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     The bookprinting business 'Buchdruckerei Worms' was founded by Mattheus Krantzbühler after he received the license on 17 August 1700.^1,2

After Matthäus' death on 9 May 1713, his widow Margaretha Dorothea took over the bookprinting business Buchdruckerei Worms and later joined in marriage her husband's former employee, Johann Ludwig Spelter.³

Johann Ludwig Spelter's "unsavoury business activities and other vices" resulted in great difficulties for the printing business Worms. Permission to establish a 2nd printing business in Worms was granted. Although the other business only operated from 1726 to 1731 and then declared bankruptcy, the KRANZBÜHLER business couldn't fully recover during Spelter's lifetime.³

After his step-father, Johann Spelter, died on 07 Sep 1743, Otto Wilhelm, Matthäus Kranzbühler's only surviving son, succeeded as proprietor of the printing business at age 35 (sic). At first he concentrated on book trading, only from 1751 he seemed to have pursued printing as the main branch of the business again.³
     Wolfgang Hasch - author of the history of the newspaper "Wormser Zeitung" - wrote in the jubilee edition on 10 Jan 2001 (see text exhibit).⁴

After Otto's death his widow Maria Elisabeth continued the business and stayed proprietor until one year before her death. Initially, she succeeded in having her eldest son, Johann Nicolaus, appointed manager at only 16-years-old.⁵
     Wolfgang Hasch wrote in his article "Verlegerin mit Courage anno 1776".⁶

Johann Nicolaus took his 13-years-old brother, Johann Daniel, on as an apprentice.⁵

After the death of his brother Johann Nicolaus, Johann Daniel became 02 May 1774 factor in his mother's business.⁷

Under Maria Elisabeth and her son Johann Daniel, the bookprinting business Kranzbühler in Worms experienced its first peak. Under the management of Maria Elisabeth, who in those early times was one of few women who were involved in literature, were 9 - 10 printers and type setters employed. The business was located in the family owned house, in best location of (in 1938) "Kämmerergasse" no. 3.⁷
Map of today's Kämmererstr. in Worms.

From 1776, the newspaper "Wormser Intelligenzblatt" was printed there. In January 1777, Maria Elisabeth purchased the newspaper from Heinrich Valentine Bender and it was then edited and printed by the Kranzbühler.⁸
     To the transfer of the Wormser Zeitung to the Kranzbühler, Wolfgang Hasch writes in his article "Vom Intelligenzblatt zur WZ".⁹

On 24 June 1780, Johann Daniel took his 16-years-old youngest brother, Johann Friedrich, on as an apprentice.⁷
     Wolfgang Hasch continues: Emperor helps publisher.¹⁰

One year before her death, in 1789, Maria Elisabeth handed over the business to her son Johann Daniel.¹¹

Because of the political chaos, the number of employees was reduced by half. At first, the business was still impaired because of the French Revolution, the occupation of Palatine and the expulsion of the French in 1793. Johann Daniel, however, was successful in bringing the business back.
He became a member of the civic council. Politically, he stood by the French Party and hoped for the French to heal countless grievances, the old regime in Worms and elsewhere suffered from.¹²
     Wolfgang Hasch describes the time of the newspaper und Johann Daniel's management in "Verlegerin mit Courage anno 1776":.¹³

As Johann Daniel had stayed single, he adopted in 1815 his nephew Johann Andreas into the bookprinting business.¹⁴


Johann Andreas became 16 June 1819, at the age of 24, his uncle's successor in the bookprinting business Buchdruckerei Worms. Johann Andreas bought in 1830 the business property corner "Wollstraße/Speyerstraße" from Mr. Friedrich Renz, moved the printing business into this house and carried on the business in the 46 years of his proprietary at about the same extent as it had been when he took it over. 2 rival firms failed, not until 1849 was the establishment of a 2nd printing business in Worms by Conrad Boeninger successful.¹⁵
     Wolfgang Hasch continues.¹⁶
Map of today's Valckenbergstr. in Worms.


