W.H. Gispen (1890-1981) After completing his education, Willem Hendrik Gispen starts his own art forge in Rotterdam in 1916 with two employees. He receives the first orders for his business through his network of teachers and former students. His former head teacher W. Kromhout, the Delft professor and architect of Rotterdam's city hall H. Evers, former fellow student L.C. van der Vlugt and architect J. Verheul all play assignments to him. Around 1920, Gispen becomes influenced by the design ideas of De Stijl. His changed ideas about beauty lead to the application of other forms, other materials and machine rather than craft production methods. This did not hurt his cause: the serial production of Gisol lamps from 1926 onwards became a success. The municipality of Rotterdam even made the use of Gisolamp No. 18b compulsory for all its schools. No doubt in this decision "the stimulating influence of the soft, pure light" that would increase "work ethic and work performance" plays an important role. In 1929, Gispen starts series production of tubular steel furniture for home and office furnishings. An important stimulus for this step was the order to furnish a large part of the offices of the new Van Nelle factory (1925-1931) in Rotterdam. With its thinness and openness, the tubular steel furniture is entirely in keeping with the design ideas of the Nieuwe Bouwen, the style in which the factory was also built. In the 1930s, the company fell into financial distress. Well-to-do sympathizers, including Van Nelle director Kees van der Leeuw, shipping magnate A.J.M. Goudriaan and banker R. Mees, save the company from bankruptcy. A reorganization plan is drawn up and shipbuilding engineer W.F. van Osselen (1900-1968) is appointed second director. He does not interfere with the design work, but makes suggestions for product differentiation and choice of materials. Van Osselen sees a market for office furniture equipped with technical gadgets that make office work lighter and more efficient. In 1934, the company moves to Culemborg and starts series production of the famous silver-gray telephone booth designed by L.C. van der Vlugt. In addition, "miniature architecture" continues. Thus Gispen realizes the movable cash register after a design by J. Duiker (1890-1935) for his Cineac-Handelsblad (1934) in Amsterdam. Special lighting fixtures are commissioned, usually designed by W.H. Gispen himself. He thus returns to older aesthetic principles. With the revaluation of ornament and a more artisanal choice of materials, he seems to oppose the increasing technologicalization and expansion of scale within the company. After the difficult war years, Gispen steps down as director in 1949. Van Osselen continues the company and remains director until 1967. The archive material, which was transferred to the NAI after the death of Gispen and Van Osselen, is special in part because of the nearly complete collection of company catalogs covering the period 1925-1981.