Products, suppliers and craftsmen in the works of Technical Office Samuel das Neves: 1909-1920

Abstract

This article presents a survey of some of the importing companies, construction materials suppliers and service providers that participated in the works carried out by the Technical Office of Engineer Samuel das Neves —contractor and builder in the period between 1909 and 1920, from the invoices and service contracts from that engineering and architecture office. These documents are related to larger works and important clients. It aims to recover, even in the midst of documentation fragments, information on such companies and professionals working at that time, employed materials and services rendered, aiming at expanding the information about the agents involved in some of the buildings of São Paulo city in the early twentieth century. It addresses the subject of vocational training and the preponderance of immigrants in both commercial organizations and craft activities. In the same way, it presents the involvement of some main actors —notably engineers— in various stages of the production chain (companies for extraction of raw material, suppliers, import services, project design and houses for rent).