SCHOCK-SINNER Nicolas

Nicolas SCHOCK was born in Grevenmacher. His father Peter SCHOCK was a Bäcker. In 1896 he married Mathilde SINNER, his occupation was Kaufmann.
In 1897 he announced that he had set up a wood-cutting operation (Sägemühle) in the Schiffmühlenweg in Grevenmacher:

Der Stadt Grevenmacher und Umgegend teile andurch mit, daß ich mein Holz-, Schneide- & Hobelwerk fertig aufgestellt habe und wird jeder billig u. schnellstens bedient und kann nach vorheriger Vereinbarung in einem Tag eine größere Partie Holz geschnitten und gehobelt bekommen.
Meine Band-Säge ist neuesten patentirten Systems und zeichnet sich durch saubern und „dünnen” Schnitt aus was Hauptbedingungen beim Schneiden von bessern Holzarten sind.
Auch empfehle mein Lager von Tannengehölz.
Nic. SCHOCK-SINNER in Grevenmacher.

Nicolas adopted the double name “SCHOCK-SINNER” (including therefore the name of his wife) in order to distinguish his business from that of his uncle, which used the trade name “SCHOCK-STRENG” and that of his siblings “Geschwister SCHOCK-BONGERT”.
Around 1900 Nicolas obtained a 12 year concession for supplying electricity to the commune of Grevenmacher. He set up a power station, presumably as an annex to his wood-cutting and transforming facilities. In the Census of 1900 his occupation is recorded as Elektrotechniker.
In 1906, however, Nicolas SCHOCK wished to be released from his contract for supplying electricity but it took until 1909 before a successor was found and contracted. SCHOCK continued developing his wood business and made his first invention.
In the following years he started a trade for offering accessories to the vignerons (winemakers) such as Bindstroh, Bindweiden, Spiraldrahtbindgarn, … Kristall-Zucker (zum Bereiten von Pick ?).
In the 1920s SCHOCK’s interests turned towards fruit presses (Kelterpressen). He made several inventions but there is no evidence that he actually commercialised his inventions.
In 1928 SCHOCK closed his wood-cutting operation in the Schiffmühlenweg and put its equipment up for auction.
He seems also to have had a keen interest in cars. SCHOCK had owned a car as early as 1910 which carried the number plate n° 122. In the 1930s he developed a centrifugal clutch for cars.
He died in Grevenmacher in 1948 at the age of 81.

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