World's Oldest Continuously Owned Family Businesses. (ancient, Japanese, Ireland, origin)

[ovcatto]

The title appears to go to Hoshi Ryokan a Japanese hotel established in 718 and owned an operated by 46 generations (Personally, I just find that astounding whic h is probably why I started the thread). The hotel which can accommodate 450 guest only became the title holder following the take over of Kongo Gumi Construction (founded in 578) by Takenaka Corporation in 2006.

Houshi Homepage

Just as a base for comparison, the oldest American company in continuous family ownership Avedis Zildjian Co. (founded in 1623 but only located in the U.S. since 1929) or the Tuttle Farm founded in 1635.

Family Business - America's Oldest Family Businesses

Any one have any ancient enterprises?

[ovcatto]

One other little item. There is a trade association, the Henokien Association, for continuously owned family owned or controlled companies, that 200 years old or older. From the looks of the site they are rather elitist bunch and have every right to be.

The Henokiens Web Site

[harry chickpea]

I'd guess that the title really would go to some lineage in the world's oldest profession, if anyone did any digging. Next in line would have been members of the priest class of the Jewish religion, where membership was strictly family.

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by harry chickpea

I'd guess that the title really would go to some lineage in the world's oldest profession, if anyone did any digging. Next in line would have been members of the priest class of the Jewish religion, where membership was strictly family.

"Business" implies that the legal right to access and control the business assets has passed through a line of heirs. The above two examples would not meet that test.

The Krupp family is widely held to be the oldest, at 422 years, but that can be debated. Friederich Krupp, in 1810, became independently wealthy, and only later did he inherit his family's dwindling assets from his mother, who did not maintain the continuity of the enterprise, so despite a certain overlap of funds, the "family business" has been continuous only since 1810.

All commercial enterprise on Pitcairn Island has been continuously owned by descendants of the Bounty Mutineers since 1789. Tht might be a contender.

[ovcatto]

Originally Posted by jtur88

The Krupp family is widely held to be the oldest, at 422 years, but that can be debated.

As we shall because the family business wasn't until 1810 a single entity. Prior to that time the family was wealthy through a number of enterprises so I don't think that quite counts for our purposes.

In other news...

A pretty interesting list complied by someone on wiki with less of a life than me.

List of oldest companies - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[northsider]

Originally Posted by ovcatto

A pretty interesting list complied by someone on wiki with less of a life than me.

List of oldest companies - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Some glaring errors on that page. For instance it gives:

1750 [669]. .Claddagh Ring. .Ireland. .Jeweler

There is not now nor never has been such a company here in Ireland.

[jtur88]

A couple of interesting 1795 entries: Dixon Ticonderoga pencils, a grammar school mainstay, and Jose Cuervo Tequila.

[ovcatto]

"This message has been deleted by Trudy Rose. Reason: Off Topic"

Only on C-D would the thread's author be cited for being off topic!!! Off topic speaking.

[ovcatto]

Originally Posted by northsider

Some glaring errors on that page. For instance it gives:

1750 [669]. .Claddagh Ring. .Ireland. .Jeweler

There is not now nor never has been such a company here in Ireland.

They got the name proper name wrong. The company is Thomas Dillon's the problem probably arose out of the fact that the company's website is called Claddagh Ring.

Claddagh Ring - Irish jewelry makers since 1750 and all rings stamped original.

[mensaguy]

Another entry omitted from all the lists I can find:

S. L. Wadsworth & Son. Eastport, Maine. 1818. Ship Chandlery and hardware store.

S. L. Wadsworth and Son Ship Chandlery

Not the oldest, but pretty old by American standards.