The chronicle of Eger Tobacco Factory

The cigarette factory

and two Triumph III cigar machines, and two new Niepmann packaging machines from public stocks, which meant that the expansion of Eger’s factory equipment was directly funded from state investments. The process of preparing the tobacco was made easier and better by the arrival of a TS-VI tobacco cutter as well as three further Rapid cigarette makers. This mechanisation brought about a visible increase in productivity. While in 1950 415 workers had assembled 13 million cigars and 593 million cigarettes, by 1953 the number of workers had risen by 15.6% and against this were set a rise in cigar production of 300% and in cigarette production of over 200%.

The new machines gave wings to the factory’s statistics, and with the combination of the introduction of a system of piece- payment and the Stahanov movement, the factory’s achievements reached an all- time high. In January of 1952 there was only one worker out of the 463 who was not turning out cigarettes at 100% capacity - sadly the name of this black sheep hasn’t come down to us - but the 71 work ethic trainers and the 22 Stahanovists were on hand to help their weaker brethren to strengthen their performance. By February no workers are reported as having worked below 100% capacity. The work of the factory was organised into two shifts, and, as József Bukolyi, the then works manager, speaking from memory will tell us, from that time on the cultural and sp( aspects of factory life began to fall into a decline. The paint on the walls of the newly-erected changing rooms next to the basketball court was left to dry in undisturbed peace and quiet.