#ThrowbackThursday: The 20th Century Businesses And Where Are They Now!

Remember the old adage Knowledge is Power? The 20th century literally saw it coming true. The more knowledgeable humans got, the more powerful they became, acquiring resources and arming ourselves with every form of conceivable advancement that the changing times could bring. The pace at which the world changed after the middle of the 20th century might leave one astounded, because it was the time of opportunities and everybody who had the desire to be someone could achieve their dream. Surely there were some failure stories to learn from too, but such was the atmosphere and with the technology on the rise, machines making life better, travelling became faster and easier, that many new business ventures came into being. Let’s see where they started and how far they have come.

STARTING WITH THE 1950’s…

• VIETNAM AIRLINES:

Started in 1956, this airline is the flag carrier of Vietnam; it is the national airline that manages passenger transport as its core activity. This airline company was established under the name of Vietnam Civil Aviation, and has come a long way from its modest start. It has also played an important role in upgrading the economic development of the country, owning the regional aircraft services, and earning revenue through the airline catering and the manufacturing and overhauling of the aircraft through a number of subsidiaries. This is one such example of an establishment that not only has made it to success but also serves its own country and its people as a priority.

• BILLA:

An outstanding retail business, BILLA originated in Austria in 1953, and is derived from the German words ‘BILiger LAden’ meaning an inexpensive shop. It has now gained a massive presence as its outlets are spread all over Europe, and it has a massive turnover of euro 1.4 billion with 18,400 employees in its widespread chain of supermarkets.

• COMMERCE BANK AND TRUST COMPANY:

Based in Massachusetts, this is an independently owned company which began its journey in 1955 in Worcester. Operating, nowadays, as a full service commercial bank, it has branches spread all over central and eastern Massachusetts, from Worcester, Holden to its recent acquisition of Mercantile Bank and Trust Company that took it to Boston. With the combined assets of these companies it now has assets of $1.93 billion and has 16 retail banking offices all over eastern and central Massachusetts.

COMING ON TO THE 1960’s:

• SMASH RECORDS:

There can be no two words about the Music in the 60’s. It was AWESOME, and it gave birth to many record labels. Starting as the subsidiary of Mercury Records, this American record label Company has sustained itself marvelously, and with no little credit to the long list of artists who have been associated with it. Who would have thought that Shelby Singleton’s pet project would go on to become one of the best names in the retail world of music record labels… but, it sure has!

• SERUM INSTITUTE OF INDIA:

Started by two non-professional brothers Cyrus and Zavary Poonawalla in 1966, Serum institute of India is now the 5th largest company to produce immunization vaccine by volume. Even though the Poonawalla brothers had no medical background, they hired 10 doctors and scientists from the Haffkine Institute of India, and after getting contracts for government hospitals this company expanded. This company has the pride of providing immunization vaccines for half the children in the world, as well as the biggest maker of measles and DPT vaccines, and produces a billion doses a year. Serum has been accredited by the WHO IN 1994, and 80% of Serum’s sales are to the UNICEF and to the Pan American Health Organization.

• SHEA & GOULD:

The result of a merger between Manning, Hollinger & Shea & Gallup, and Climenko & Gould, the Shea & Gould was the best law firm in New York. It started its journey in 1964, representing names like New York Mets, New York Yankees, Deloitte & Touche and the Marine Midland Bank. But its heyday ended when in 1991, Shea died and the firm elected a new chairman, Thomas E. Constance, who brought in new members in the committee. On January 27, 1994, the committee voted to dissolve Shea & Gould as a result of dropped revenues and the internal tensions.

THE 1970’S AND THE 80’S:

• ALPINE AIR EXPRESS:

An American airline based in Provo, Utah, this company began in 1972 as scheduled passenger and flight services aircraft maintenance and flight school. The airline tried to establish itself in the Chilean air freight market with Alpine Air Chile, but the project could not be successful and was discontinued in 2005, and now it serves as only a scheduled cargo service on 15 routes throughout Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana.

