Lot Essay
Eduard Probst was born in Kaufbeuren in southern Bavaria, though the family moved to Immendstadt by 1855 where they were involved in the formation of a string factory, which was to the first of its kind in Germany and at its peak employed 900 people and produced 3,100 tons of string per year. By 1870 Eduard and his brother Adolph had taken over the day to day operation of the firm and in 1895 Eduard took sole control. He was also, from 1879 to 1918, the Chairman of the Alpinist association of Immenstadt and in 1910 created a trust for needy workers. He was made, in 1913, an honourary citizen of Immenstadt and died there in 1918.