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Paul Riès


Founded in 1865 the company of Paul Riès & Sons (Aden) Ltd. held the distinction of being the oldest established European company in the colony. It's opening was timely considering the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 which helped the company's position immensely. Based on the export of skins, coffee and gums, the company developed a large import department which handled commodities such as sugar and flour, building products such as cement, and a wide range of manufactured goods. The company later became involved in Aden's salt industry.

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Paul Riès activities and agencies brought him into direct competition with Antonin Besse; they became bitter rivals and Besse tried unsuccessfully on more than one occasion to 'crush' him.

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Household commodities included agencies for Frigidaire air-conditioners and refrigerators, Kenwood kitchen appliances, Olympia typewriters and Telefunken radios, radiograms and tape-recorders, all of which offered excellent service support from a small but very efficient workshop.

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The business prospered and by the late 40's Paul's son, Maurice had become the leading partner.

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The company maintained large, modern workshops which were reputed to be of the best in Aden. Paul Riès & Sons business empire expanded to French Somaliland, Eritrea and Ethiopia with branches or agents in Yemen, Somalia and the Eastern Aden Protectorate. 

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Sister company L. Savon & Riès (Aden Shipping) Co. Ltd. held a number of shipping agencies such as Lloyd Triestino, whilst Aden Coasters, another associate company, handled coastal business with two small vessels. 

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In the 1960's the automotive business, at least, was located on the Maalla Relief Road, Maalla.

Savon, Riès & Thabet Shipping Co. Ltd. maintained offices on the ground floor of the Rock Hotel in Steamer Point and at Cloth Bazaar in Crater.

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Engineering and automotive equipment were two major lines and by 1962 included the following agencies:

AUTOMOTIVE

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  • Albion trucks

  • Borgward Cars

  • Citroen cars

  • Daimler cars

  • GMC - Pontiac, Oldsmobile, GMC trucks

  • Grey marine engines

  • Lambretta scooters

  • Lloyd cars

  • Opel cars

  • Peugeot cars

  • Rolls-Royce

  • Ste. L'Air Liquid (oxy-acetylene)

  • Solex carburettors

  • U.S. Rubber (tyres & rubber)

ENGINEERING

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  • Broom & Wade (compressors

  • Caterpillar Tractor Co. (tractors and earth-moving equipment)

  • Conveyancer Forklift Trucks

  • John Allen & Sons (cranes)

  • Lister Blackstone Group

  • Massey-Ferguson (tractors & implements)

  • N.C.K. Rapier (excavators)

  • R.H. Neal & Co. Ltd (cranes)

  • Ransoms & Rapier (contractors plant)

  • Rotary Hoes Ltd. (Howard Rotavators)

  • Winget Ltd.
    (concrete mixers and vibrators)

Paul Ries Building on Mallaa Relief Road, Maalla

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