After the deaths of all of Johann Andreas's children, his nephew Eugen joined in 1860 the bookprinting business Worms to support his aging and ailing uncle.¹⁷
     About Johann Andreas Kranzbühler, Wolfgang Hasch writes.¹⁸

Eugen had joined the book printing business Buchdruckerei Worms at 19-years-old and, at age 25, succeeded as the new proprietor after his uncle Johann Andreas's death.¹⁹

Eugen Kranzbühler was the last Kranzbühler to own and run the bookprinting business Worms.²⁰


Following the German-French war of 1870/71 the business flourished immensely, although there were 9 printing businesses in Worms at the time. In 1900, they had 32 employees. The main activity of the business had turned to the development and presentation of the Wormser newspaper and its various side publications, but it still kept on a significant branch of book printing.¹⁹
     Wolfgang Hasch writes about Eugen Kranzbühler.^18,21


Eugen's son Theodor was supposed to be his successor in the Buchdruckerei Worms, but he didn't continue the business.

Therefore, after more than 200 years the book printing business Worms was lost to the KRANZBÜHLER family.¹⁹

     Re: Wolfgang Hasch.¹¹

In 1907, the brothers Cnyrim purchased the newspaper and the bookprinting business, which they continued to run under the name of "Buchdruckerei Eugen Kranzbühler". In 1943 they ceased publication of the newspaper. Finally, at the end of WWII, in spring 1945, the building of the bookprinting business was bombed out.²²

Photo of the bookprinting business ca. 1940's.

Wolfgang Hasch also very kindly took photos on my behalf of today's Kranzbühlerstr. in the city of Worms which was named in honour of the family owning the bookprinting business. See them here:.

     (?) married (?) Kranzbühler, daughter of Nikolaus Karl Kranzbühler and Juliana Kühner.¹

     Anna Catharina Acker was also known as Katharina Anna Acker. She was born on 18 May 1806 at Speyer, Pfalz, Germany.³ On the christening records of several of her children, her name was entered as Anna Catherina Aker. She was the daughter of Johannes Acker and Johanna Maria Müller.^1,2 Anna Catharina married Johann Daniel Kranzbühler, son of Johann Friedrich Kranzbühler and Maria Margaretha Koch, on 14 September 1826 at Speyer, Pfalz.³
Katharina Anna Kranzbühler died on 31 May 1835 at Speyer, Pfalz, at the age of 29 years.³

     Johanna Elisabeth Acker was born on 11 February 1796 at Speyer, Pfalz, Germany.¹ She was the daughter of Johann Georg Acker and Magdalena Haidschuch. Johanna Elisabeth married Johann Friedrich Kranzbühler, son of Johann Friedrich Kranzbühler and Maria Anna Enderes, on 15 March 1818 at Speyer, Pfalz.¹
Johanna Elisabeth Kranzbühler died on 24 January 1852 at Speyer, Pfalz, at the age of 55 years.¹

     Johannes Acker was born on 24 August 1766 at Edenkoben, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.² He was the son of Johann Stephan Acker and Maria Barbara Croissant.¹ He was master baker at Speyer, Pfalz, Germany.¹ Johannes married Johanna Maria Müller, daughter of Johann Valentin Müller and Johanna Catherina Bardua, on 6 March 1791 at Edenkoben, Rheinland-Pfalz.^2,1
Johannes Acker died on 4 August 1814 at Speyer, Pfalz, at the age of 47 years.^2,1

     Adam Allspach was born on 17 April 1898.¹ He was the son of (?) Allspach.² Adam married Katharina Ross.¹
Adam Allspach died on 23 January 1976 at the age of 77 years.¹

     Albrecht Allspach was the son of (?) Allspach.¹

     Emil Allspach was the son of (?) Allspach.¹ Emil married Erna Mang.¹

     Ernst Allspach was born on 18 September 1893.¹ He was the son of (?) Allspach.¹ Ernst married Judith Bieber.¹
Ernst Allspach died in 1966.¹

     Ernst Adam Christian Allspach was born on 21 July 1934.¹ He was the son of Ernst Allspach and Judith Bieber.¹ Ernst Adam Christian married Margot Hanke.¹
Ernst Adam Christian Allspach died on 28 May 2000 at the age of 65 years.¹

     Luise Elisabeth "Liesl" Allspach was born on 9 October 1933 at Rodalben, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.^2,3 She was the daughter of Adam Allspach and Katharina Ross.¹ Luise Elisabeth married Ludwig Peter Friedrich Bourguignon, son of Friedrich Heinrich Jacob Bourguignon and Marie Anna Kranzbühler, on 30 September 1953 at Pirmasens, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.^1,4
Liesl Bourguignon died on 6 December 1978 at Pirmasens, Rheinland-Pfalz, at the age of 45 years.^4,3 Liesl was buried at Höhfröschen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.¹

