Cigar Factory 'De eenhoorn'
Originally tobacco processing was a breeding industry, they did not manufacture their own products and were mainly located in port towns.
In 1856 a cigar factory was founded in Middelburg by J.C. le Nobel. Much is not known about this factory, in the beginning 23 workers worked. In 1857 (about 1 January), the 'Tijdschrift te promot van Nijverheid' (Journal of Promotion of Industry) mentions: "Te Middelburg has the fable of le Nobel and SON a large flow rate, which can be attributed to the excellent factory realm.In 1858 (about 1 January) mentions the same magazine: "The cigar factory of Le Nobel ZOON in Middelburg employs 15 servants and 30 boys".
That the sales increase is partly due to the fact that the factory makes a lot of noise; both inside and outside the province of Zeeland. Also at the General National Exhibition of Industry in Haarlem, which was opened on 27 June 1861 by the Prince of Orange, the factory was present with cigars in 17 best Manila and Havanna varieties. The factory did good business because 130 workers were employed in that year.
The house and warehouse was on the corner of St.Jansstraat in Middelburg. According to an article in the Middelburgsche newspaper of 6 August 1857, peppermint was also sold. What is certain is that we are dealing with the manufacturing system here. In the Middelburg newspaper on 27 May 1858 we find the following article: Concerning the craft and industrial industry in Midelburg is recorded in the report that the factory provides a means to the duplicate of the formerly working people there: which can serve as proof the reliability of its factory.
King William III
In 1862 King William III visited the province of Zeeland. On Wednesday, May 21, he does Middelburg. His steam yacht 'De Leeuw' is moored on the Rotterdamsekaai in front of the East Indian house. With his entourage the king makes a driving tour through the city. When the king and the train (the king's result) listened, according to the program, to the sung welcome greeting by the children of the school of poor parents, they got a spontaneous surprise at the corner of the street was kept:
Another tribute was proved to him on this point by the joint workmen of the cigar factory of the gentlemen LE NOBEL & SON, almost 100 strong, those with their chiefs and the servant, carrying an orange-colored banan with the inscription: "Tribute to ZM king by the workmen of LE NOBEL & SON, "in front of the warehouse and warehouse of the firm on the corner of St. John's Street had rallied in three ranks, and when the procession had approached them with a loud voice the heartfelt cry: Long live the king! to sing, singing the national anthem in full woodland. (1) After this short delay, the train moved again.
(1) At this point we also mention that by the aforementioned firm a box of fine cigars was offered to the king and was kindly accepted by H.M. The flat, cropped cedarwood box had the king's name with the royal crown, as etiquette as his portrait. The outer edges were composed of the Middelburg colors; on the lid was on the inside on white satin the Middelburg weapon in gold pressed the inside walls were similarly covered with white satin with a golden band in the square. The laying paper was replaced by heavy orange silk, on which in golden letters: "H.M. WILLEM III offered by LE NOBEL & SON, cigar factory in Middelburg." The cigars themselves were entirely in white satin, and the box was dug out with a simple gilt closure.
Royal weapon
Whether the King has smoked the cigars does not want to tell the story, but that the King really cares about the cigars factory a year later. In the Zierikzeesche Courant of Wednesday June 3, 1863 the following message is published:
It is understood that the M.M. has pleased the King with the gentlemen LE NOBEL & SON, cigar factory in Middelburg, to grant permission to carry the royal coat of arms. The factory was first established a few years ago and 130 people now have regular work, due to a particularly large debouché, inside and outside the province of Zeeland.
LE NOBEL & SON have not long benefited from the royal weapon. Bad times are breaking and the company eventually goes bankrupt. On Wednesday March 1, 1865, the company is sold in public by auction and exit.
JC le Nobel has a son C.G. Lijnaar le Nobel. He opened on january 18, 1864 a Grocer's affair and Trade in Colonial Goods and Cigars. He settled at the LangenDelft district B 139. In the same year 1864 he moved his store in the Langendelft to neighborhood B 127.