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Werndl, Josef
© Copyright Josef Werndl. Painting by Kulstrunk, 1889. Werndl, Josef, b. Steyrdorf (Upper Austria), Feb. 26, 1831, d. Steyr (Upper Austria), April 29, 1889, arms manufacturer, industrialist. Took over his father's factory for the manufacture of rifle components in Steyr in 1855, travelled with his foreman K. Holub to the USA in 1863, where he visited arms factories; after his return in 1865 he started to construct a breechloader which was named after him (W.-Gewehr). Founded an arms factory (Österreichische Waffenfabriksgesellschaft) in 1869 (became the Steyr-Werke AG in 1923 and 1934 Steyr-Daimler-Puch AG). When he started manufacturing an automatic rifle invented by F. von Mannlicher, he increased his workforce to 10,000 workers and made Steyr the centre of European arms manufacture (guns). In 1884 organised an electricity exhibition in Steyr and installed the first electric street lighting. W. also set up exemplary social facilities (workers' settlements). Literature: M. Pfaffenwimmer, Die wirtschaftliche und soziale Entwicklung der "Ö. Waffenfabriksges." Unter der Leitung des Gen.-Dir. J. W. 1869-1889, doctoral thesis, Vienna 1985; J. Schuy, Das Waffensystem W., 1997.
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