OdL
In 1810, Hendrik Wijnekes started a hardware shop called In den blauen saegh (the blue saw) in Diezerstraat in Zwolle. In 1872, when Hendrik must have been remarkably old, he started to employ Oeds de Leeuw. In 1890, the name of the enterprise became O. de Leeuw. De Leeuw shifted the activities from retail to wholesale trading, selling to smithies in the North-East of the country. With industrialisation, these smithies developed to small industrial enterprises and factories. O. de Leeuw grew with its clients. They even picked up the royal household as a client.
As the next generation entered, the company developed along four lines: iron and steel, heating, washing machines and agricultural machinery. The goods were imported from Germany, Belgium, Great Britain and the US. The first world war brought increased demand and diminished supply. The company suffered in the second world war, but survived to participate in the economic reconstruction of the country.
As the company grew, the main divisions were spun off into separate companies under a holding company. Iron and steel became IJzerleeuw (YL) on Gasthuisdijk in Zwolle. Household articles and hardware was relocated to Hattem and turned into Hattemleeuw. Agricultural machinery was merged with a similar company to become independent Stierman–de Leeuw BV in 2014. New members of the group were Leeuwtechniek (hydraulic and pneumatic systems) and Leeuwbouw (construction hardware). The company acquired metal trader Geertsema and steel and steel tubes trader Teham-Pongers in order to expand in inoxidizable metals.
With 150 employees, O. de Leeuw remained small enough to remain under the radar screen of multinationals and international investors. The company still exists. Its head office is still in Zwolle, on Rieteweg.
| O. de Leeuw | ||
|---|---|---|
| ||
| Filename | ZDL1 | |
| Side 1 | O.d.L in swirl | |
| Side 2 | blank | |
| Manufacture | Copper-nickel | |
| Size (mm) | 22.5 | |
| Weight (grams) | ||
| Notes | ||
| Source | Figleaf | |
| File:ZDL2.jpg | ||
| Filename | ZDL2 | |
| Side 1 | YL logo | |
| Side 2 | blank | |
| Manufacture | Copper-nickel | |
| Size (mm) | 22.5 | |
| Weight (grams) | ||
| Notes | ||
| Source | Kooij | |
