Mac Goldsmith papers

The collection is arranged in series: Private life including his internment and naturalization; Business -containing documents about Goldsmith's companies, patents and processes; Civic life, containing documents relating to his life in Leicester and philanthropy. There are a large amount of press cuttings that relate to all aspects of his life and work

Dr Mac Goldsmith (born as Max Goldschmidt 1902-1983) was an innovative engineer in the field of metal and rubber, primarily in the automotive industry. He founded his first company, Mecano, in Germany in 1925. His second company, Metallgummi, was founded in 1934.

After Hitler's rise to power he was forced to sell Mecano to his non Jewish business partner. The family were forced to flee Germany in 1937. Goldsmith re-established his engineering company in Britain and made a significant contribution to the war effort, despite being interned in 1939.

Metalastik is the name for both the company and the process of manufacturing rubber to metal bonded componants for which Goldsmith was known.

Items in the collection may be consulted for the purpose of private study and personal research, within the controlled environment and restrictions of The Keep's Reading Rooms.

An online catalogue is available on The Keep's website .

COPIES FOR PRIVATE STUDY: Subject to copyright, conditions imposed by owners and protecting the documents, digital copies can be made.

PUBLICATION: A reader wishing to publish material in the collection should contact the Head of Special Collections, in writing. The reader is responsible for obtaining permission to publish from the copyright owner.

The Mac Goldsmith papers were donated to the Centre for German-Jewish Studies by the Goldsmith family who also funded a research project into Mac Goldsmith's career.