Tempo (brand)

Tempo is the first German brand for paper handkerchiefs.^[1][2] Today, the brand belongs to Essity.

Logo

Package of handkerchiefs by Tempo (2006)

The brand name became independent in Germany in the course of time as a generic name and in colloquial language, paper handkerchiefs of other brands were often referred to as "Tempo handkerchief" or "Tempo" for short.^[3][4][5][6]

History

The disposable paper handkerchief made of cellulose was the product idea of two Jewish leading owners of Vereinigte Papierwerke AG, Oskar Rosenfelder (1878–1950) and his brother Emil Rosenfelder (1861–1945/1946). Oskar registered the Tempo brand on January 29, 1929^[5] at the Reichspatentamt in Berlin.^[6] The Nazis forced the two to sell their firm.^[6]

In 1935, 150 million products were produced by Tempo.^[6] This number rose to 1 billion in 1955 and more than 4 billion in 1962.^[6]

In 2001, the brand was sold to SCA.^[6] Since a secession, Tempo has been part of Essity.^[6]

Literature

• Eugen Roth: Das kleine Buch vom Taschentuch. Nuremberg 1954.
• VP-Schickedanz AG (publisher): Tempo, 50 Jahre, Dokumentation eines immer jungen Markenartikels. Nuremberg 1979.
• VP-Schickedanz AG (publisher): Tempo, 60 Jahre, Die Geschichte einer bahnbrechenden Idee. Nuremberg 1989.