Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
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What does the third line say?
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What I make of it is "Kaliekebo" but that does not give any results in Google. The fourth line is completely incomprehensible.
I looked in Kleian's addressbook for the Netherlands Indies for "Pleijsier", the recipient of the card, but the oldest copy I could find was from 1903 and there was only one Pleijsier listed who was an deputy administrator ("Adm.Ond.") at the Soember-Rawoe plantation in Loemadjang, Tempeh district, Central Java.
This could be the one, since it is not that far from Soerabaja (160 kms or so) but I am afraid there is nothing specific.
The letter seems to refer to a shipment of 1700 fireresistant stones (?) to the address of Mr. Pleijsier and the writer hopes he'll receive them in good condition.
Jan-Simon
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I thought Kaliekebo as well, but as you say, nothing turns up.
This is as difficult as deciphering Old German, but we all love a challenge!
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I tried several of the national archives for the Netherlands Indies, but there was nothing for Kaliekebo, or anything like that with a few wildcards.
Old German writing (Suetterlin) is almost impossible to decipher without some training. This still looks like the kind of cursive my grandparents learned at school. My grandfather wrote like this (although I must admit neater than this)
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Found it! Kali-Kebo was a coffee plantation in/near Wlingi(e) which is close to Blitar, central Java.
The coffee plantation was destroyed in May 1901 when the volcano Kloet (now called Kelud) erupted. According to the Soerabaijasch handelsblad of 31 May 1901, the damage for the local population was insignificant, just 10,000 guilders which is just a few guilders per capita. Not really something to worry about, the newspaper states. The article continues with a list of indigenous people who were injured or died. The author of the article continues with an angry statement that there was no reason to take out the wallet in order to help those who suffered. The various plantations, among which Kali-Kebo were hit by stones and were still "smoldering" and all bridges around Blitar were destroyed, but even that was not considered to be worth calling it a disaster.
Apparently it was a bit worse than the article would have us believe, because later that year, the plantation was bankrupt and was up for public auction.
Another newspaper from the Netherlands Indies tells a different, more dramatic story: dated 5 June it says: "the administrator of Kali-Kebo barely escaped; his company was largely destroyed, but the fires stopped at 100 metres of his home, in which he remained quietly. At the plantation, in total 19 bodies were found"
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"... 1700 fireresistant stones (?) ..."
Perhaps fireresistant bricks?
Not my field, but I'll guess that "traditional" mud'n'straw bricks don't do as well in fires as oven-fired clay/+.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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yes, I suppose bricks would be a better translation. The original Dutch word is "steenen" (in the old spelling that is), which can mean both stones as bricks. Given that this was a coffee plantation, perhaps they had their own oven(s) for roasting the coffee beans? The fireresistant bricks would then probably be chamotte or grog.
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On the other hand, 1700 bricks seem quite a lot for building an oven. Perhaps they used it for a house and that's why the administrator was so convident to remain in it while the forest was burning around him 
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Yes, that was the tricky part. The writer used a different W in the first line (Weledele Heer), so that confused me. But in the end, I was able to fit all the pieces together. I even found a news article about this mr. A. Pleijsier (who was the same guy as the one that popped up in the Address Book).
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Stamps make real good stories
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Very interesting, Phil.
Having been to Surabaya, I am now going to see if I can figure out where in the city it was located.
David
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Auctions
Need some help with the destination address on this card..found some interesting information on the company on the internet..but can not identify the 4th line..tried to match with Indonesian towns/cities but the handwriting makes it tough.
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re: Soerabaya Machine co.
What does the third line say?
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re: Soerabaya Machine co.
What I make of it is "Kaliekebo" but that does not give any results in Google. The fourth line is completely incomprehensible.
I looked in Kleian's addressbook for the Netherlands Indies for "Pleijsier", the recipient of the card, but the oldest copy I could find was from 1903 and there was only one Pleijsier listed who was an deputy administrator ("Adm.Ond.") at the Soember-Rawoe plantation in Loemadjang, Tempeh district, Central Java.
This could be the one, since it is not that far from Soerabaja (160 kms or so) but I am afraid there is nothing specific.
The letter seems to refer to a shipment of 1700 fireresistant stones (?) to the address of Mr. Pleijsier and the writer hopes he'll receive them in good condition.
Jan-Simon
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this post
re: Soerabaya Machine co.
I thought Kaliekebo as well, but as you say, nothing turns up.
This is as difficult as deciphering Old German, but we all love a challenge!
Login to Like
this post
Approvals
re: Soerabaya Machine co.
I tried several of the national archives for the Netherlands Indies, but there was nothing for Kaliekebo, or anything like that with a few wildcards.
Old German writing (Suetterlin) is almost impossible to decipher without some training. This still looks like the kind of cursive my grandparents learned at school. My grandfather wrote like this (although I must admit neater than this)
Login to Like
this post
Approvals
re: Soerabaya Machine co.
Found it! Kali-Kebo was a coffee plantation in/near Wlingi(e) which is close to Blitar, central Java.
The coffee plantation was destroyed in May 1901 when the volcano Kloet (now called Kelud) erupted. According to the Soerabaijasch handelsblad of 31 May 1901, the damage for the local population was insignificant, just 10,000 guilders which is just a few guilders per capita. Not really something to worry about, the newspaper states. The article continues with a list of indigenous people who were injured or died. The author of the article continues with an angry statement that there was no reason to take out the wallet in order to help those who suffered. The various plantations, among which Kali-Kebo were hit by stones and were still "smoldering" and all bridges around Blitar were destroyed, but even that was not considered to be worth calling it a disaster.
Apparently it was a bit worse than the article would have us believe, because later that year, the plantation was bankrupt and was up for public auction.
Another newspaper from the Netherlands Indies tells a different, more dramatic story: dated 5 June it says: "the administrator of Kali-Kebo barely escaped; his company was largely destroyed, but the fires stopped at 100 metres of his home, in which he remained quietly. At the plantation, in total 19 bodies were found"
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re: Soerabaya Machine co.
"... 1700 fireresistant stones (?) ..."
Perhaps fireresistant bricks?
Not my field, but I'll guess that "traditional" mud'n'straw bricks don't do as well in fires as oven-fired clay/+.
Cheers,
/s/ ikeyPikey
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re: Soerabaya Machine co.
yes, I suppose bricks would be a better translation. The original Dutch word is "steenen" (in the old spelling that is), which can mean both stones as bricks. Given that this was a coffee plantation, perhaps they had their own oven(s) for roasting the coffee beans? The fireresistant bricks would then probably be chamotte or grog.
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re: Soerabaya Machine co.
On the other hand, 1700 bricks seem quite a lot for building an oven. Perhaps they used it for a house and that's why the administrator was so convident to remain in it while the forest was burning around him
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re: Soerabaya Machine co.
Yes, that was the tricky part. The writer used a different W in the first line (Weledele Heer), so that confused me. But in the end, I was able to fit all the pieces together. I even found a news article about this mr. A. Pleijsier (who was the same guy as the one that popped up in the Address Book).
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09:40:18am
re: Soerabaya Machine co.
Stamps make real good stories
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re: Soerabaya Machine co.
Very interesting, Phil.
Having been to Surabaya, I am now going to see if I can figure out where in the city it was located.
David
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