History of Handmade Paper Mill in dates – the most important events
- 1562 establishing of paper mill in Sumperk by Jan Bauernsfiedn, papermaker from Olomouc
- 1589 Jan junior of Zerotin completed the construction of his new residence – Late renaissance castle in Velké Losiny; beginning of economical development of the demesne – brewery, sawmills, flour mills, manors, forestry, spa – sulphur baths in Velke Losiny
- 1591 last mention in archive on seigniorial flour mill on mill race connecting the rivers Desna and Losinka
- 1591–1596 conversion of flour mill on the race to a seigniorial handmade paper mill
- 1596 the oldest so far known watermark from Velke Losiny in the form of Zerotíns' lion – the first indirect document on the existence of handmade paper manufacture in Velke Losiny
- 1598 the second and the third oldest watermark from Velke Losiny with heraldic motif of the Zerotins and with initials J S Z Z – Jan senior of Zerotín (+1608)
- 1603 the oldest written mention on operating handmade paper mill – lords of the manor sell the manufacture to paper master Ondrej Kluge for 150 thalers and annual rent
- 1673 by means of the marriage with Barbora Schnellerova, widow of papermaker, Krystof Göttlicher becomes an owner and papermaster in Handmade paper mill Velke Losiny
- 1679 papermaker’s wife Barbora Göttlicherová was accused of sorcery and burned on 5.9.1680 as one of the first victims of inquisitional processes in Velke Losiny (1678 – 1693)
- 1692 papermaker Daniel Bittner sells dilapidated and indebted plant back to the lords of Zerotin manor for 780 florins
- 1704 seigniorial administration invests into the repairs of paper crushing mills, new slushing vat is acquired, masonry well, paving and new windows, new iron glazing hammer was purchased for paper glazing with plate weighing 90 pounds (approx. 45 kg)
- 1729 reconstruction of substantial part of the handmade paper mill at the costs of 241 florins; in addition to reconstruction of buildings, the Zerotíns also purchase a new revolutionary invention – wooden Hollander beater for the preparation of paper pulp; the oldest document on the existence of such an equipment in paper mills in Moravia
- 1750 the handmade paper mill, with its annual revenues in the amount of 200 florins belongs among the most profitable seigniorial businesses within the demesne
- 1778 count Jan Ludvík of Zerotín again sells the handmade paper mill for 400 florins and 230 florins of annual rent to its former renter Matyas Werner jr.; inventory of the paper mill includes 1 beater, 1 rag chopper and 2 slushing vats
- 1795 short period of flowering of paper mill, terminated by the death of papermaker Werner, widow Anna Wernerova takes over the plant administration together with her journeymen
- 1825 the construction of late Baroque main building for paper mill with Classicist frontage and typical mansard roof; incorrectly estimated amount of building expenses represented one of the reasons for collapse of the company
- 1830 papermaker Frantisek Sterz, because of bad economic situation sells the indebted plant within bankruptcy proceedings to his biggest creditors – to Schmidt family, linen producer in Stity
- 1840 3 beaters and 3 slushing vats are in operation in the paper mill, 14 employees work here, annual production amounts only to 1500 reams of office and concept papers – the reason for such dismal condition is formed by beginning production and sales crisis caused by increasing competition of industrial paper-making;
in addition to paper-making, the papermaker Philip Wenzel establishes also linen bleachery in the building of paper mill and finishing workshops – in operation up to 1910
- 1860 the company „Ant.J.Schmidt´s Söhne – Leinen und Baumwollewaren Erzeugung in Gross Ullersdorf“ (The sons of A. Schmidt – production of linen and cotton goods in Velke Losiny) was established; the enterprise concentrates above all on the production and processing of linen, processing of textile goods; limited production of handmade paper serves as a package material for textile products
- 1881 discovery of excellent filtration properties of unsized paper from Velke Losiny – impulse for the revival of production; filtration paper awarded by golden medal of the first international pharmaceutical exhibition in Australian Melbourne
- 1882 in order to extend the paper production, new branch established in adjacent Vernirovice with 2 slushing vats; altogether 5 slushing vats are in operation in paper mill
