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Architect's drawings by M Thams & Co., of the proposed pavilion
building for the Stockholm Exposition, 1897.
Photo by Randy Winner. Little Norway Collection. Drafting tools courtesy of the
Mount Horeb Area Historical Society.
ARCHITECT AND BUILDER
The firm of M. Thams & Co. was located at Strandheim Bruk in Orkanger,
near Trondheim, Norway. It was established in 1867 by Wilhelm A. Thams.
Mr. Thams was an industrious, ambitious fellow, anxious to compete with
Norway's already well-established sawmills. In 1869 he added the first plan-
ing mill and crate factory in the northern part of the country. The crate
business exceeded all expectations, and the company soon expanded.
When a fire destroyed the firm in 1872, Thams, who was then 60 years
old, took this opportunity to create the kind of mill he had always envi-
sioned. After rebuilding, Thams turned the mill and its operations over to
his son, Maurentius Thams, who became the principal shareholder. Mau-
rentius started production of crates on a large scale, used not only for the
transport of salmon, but also for shipping tomatoes from the Canary
Islands to Europe.
14     NORWAY PARTICIPATES