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Edgar William Brandt (24 December 1880 – 8 May 1960) was a French ironworker and prolific weapons designer. In 1901 he set up a small workshop at 76 rue Michel-Ange in the 16th arrondissement in Paris, where he began designing, silversmithing, and forging small items such as jewelry, crosses, and brooches. His business began to take off with special commissions such as the door of the French Embassy in Brussels, the Escalier Mollien stairs in the Louvre, and the stair and balcony railing for the Grand Theatre Municipal de Nancy.
At the start of World War I in 1914 Brandt was called to serve. Observing a need for mortars in trench warfare, he designed an aerodynamic mortar shell with obturation grooves (see details at Brandt Mle 27/31) which has not substantially changed since, and made a successful armaments business from his invention after the war. His 60mm, 81mm and 120mm mortars were very widely copied (both under and without license) before, throughout and subsequent to World War II. He also invented armour-piercing discarding sabot artillery shells[1] and contributed substantially to the development of effective HEAT-warhead weapons for infantry anti-tank use through his development of HEAT rifle grenades.[citation needed]
Following the WWI Brandt embarked on his most productive years as a designer, starting to show his work in the Salon d’Automne every year. In 1919 he decided to expand his business, engaging architect Favier and constructing a new building on the corner of the Boulevard Murat and the rue Erlanger. In it he maintained a physical catalogue of his ironwork. He also added nearly 150 people employees, each with specialized tasks ranging from concept to production.[2]
Brandt's career began to peak in the 1920s. Stylish entrances for shops in Paris and lighting were an important part of his production. Additionally, with the rise of radiators in homes, rather than concealing them, he drew attention their way with elegantly designed covers.[3] Throughout the rest of his career his work spanned from iron gates and fireplace grills to and console tables.
Brandt's work was acknowledged by the American Association of Architects making him an honorary member in 1929.[4]
As Brandt is now more known internationally, he expanded his business again and opened a state-of-the-art factory in the Paris suburb of Chatillon-sous-Bagneux, where upward of 3,000 workers fabricated both decorative metalwork and armaments under his name.[5] His company was nationalized in 1936. Several years later World War II forced him to flee with his family to Switzerland. At war's end in 1945 Brandt returned to France but chose not to reopen his studio. Instead, he worked on small projects until he died in 1960.
Today, the Brandt company lives on through several mergers as FagorBrandt, a manufacturer of household appliances.