Salomon Tuchmann  

compiled by Friedrich Carl Tuchmann.

Nothing is known of Salomon's earliest youth; Like his other siblings, he will have gone to school with Teacher Ehrlich and, in addition, his father asked him to help a little in the business. At the age of 15 he had to learn a trade in accordance with the provisions of the Bavarian Jewish edict. Since Salomon was to enter his father's business as the eldest son, the craftsmanship was chosen, the knowledge of which should make him a real „Tuch‟mann and be useful to him for trading in hops. It was also determined that he should learn dyeing too, since this craft was considered the most noble and profitable at that time. The following apprenticeship contract has been received as the first document from Solomon's life:

I, Johann Peter Kropf sen. Master craftsman in Vestenbergsgreuth Königl. Regional court of Höchstadt ⁄ Aisch and merchant Marx Tuchmann of Ühlfeld Königl. District Court Neustadt ⁄ Aisch have established and stipulated the following accord under today's date:

The above‐mentioned Marx Tuchmann wants his son Salomon Tuchmann to learn the craftsmanship with me and we have carefully concluded and established the following conditions to our mutual agreement and satisfaction:

1) Does the apprentice Salomon Tuchmann have to do an apprenticeship for four years, counting from Martini 1825,

2) Did the father Marx Tuchmann give his son an apprenticeship fee for the four-year apprenticeship period

Two hundred guilders in Rhenish currency and
To pay a Carolin buy-in fee

3) If the tuition fee stipulated in 2 is paid in the following installments:

50 f‐ to Martini 1823

50:‐ "  "  1824

50:‐ "  "  1825

50:‐ "  "  1826

Sa. f 200:

On the other hand, I promise Johann Peter Kropf to my apprentice Salomon Tuchmann that I will fulfill all the duties incumbent on me as a teacher and that I will also give him lessons in the dyeing industry involved in the manufacture of my work.

The undersigned apprentice promises to be faithfully obedient and hardworking to his teacher throughout his entire apprenticeship and to behave as a righteous, honest apprentice is entitled to.

To confirm and maintain the above accords, we have personally signed it.

Done in Vestenbergsgreuth, 11 November 1823.

(signed) Johann Peter Kropf as master teacher.

(signed) Marx Tuchmann as Salman's fater.

(signed) Salomon Tuchmann as an apprentice.

At Martini in 1827, Salomon finished his apprenticeship and entered his father's business. It is not known whether he hated to undergo further exams in the kitmaker's guild, but this is likely as he describes himself as a master kit maker in later documents. Salomon stayed in his father's house and worked for him, but also did business for his own account and traveled a lot. How little the great Marx Tuchmann's business was at that time is shown by the following printed nota in poor German:

Mr. Emerling in Rudelstadt.

Ühlfeld, November 7th, 1830.

With these I have the honor to show you that today I sent you 5 sacks of hops through Spetenteur Körner in Bamberg, according to the note below.

I hope that the goods will turn out exactly as you wish and that you will soon honor me again with your valuable commissions.

Signs with all due respect

Your friend

M. Tuchmann

from Ühlfeld near Nuremberg.