Victor Lenel

Who was Victor Lenel?

Viktor Lenel was a German-Jewish businessman who headed several companies involved in the early production of plastics.

Lenel graduated from the University of Heidelberg in 1866 and joined his father's trading company. After the death of his father he continued to run the company, and together with his brother Alfred renamed it "Lenel Brothers." In 1873 the two brothers, together with Frederick Bensinger and the bank Hohenems & Sons, founded the Rhine Rubbergoods Factory, which produced plastics, mainly soft rubber and celluloid. After the factory was destroyed by fire in 1885, it was rebuilt under the name of Rhine Rubber and Celluloid factory in Mannheim-Neckerau. In 1907 the company employed about 500 laborers and 15 administrative staff. In 1886 the "Factory of Waterproof Laundry Lenel, Bensinger & Co" was founded. The Rhine Rubber and Celluloid factory developed the blow-press method for plastics, used for the production of doll heads and table tennis balls made of celluloid. In 1899 the turtle was protected retroactively to 1889 as a trademark.