Ignaz Kreidl

Ignaz Kreidl (December 11, 1869 – May 21, 1947) Rare earths such as cerium, neodymium and praseodymium are used for polishing glass, for the creation of specific colors and visual effects, and for optical properties which they can impart to glass.

Kreidl rose from the position of research chemist to research manager and co-manager of production at the Welsbach company.

Life in Vienna A family in business The Kreidl and Heller families were closely connected. Ignaz' sister Mathilde (1868–1926) was married to industrialist Gustav Heller (1857–1937). In 1908, Ignaz Kreidl and Gustav Heller formed the Kreidl and Heller company.

VCF was involved in the production of rare earths, which were used to create glass, enamels, and synthetic resins. Kreidl led a strong research program that resulted in the registration of a number of patents relating to the production of resins, glass, and enamels. These included processes such as the manufacturing of opaquing agents for white enamel, which could be used in dentistry.

It also produced saccharin, under the brand name "Kandisin".

Among Kreidl's many patents are a number relating to the use of saccharin by diabetics. The company even published a cookbook of saccharine recipes, Mein 'süßes' Kochbuch. Die Verwendung von Süßstoff, Tabletten-, und Kristallsüßstoff und Kandiset für Speisen und Getränke jeder Art (My "sweet" cookbook. The use of sweetener, tablet, and crystal sweetener and candy for food and drinks of any kind).

Ignaz Kreidl was a highly respected scientist and industrialist.

Norbert Kreidl completed his doctorate in physics with a minor in chemistry, receiving degrees in 1925 and 1927. Kreidl owned 8,512 shares in Schreiber, almost half of the company's total of 20,000 shares. An additional 4,430 shares belonged to Frederike Selahettin, who was also considered Jewish by the National Socialists.

Effective June 15, 1938, the Schreiber company was "Aryanized". The possessions of Kreidl and Selahettin were confiscated by the Gestapo and declared to be the property of "the Land of Austria". where he became an American citizen.

All four men are included in the membership roster of the American Ceramic Society for 1945. Ignaz and Werner are listed at 155 Waverly Place, New York; Norbert at 475 Gardham Rd., Rochester, NY; and M. Sgt. E. L. Kreidl at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. After moving to the United States, Ignaz and Werner established the Kreidl Chemico-Physical Corporation, New York, N. Y. Ekkehard L. Kreidl became a research physicist for the Radiation Branch of the Engineering Board of the United States Army, and later worked on air quality control for Arthur D. Little, Inc. of Cambridge, Mass. and Kaiser Steel.

Norbert Kreidl became an internationally respected glass scientist. Initially he joined his former professor, Woldemar Weyl, at Pennsylvania State College. He later became head of materials and development at Bausch and Lomb Optical Company and taught at the University of Missouri-Rolla. In addition he was a consultant to NASA, president of the International Commission on Glass, and active in organizing a series of international glass conferences. Following the second world war, Norbert established a fund to support students of his former teacher, Adolf Smekal, in Graz. He named it the Ignaz Kreidl Fund. Candy-maker John Heller (originally "Hans"), a son of Gustav Heller and Mathilde Kreidl, emigrated from Vienna to New York in 1940. There he founded Heller Candy Inc.

Reparations Following the war, Ignaz Kreidl was able to regain some company assets, in particular some of those stolen by Fridolin Glass, by appealing to the Property Control Branch of the U.S. Allied Commission for Austria (USACA), 1945-1950.