Andreas Lauritz Thune
Encyclopedia
Andreas Lauritz Thune was a Norwegian engineer and businessman, associated with the company Thunes Mekaniske Værksted
.
He was born in Drammen
. His grandfather, who was a blacksmith
by profession, had founded a workshop in that city in 1815. The workshop developed to the manufacturing company Thunes Mekaniske Værksted, or Thune for short. It moved to Kristiania
in 1851, with Andreas' father in charge.
Andreas Lauritz Thune graduated from Horten Technical College in 1868. He took over Thune in 1871, at the age of twenty-three. At that time the production facilities were located in the downtown street Ruseløkkveien, but Andreas Thune moved to the nearby street Munkedamsveien. He started production of agricultural machinery
and steam engine
s, and locomotive
production began in the 1890s. Around the turn of the 20th century Thune became the most important locomotive manufacturer in Norway, along with Hamar Jernstøberi og Mekaniske Verksted. Between 1901 and 1920 these two manufacturers delivered about 250 locomotives to the Norwegian State Railways. To allow this kind of production, the production facilities had moved to rural Skøyen
, as the locale in Munkedamsveien became too small for large-scale industrial production, and expansion was physically difficult. Andreas Thune had bought the property Kjellebekk, near Skøyen Railway Station
, and was personally registered as owner in the 1899 property valuation. Originally using the estate as a country house, he commenced the building of production halls in 1901 and moved in with the company the next year.
In 1889 Andreas Thune had been among the founders of the employers' organization
De Mekaniske Værksteders Forening. With the Norwegian Union of Iron and Metalworkers, a trade union
which is now a part of the United Federation of Trade Unions
, MVF negotiated Norway's first collective bargaining
agreement in 1907. The name was changed to Mekaniske Værksteders Landsforening in 1908, and to Teknologibedriftenes Landsforening (Federation of Norwegian Manufacturing Industries
) in 1989. Following a 2006 merger, it is now a part of the Federation of Norwegian Industries
.
Andreas Thune was proclaimed Commander of the Order of St. Olav in 1897.
Thune
Thunes Mekaniske Værksted A/S, Thune for short, was a Norwegian manufacturing company that among other things built locomotives. The production facilities were last located at Skøyen.-History:...
.
He was born in Drammen
Drammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
. His grandfather, who was a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
by profession, had founded a workshop in that city in 1815. The workshop developed to the manufacturing company Thunes Mekaniske Værksted, or Thune for short. It moved to Kristiania
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
in 1851, with Andreas' father in charge.
Andreas Lauritz Thune graduated from Horten Technical College in 1868. He took over Thune in 1871, at the age of twenty-three. At that time the production facilities were located in the downtown street Ruseløkkveien, but Andreas Thune moved to the nearby street Munkedamsveien. He started production of agricultural machinery
Agricultural machinery
Agricultural machinery is machinery used in the operation of an agricultural area or farm.-Hand tools:The first person to turn from the hunting and gathering lifestyle to farming probably did so by using his bare hands, and perhaps some sticks or stones. Tools such as knives, scythes, and wooden...
and steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
s, and locomotive
Locomotive
A locomotive is a railway vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. The word originates from the Latin loco – "from a place", ablative of locus, "place" + Medieval Latin motivus, "causing motion", and is a shortened form of the term locomotive engine, first used in the early 19th...
production began in the 1890s. Around the turn of the 20th century Thune became the most important locomotive manufacturer in Norway, along with Hamar Jernstøberi og Mekaniske Verksted. Between 1901 and 1920 these two manufacturers delivered about 250 locomotives to the Norwegian State Railways. To allow this kind of production, the production facilities had moved to rural Skøyen
Skøyen
Skøyen is a neighborhood of Oslo, Norway. It is located in the western part of the city, in the borough of Ullern.The name "Skøyen" comes from Old Norse Skǫðin, of unknown etymology....
, as the locale in Munkedamsveien became too small for large-scale industrial production, and expansion was physically difficult. Andreas Thune had bought the property Kjellebekk, near Skøyen Railway Station
Skøyen Station
Skøyen is a railway station located in Oslo, Norway and is part of Drammen Line. The station serves commuter trains, some regional trains and the Flytoget airport express train service. Skøyen station is owned and operated by the Norwegian National Rail Administration.Though some continue on, the...
, and was personally registered as owner in the 1899 property valuation. Originally using the estate as a country house, he commenced the building of production halls in 1901 and moved in with the company the next year.
In 1889 Andreas Thune had been among the founders of the employers' organization
Employers' organization
An employers' organization, employers' association or employers' federation is an association of employers. A trade union, which organizes employees is the opposite of an employers' organization...
De Mekaniske Værksteders Forening. With the Norwegian Union of Iron and Metalworkers, a trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
which is now a part of the United Federation of Trade Unions
United Federation of Trade Unions
The United Federation of Trade Unions is a trade union in Norway. With a membership of 150,000 it is the largest private sector union in Norway.It is affiliated with the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions...
, MVF negotiated Norway's first collective bargaining
Collective bargaining
Collective bargaining is a process of negotiations between employers and the representatives of a unit of employees aimed at reaching agreements that regulate working conditions...
agreement in 1907. The name was changed to Mekaniske Værksteders Landsforening in 1908, and to Teknologibedriftenes Landsforening (Federation of Norwegian Manufacturing Industries
Federation of Norwegian Manufacturing Industries
The Federation of Norwegian Manufacturing Industries was an employers' organisation in Norway, organized under the national Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise. On 1 January 2006 it was merged with the Federation of Norwegian Process Industries to form the Federation of Norwegian Industries.It...
) in 1989. Following a 2006 merger, it is now a part of the Federation of Norwegian Industries
Federation of Norwegian Industries
The Federation of Norwegian Industries is an employers' organisation in Norway, organized under the national Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise....
.
Andreas Thune was proclaimed Commander of the Order of St. Olav in 1897.