- 1896 modernization of technological procedures in paper production – construction of boiler room with steam boiler, boiling of rags with lime or soda in rotating boiler heated by steam introduced
- 1913 installation of Francis water turbine (42 Hp) with electrical generator 50kW on the flume of paper mill
- 1945 after the end of World War II, whole property of the company “Ant.J.Schmidt´s Söhne“ – manual production of paper, mechanical weaving mill, husbandry and power plant – was confiscated in full extent according to presidential decree; national administration was established
- 1949 Handmade paper mill in Velké Losiny becomes a part of state enterprise Olsanske papírny with the seat in Olsany near by Sumperk
- 1954 unprofitable production of handmade made paper gives rise to considerations about stopping its production; employees of paper mill and outstanding Czech artists fight for the rescue of the monument and preservation of production
- 1960 25 employees work in the paper mill with two-shift operation; annual production amounts to 92 tons of filtration brewing matter and 10 tons of handmade paper
- 1962 production of paper from old rags (sorting, cleaning, cutting, boiling and bleaching) replaced by the processing of cotton waste from spinning factories (cotton linters) and flax rag pulp
- 1974 the precinct of Handmade paper mill was registered into the state list of immovable cultural monuments thanks to its rare cultural and technical value ; design work commenced for general reconstruction being prepared
- 1975 commencement of extensive reconstruction of buildings within the paper mill
- 1983 study for overall reconstruction of the precinct of handmade paper mill with budget in the amount of CZK 22 mil.
- 1987 establishment of exhibitions on the history of paper production and establishment of Museum of Paper in the precinct of the paper mill; the object of cultural and technical monument opened to public
- 1993 privatization of Hand paper mill – by company LEVIA, s.r.o.
- 1996 abortive attempt to privatize the plant terminated by the return of handmade paper mill into organizational structure of paper-making company Olsanske papirny, a.s.;
- 1996 400th anniversary of duration continuous production of handmade paper in Velke Losiny – on the occasion of important jubilee, further extensive phase of reconstruction was completed (reconstruction of facades on main object of the paper mill, establishment of Gallery at the Museum of Paper, exterior modification of the entrance to the precinct of the cultural monument)
- 1997 flood in July affected water supply system of the paper mill – dam on river Desna was destroyed and technical system for supplying the mill flume with water was damaged
- 1999 existing production of manually made papers is gradually extended with the assortment of products with polygraphic processing
- 2002 government of Czech Republic declares the handmade paper mill to be a National Cultural Monument; further phase of demanding reconstruction of production buildings at total costs of CZK 7.2 mil. (repairs of shingle roofs, rehabilitation of masonry and repairs of floors, general overhaul of central heating, reconstruction of facades)
- 2003 overall reconstruction of boiler house, rehabilitation of masonry and the conservation of original steam boiler of Fairbanks type of 1896
- 2004 repairs of roof and chimneys on main building of the paper mill, commencement of the reconstruction of building for storage and visitors services in entrance part of the paper mill precinct – repair of roof frame and replacement of shingle covering; modernization of printing office – enlargement with offset print technology;
- 2005 overall reconstruction of roof frame and renewal of shingle covering on the building of museum gallery; planned extension of exhibition areas with newly accessible second and third above-ground storey.
- 2006 operation of handmade paper mill is taken over by independent joint-stock company Rucni papirna Velke Losiny a.s.
- 2006 a new retail shop opened in gallery building and new exhibition space in reconstructed loft storeys + simultaneously also new stylish restaurant „LOSIN“ was opened for visitors of the precinct, as a result of renovation of originally industrial building in entrance part of the paper mill precinct
- 2007 the second visit route offered to public in tourist season (July – September) providing the possibility to visit further technical curiosities of paper manufacture.