The Dynasty stumbles

THE DYNASTY STUMBLES

The family suffered with the loss of Mathilde in 1902. Business was going well, and a young generation of Jarays was arriving on the scene. Suffering from diabetes and arteriosclerosis, Sigmund felt quite comfortable transferring his business empire to his sons Max and Karl. They each excelled in different areas of the company, and the business thrived under their leadership. The other two boys Sandor and Alfred had long since denounced any management interest in the family firm, yet both were successful in their own right. Sandor was a popular sculptor, exhibiting portrait busts and other groups of his work in Vienna, Munich, and Rome. He was sought-after for prestigious commissions and was earning a handsome living.

Alfred, an electrical engineer, enjoyed being around other young inventors. Though he lived at Reisnerstrasse 31, in Vienna III, he loved London, eventually buying a home there. At first he lived at 7 Torrington Square (1898) by the university, where he was a frequent contributor to the patent office. Several patents are registered in Alfred’s name. In 1904, at age 29, he became director of the British Vacuum Co., a firm believed to be established by a group of investors including his father Sigmund, and his uncle Sándor, to market a new invention called the vacuum cleaner. A year later, 1905, Alfred married Fanny Hirsch, the daughter of Carl Hirsch (a wealthy industrialist) and his wife Pauline Bing, (sister of Sam Bing). Fanny's only sister Else was married to Baron Felix Pollack von Parnegg, who later in 1915 after Alfred's death from pneumonia became guardian to Alfred and Fanny's two sons George and Herbert. Alfred and Fanny inherited Fanny's dad Carl Hirsch's interest in Sam Bing & Co. and Alfred's share of Sigmund Jaray's firms.

February 2nd, 1908,

Sigmund Jaray, age 70, died. He currently rests with his wife Mathilde in the family plot at Zentralfriedhof, Vienna, Tor 1 (Gate 1).

The Struggles of the next dozen years resulted in much of Sigmund's and brother Sándor's accomplishments being undone. The Jaray family would remain stunted for another complete generation.

First came the death of Alfred of pneumonia in 1915. He rests in the family plot at Zentralfriedhof, Vienna (Tor 1), Vienna. George and Herbert, ages 9 and 7 had now lost both grandparents and their father.

On the tenth of July, 1916, Sándor “der Alte”, age 71, died. He rests with his wife Therese, his children Karoline, Antonie and Karl as well as his grandson Hans at Hietzinger Friedhof, Vienna (Gruppe 13).

In January 1920 Max Jaray died unexpectedly in a climbing accident on the Matterhorn leaving Peter and his sister Mathilde, ages 15 and 11. Peter died in an accident at age 20. Max and Elsa rest with their son Peter at Evangelischer Friedhof, Vienna/Simmering (Tor 4).

Also in 1920, Karl died in the flu epidemic in August, leaving two teenage boys, Richard and Francis, ages 17 and 14. He rests in the family plot at Zentralfriedhof, Vienna (Tor 1).

This was a severe blow to the family business, as the outbreak of WW I in 1914 required business adjustments, and Max relied on Karl's ability. Karl, among other things, ran the division of the company called "Flugzeug & Propellerfabrik" (1916 -1919) which built some of the world's first airplanes. Engineers employed in this firm included both Julius Kolin and cousin Paul Jaray.

No Jaray was left, being capable of running the family business. Sigmund's grandsons were all too young. A generation of Jaray brothers had died prematurely, leaving Sandor and Gisela, both of whom were ill equipped to run the family business. Old Sándor’s only son Karl and Adolf’s sons Karl and Paul (he moved to Switzerland in 1923) were also not in the family business. The firm was placed in the trusteeship of a gentleman named Hugo Marle, until it was finally rescued by Adolf's son Felix in 1922. By then, it had lost much of its presence as an industry leader and floundered in a changing economy. Though Felix struggled with the company for the next decade, it was eventually dissolved in 1933.

Sigmund's grave

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