The Canning Factory
The oldest part of the building was erected in 1875 and housed one of the largest tanneries in Stavanger. The tannery was, however, closed down right after the turn of the century. When the canning company Johan Braadland AS purchased the property in Øvre Strandgate 88 in 1910, it was with the aim to establish a warehouse that could relieve the company’s factory in Nedre Strandgate.
The marketing situation for the canning industry was unstable in 1910 – low prices and strong competition. This situation was radically changed by the outbreak of the war in 1914. Exports reached record heights and prices were doubled. Consequently, Johan Braadland AS required greater production capacity, and the old tannery was reconstructed for canning purposes, by among other things, adding a room for smoking. Production in the new facilities started in 1916. During the high season there were more than one hundred people working in the factory. The name of the factory branch, Venus Packing Co., was taken from the world of Roman dieties. The goddess of fertility and love must have been a good choice in the optimistic market situation that then prevailed. It was hoped that the investments would multiply, but the situation soon changed, for the company and for several other canning factories in the town.
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