Ulmia was the brand of Georg Ott Werkzeug- und Maschinenfabrik in Ulm.
Even though they are especially known for their large program of hand tools and work benches, they also had machines in their range, especially table saws.
Founded in 1877 by the master carpenter Georg Ott.1879 Production of the first hand miter saw and application for a patent.
As the company premises had become too small, Ott acquired a disused carriage factory at Frauentor in 1887 and expanded production to include circular saws, tools for picture frame production and patented torque screw clamps. Parquet flooring was also manufactured and contract work was carried out for other woodworking trades. Later, machines for the automatic filing and setting of band saws were added. As a result of a study trip through the USA lasting several months in 1893 and a visit to the World's Fair in Chicago (1893), Ott designed the Ulm reform plane and expanded production to include screw clamps and veneer blocks. He also worked on improving work benches which he reformed from the ground up.
Just ten years after the move to Frauentor, a new factory was built on König-Wilhelm-Strasse in 1898 which served as the company headquarters until 1998. Around this time, Ott's elder son Rudolf Ott joined the company. In 1916, the company was converted into a general partnership and his son Rudolf and son-in-law Carl Peschke became partners. In recognition of his services, Georg Ott was awarded the title of "Königlicher Kommerzienrat" by King Wilhelm II. After the First World War, production and the workforce had to be rebuilt under difficult economic conditions. The improvements and innovations in the 1920s included, for example, the new planes with patented wedge and iron fastening with a ridged hand guard and iron striking knob as well as the new clamping saws with reinforced arms, twisted clamping wire and stiffening of the frame.
Georg Ott died on December 27, 1927 at the age of 74.
In 1945, the factory was totally destroyed in a bombing raid. It was rebuilt in the same place over the next four years. After several expansions of the production program, a branch factory in Straß was acquired in 1973. 1998 Relocation to new production halls in the Donautal industrial estate in Ulm.
In spring 2002, in the 125th year of its existence, the Georg Ott company had to file for insolvency. The name and trademark rights as well as various patents and production facilities were acquired by the company ANTON KESSEL GmbH & Co. KG (ANKE workbenches). The production of Ulmia hand tools is continued in a newly founded Ulmia GmbH.
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