Kovács László: Ganz Ábrahám (Öntödei múzeumi füzetek 16., 2006)

Hamarosan ismert nevű vállalkozó lett és a magas politikai körök tagjaihoz is bejáratos volt. 1865-ig a Ganz-öntöde Magyarország legnagyobb üzemei közé tartozott egy olyan országban, amely egyre gyorsabban fejlődött ipari nemzetté. Hírnevének csúcsán érte Ganzot a tragikus vég. Neve azonban továbbra is meghatározó maradt a magyar ipar fejlődésével kapcsolatosan és Svájcban is a legnagyobb tisztelettel szólnak róla. A Ganz-féle Öntödei Múzeum ennek a fejlődéstörténetnek az emlékét őrzi, amiért köszönet illeti a múzeum vezetőit. E műemlék öntészeti szakmúzeumként való fennmaradása segít a magyarországi ipar fejlődéstörténetének megértésében. 2006 tavaszán Albert Berbier Embrach község elöljárója, Zürich Kanton régi alkotmánytanácsának elnöke He achieved this objective with iron ívül andfirm determination. Within a short period of time he turnéd a small foundry workshop into a large company, and the poor migrant founder became a rich and respected citizen. In no time he became a well-known entrepreneur with friends in high political circles. Until 1865 the Ganz Foundry was one of the largest Hungárián factories in a country of rapid industrial development. Ganz met his tragic death at the height ofhis career. He remained, however, a key figure in Hungary's industrial development, and is alsó highly respected in Switzerland. The Foundry Museum set up in the Ganz factory pays tribute to this era, for which the museum management deserves praise. Turning this industrial monument into a foundry museum helps us understand the history of industrial development in Hungary. Spring 2006 Albert Berbier Mayor of Embrach Council President of Zürich Canton Greetings It is not easy to fit Ábrahám Ganz into the history ofEuropean industrial development. He made a major contribution to the technological progress of foundry by developing a new method to cast railway carriage wheels. He was undoubtedly very responsive to social issues, and his political commitment shows us the picture of an entrepreneur ofthe so-called Sturm und Drang era. Ábrahám Ganz was born in dark times. Not long before his birth there were still foreign troops fighting outside Zürich; foreign forces looted all over the country; and this was then followed by famine in 1816-17. His father, a schoolmaster, could hardly make a living for his family. Despite all this, the Ganz family seemed to live in happiness and harmony. Ábrahám Ganz was a resourceful and cheerful young man.