     Ruth Allspach was the daughter of Adam Allspach and Katharina Ross.¹ Ruth married Jean-Paul Auget.¹
Ruth Allspach died circa July 2005.¹

     Maximilian Josef married Maria Magdalena Kranzbühler, daughter of Johann Daniel Kranzbühler and Katharina Elisabetha Rhein, on 23 November 1868 at Speyer, Pfalz, Germany.^2,1
Max was widowed on 31 May 1870 through the death of his wife Maria Magdalena at Pirmasens, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, who died in childbed.^1,2
Max was a county councillor at Pirmasens, Rheinland-Pfalz.²

     Otto Alwens was born in May 1870 at Pirmasens, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany.¹ He was the son of Maximilian Josef "Max" Alwens and Maria Magdalena Kranzbühler.¹ Otto died on 5 February 1871 at Pirmasens, Rheinland-Pfalz, at the age of 9 months.¹

     Martin Ammann was born on 6 February 1903 at Mallersdorf, Germany.¹ Further spelling for the name: Amann. Martin married Ilse Gilardone, daughter of Franz Eugen Gilardone and Anna Bredereck, on 11 December 1930 at Klein-Schönbeck, Germany.^2,1
Martin was a tax auditor at Heidelberg/ Kirchheim, Germany.¹

     Salomé Ancillon was born on 4 July 1589.¹ Salomé married Philippe Quien on 1 February 1609.

     Margaretha Anna Andrea was christened on 7 December 1671 at Kirn, Germany.¹ She was the daughter of Hans Georg Andreeß and Maria Elisabeth Schunck.¹ Margaretha Anna married Nikolaus Lauch, son of Carl Ott Laug and Maria Elisabeth (?), on 2 December 1692.
Margaretha Anna Andrea died on 26 March 1728 at Kirn at the age of 56 years.¹

     Hans Georg Andreeß was born circa 1631.¹ Hans Georg married Maria Elisabeth Schunck before 1664.¹
Hans Georg Andreeß died on 6 January 1675 at Kirn, Germany.¹

     Jean Anthoine was born on 22 February 1598 at Metz, France.¹ Jean married Marie LeRoussé on 5 May 1621.
Jean was a shoemaker at Metz, France.¹

     Rachelle Anthoine was the daughter of Jean Anthoine and Marie LeRoussé.¹ Rachelle married Abraham Piquet, son of Jacques Piquet and Marie De Vaux, on 5 June 1645.

     Friedrich Anton was born on 11 April 1876 at Frankweiler bei Landau, Pfalz, Bayern, Germany.¹ Friedrich married Elisabetha Kost.
Friedrich Anton died on 7 October 1935 at Landau, Pfalz, at the age of 59 years.¹

     Margaretha Anton was born on 23 February 1902 at Frankweiler bei Landau, Pfalz, Bayern, Germany.¹ She was the daughter of Friedrich Anton and Elisabetha Kost.¹ Margaretha married Johannes Kranzbühler, son of Michael Kranzbühler and Juliana Kost, on 6 June 1923 at Landau, Pfalz.¹
At age 58, Margaretha was widowed on 16 March 1960 through the death of her husband Johannes at Landau, Pfalz, Bayern, Germany.¹
Margaretha Anton died on 28 February 1976 at Landau, Pfalz, at the age of 74 years.¹

     Therese Aschauer was born on 23 August 1886 at auf dem Gut Wolfertsau, Stoissberg im Chiemgau, Bayern, Germany.¹ Therese married Christian Franz Rudolf Schonger, son of Christian Schonger and Mathilde Elisabeth Maria Niedermayer, on 21 June 1921 at München, Bayern, Germany.¹

     Ludwig Daniel Bachmann was born on 23 December 1823 at Bubenhausen, Germany.¹ He was christened on 28 December 1823 at Bubenhausen.¹ He was a protestant.¹ Ludwig Daniel married Elisabetha Weidmann.¹
Ludwig Daniel was a master carpenter at Ernstweiler bei Zweibrücken, Pfalz, Germany.¹
At age 78, Ludwig Daniel was widowed on 18 May 1902 through the death of his wife Elisabetha at Zweibrücken, Pfalz.¹
Ludwig Daniel Bachmann died on 12 December 1910 at Zweibrücken, Pfalz, at the age of 86 years.¹