Thesis ( MA (History))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The thesis “ ‘Almal kom na Lubbe: Die skoenmakerverhaal van A.P. Lubbe en
Seun (Edms) Bpk, 1918-2001”, is an attempt to investigate the history of a family
business spanning three generations against the background of the general
socio-economic and political circumstances during the period 1918-2001.
In 1918, at the time of the start of industrialisation in South Africa, Andries Petrus
Lubbe started a bridle and shoe repair business en Bird Street, Stellenbosch. To
him this business was the beginning of the realization of a dream to own his own
shoe factory. During the 1940’s Andries Lubbe started experimenting with the
manufacturing of shoes. This experiment was successful and encouraged his
eldest son, Willem, to join the business in 1943. In 1948 after Willem completed
his training in shoe technology in Britain, the business was officially registered as
a private company.
In 1956 Lubbe opened a shoe factory near Du Toit Station in Stellenbosch. This
was the start of an era of mass production and mechanization in the company.
Willem Lubbe was solely in charge of the factory and against the background of
the economic affluence of the sixties the company prospered. In 1970 Andries
Lubbe died and Willem Lubbe became the sole owner of the family business.
In 1976, André Lubbe, Willem’s only son, joined the business. Against the
setting of the unfavourable economic circumstances of the late seventies and
eighties, André Lubbe succeeded to guide the company towards the niche
market field by manufacturing speciality shoes, e.g. “Trailbuster” hiking boots.
The nineties were characterised by unstable political and socio-economic
conditions associated with South Africa’s transition to democracy and Lubbe
suffered as a consequence. In an attempt to overcome the problems André tried to make the company more internationally orientated and Lubbe International
was therefore established in 1994.
This was not successful and by 1999 it was clear that Lubbe would not be able to
function any longer. Some of the brand names were sold to another shoe
manufacturer, Corrida Shoes, and in 2001, the doors of A.P. Lubbe and Son
(Pty) Ltd were finally closed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/3352 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Van Eeden, Suzanne |
| Contributors | Ehlers, A., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of History. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | Afrikaans |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 4218036 bytes, application/pdf |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
Page generated in 0.0023 seconds