Sio Vroomshoop Toy Factory
The company NV Sio (Toy Industry Overijssel) was founded june 12th 1939. It was established by Messrs. Mertens, de Groot, van Riggelen, and Uilenreef. The money that became available from the cessation of peat bogs was invested in the new company. The wood was supplied by the lumber wholesaler of co-founder de Groot.
Mr. Mertens said about the founding of Sio in an article in Tubantia in 1969: "When, just before the war, one peat bog after another in Vroomshoop was forced to close, both the municipal and provincial authorities were looking for ways to establish new industries in the municipality."
The opening of the factory on June 12, 1939, was performed by the Commissioner of the Queen, Baron van Voorst tot Voorst. From left to right: Baroness van Voorst tot Voorst, Baron (Eppo) van Voorst tot Voorst, Mayor Bramer, Mr. de Groot, Mrs. de Groot-Westra, (probably) Sigmund.
The ceremonial act of the opening, pressing a button.
Sio Certificate of Incorporation
The original deed of incorporation of Sio states the date of incorporation as June 12, 1939. Sio (public limited company in formation).
Factory of wooden toys and wooden consumer goods, both in the broadest sense of the word.
The shareholders are the gentlemen; de Groot, Mertens, Uilenreef and van Riggelen.
At the beginning of 1973, the Sio NV was sold to DCM and was transferred to the bv Sio.
Tour through the factory hall. As a demonstration, a rabbit was sawn out of wood (see below).
Guided tour through the factory hall. From left to right: [Unknown], director Mertens, Commissioner of the Queen Baron van Voorst tot Voorst, Mayor Bramer, (maybe) Sigmund, Uilenreef, [Unknown].
During the exhibition "Designs for Sio," (2016, Vroomshoop) there was a rabbit displayed in one of the showcases with the inscription: Sawn at the opening ... demonstration June 12, 1939.
We hereby appeal to anyone who possesses this rabbit to contact us.