• THE MICHIGAN INTERSTATE RAILWAY COMPANY:

Formed on October 1 1977, this Railway Company’s main goal was to operate the Ann Arbour Railroad from Toledo to Frankfurt, as AA had claimed bankruptcy. The MIRC was a state operated company and through its bevy of experienced directors, it showed great progress and regained lost traffic. In 1982, the MIRC ceased car ferry operations across Lake Michigan, and on 30th of September, it ceased its operations in north of Ann Arbour. The southern portion of the MIRC continued to operate till October 7th 1988, when the Ann Arbour Acquisition Company took over the operations.

• JOHNNY ROCKETS:

Who hasn’t heard this name? But the fact that it has sustained itself for the past 28 years as the American Hamburger restaurant is praiseworthy. It began its humble journey in 1986, with the aim to provide a classic American feel in its restaurant’s atmosphere. The brainchild of Ronn Teitlebaum from Los Angeles, its sole owner, this is a franchise restaurant that has outlets literally, all around the globe. With its trademark smiley ketchup face on the plate of your french fries, cardboard plates with paper wrapped hamburgers, malts and shakes, Johnny Rockets is still rocking!

• ELDER PHARMACEUTICALS:

Founded by Mr. Jagdesh Saxena in 1989, Elder Pharmaceuticals is the result of very contrasting situations. After losing his own job in a pharmaceutical company, Mr. Jagdesh decided to start his own company, and lady luck was on his side. Now headquartered in Mumbai, Maharashtra, its functions are manufacturing and marketing of pharmaceutical brands, medical and surgical instruments and devices. With 6 manufacturing plants in India and 1 in Nepal, this company is on its rise, having signed a definitive deal with Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd. on Dec 13 2013, of Rs. 20 billion.

• BOURNE CAPITAL:

Robert Bourne, previously a co-founder of Local London Group, the then market leader of the service office sector, started his own holding company by the name of Bourne Capital in 1989. Later on though, in 1989, the company went public and was sold for a solid pound 120 million. Initially the company wanted to generate revenue through enhanced property investment, management and marketing, however the new company’s goal was to take it all a step further. This innovative approach has enabled the company to acquire higher revenues through significant property investment methods that have enabled the company to reach the current status, with assets of pound 250 million.

• BANK OF PUNJAB:

Established in 1989 by Tajammal Hussain; the Bank of Punjab functions as the commercial bank with a network of 344 branches throughout the country of Pakistan. It serves Pakistan as it functions as an international bank, and is the largest commercial bank which has always striven to consolidate Pakistan’s best interests and investments. Even though the country’s political and law and order situations have created crises and upheavals, this bank has continuously put in efforts to maintain its policy of improvement in asset quality. The bank was given the status of retail bank in 1994, and it still determined to make its name rise in the industry of banking.

AND NOW THE 90’S…

• THE GOOD BOOK COMPANY:

The TGBC is an evangelical, reformed Christian publishing company established in 1991, to act as a publishing for mission outreach and training programs. It is a private company that began under the name St. Matthias Press UK, but was changed to its present name in 2000. Along with supplying books to UK, USA and Australia, they also distribute bible study notes and work for the support of evangelical Christians of Australia.

• QUALITY CAPITAL MANAGEMENT:

Often known as the QCM, this hedge fund company was established in 1995 by Aref Karim, based in Weybridge Elmbridge, Surrey, England. It works as a UK limited liability company, which works as a systematic macro hedge fund manager and specialized future managements. Currently managing assets worth $900 million, this company is going forward by leaps and bounds.

• ALMATHERA SYSTEMS:

Almathera Systems ltd. was a British technology based company which was established in 1992. It specialized in creating software for Amigas Company, developing CD-ROM based software for the CDTV and Amiga Cd32. It was also one of the first to develop PHOTOGENICS, the 24 bit-paint software for Amiga. But the company was shut down as it went out of business in 1997 and hence it was a short lived business.

The Rise of the humans is what the 20th century was all about. There are countless businesses that got started and many of them still thrive, still exist. We have come a long way from the darkness of the caves, believing that success is what we make it to be, and there can be no doubt that today’s age is the age of advancement and prosperity for those who are fearless to take the bold step forward!