Heinrich Enders

Heinrich Enders GmbH is a traditional Austrian gas, water and heating installation company based at Margaretenstraße 29 in Vienna's 4th district, Wieden. Its origins date to 1852, when a plumber named Zainer founded a tinsmith business at Schleifmühlgasse 11. Ten years later Anton Nadhera took over the operation and developed the so-called "Austria-Klosett", a flap toilet built into a wainscot that was exported worldwide until 1914. In 1894 Heinrich Enders acquired the company for 40,000 Gulden Convention coins. Under his leadership the firm supplied the imperial household, equipped Schloss Achilleion on Corfu for Empress Elisabeth, and was appointed k.u.k. Hoflieferant (imperial and royal purveyor to the court) in 1902. The title passed to his son Heinrich Rudolf Enders in 1907. After his death in 1934, his son Heinrich Josef Enders took over the master craftsman's business, which survived the upheavals of both World Wars and contributed to Vienna's post-war reconstruction, including work for Hotel Sacher, the Imperial Hotel and the Orangery at Schönbrunn Palace. In 1954 a branch was established in Himberg, and in 1972 the firm was converted into a GmbH. Gerhard Posch, who had joined as an apprentice in 1953, became a partner and took over the company in 1980. Since August 2017 Peter Posch has been the sole owner. Today the company continues to provide complete installations for gas, water, heating and bathrooms for private homes, housing developments, schools, kindergartens, public buildings and church institutions, primarily in and around Vienna. Products from Enders are displayed in the Klo & So Sanitary Museum in Gmunden.

The company was founded in 1852 by a tinsmith named Zainer at Schleifmühlgasse 11 in Vienna. It is assumed that Zainer was involved in laying the first lead water pipe. Ten years later, Anton Nadhera (born 1852 in Oderberg) took over the business. Nadhera constructed the so-called "Austria-Klosett", a flap toilet built into a wainscot, which was exported worldwide until 1914. In 1892 Nadhera applied for the title of imperial purveyor to the court, stating that he had already furnished the Achilleion on Corfu for Empress Elisabeth of Austria-Hungary and supplied other members of the imperial family. Heinrich Enders (born 18 December 1848 – 1915) came to Vienna from Friedberg (Hesse) in the 1860s. He first worked as a journeyman at the Schwetz company on Ziegelofengasse, then started his own tinsmith business on Johannesgasse, which was not successful. He found employment at the Wiener Actiengesellschaft für Wasserleitungen, Gas- und Heizungsanlagen and rose to workshop manager. In 1894 the Nadhera company was for sale. Heinrich Enders acquired it for 40,000 Gulden Convention coins; his son Heinrich Rudolf was already working with him. The City of Vienna commissioned Enders with the reinstallation of the water supply. The company also received orders in the Austrian half of the empire for municipalities, monasteries, castles and estates such as Lilienfeld Abbey, Wittgenstein Estate, Heiligenkreuz Abbey, castles in Bohemia, and in Türnitz and Weißenkirchen. In 1902 Heinrich Enders was appointed k.u.k. Hoflieferant (imperial and royal purveyor to the court), and later also ducal Saxon purveyor to the court. This title was also granted in 1907 to his successor Heinrich Rudolf Enders (born 1 September 1876 – 1934) when he took over the company. After his death in 1934, his son Heinrich Josef Enders (born 16 February 1906) took over the master craftsman's business. World War I and the collapse of the monarchy brought difficult times. During World War II, Heinrich Josef Enders and two of his brothers were drafted. The company was temporarily managed by an uncle who had already helped during World War I. The company headquarters on Margaretenstraße was damaged during the air raids on Vienna. In the post-war years the company recovered. During reconstruction, orders came for Hotel Sacher and the Imperial Hotel, as well as the installation of three fountains at the Orangery in Schönbrunn Palace. In 1954 a branch was founded in Himberg, which moved again in 1968 due to further expansion. Heinrich Josef Enders remained managing director until 1977. As he had no heirs, the company was converted into a GmbH (limited liability company) in 1972. He chose Gerhard Posch as his successor, who had joined the company as an apprentice in 1953. He became a partner and took over the company as sole owner in 1980. Since August 2017, Peter Posch has been the sole owner as successor. The company equipped the bathrooms of Hotel Sacher and carried out complete gas, water, heating and bathroom installations in the Golf Club Himberg, schools, kindergartens, housing developments, the Volkshaus and various public buildings of the market town of Himberg, in the Archdiocese of Vienna, as well as installations for single- and multi-family houses, office, company and industrial buildings. Products from Enders are exhibited in the Klo & So Sanitary Museum in Gmunden.

• 2017

  Peter Posch becomes sole owner in August.

• 1980

  Gerhard Posch takes over as sole owner.

• 1972

  Company converted into a GmbH.

• 1968

  Himberg branch relocates due to expansion.

• 1954

  Branch established in Himberg.

• 1934

  Heinrich Josef Enders takes over after his father's death.

• 1907

  Heinrich Rudolf Enders takes over and receives the Hoflieferant title.

• 1902

  Heinrich Enders appointed k.u.k. Hoflieferant.

• 1894

  Heinrich Enders acquires the company for 40,000 Gulden Convention coins.

• 1892

  Nadhera applies for the imperial purveyor to the court title.

• 1862

  Anton Nadhera takes over the business.

• 1852

  Founded by tinsmith Zainer at Schleifmühlgasse 11, Vienna.

Traditional Viennese master craftsman business with imperial heritage, serving private, public and institutional clients.

• Austria-Klosett

  A flap toilet built into a wainscot, assembled from a 'Pfeife' (Gainze) base, a toilet mechanism, and a porcelain bowl. The water reservoir had to be filled by hand. The wainscot was made of lacquered softwood or fine woods such as mahogany and rosewood. Porcelain parts were produced by the Bohemian manufacturer Carl Knoll in Karlsbad, with colored decoration and matte gold. Exported worldwide until 1914.

1. 1Firmenchronik - Heinrich Enders - Installateurenders.at
2. 2Über uns - Heinrich Enders - Installateurenders.at
3. 3Heinrich Enders - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
4. 4Heinrich Enders - Wikidatawikidata.org