People - Emanuel Kalker OBE JP

Emanuel Kalker was born in Bloomsbury, London on 29 September 1859. He was the son of Dutch diamond cutter Meyer & Sarah Kalker. He married Susanna Miriam Mann from Essex. He was a Gold jeweller. 

Emanuel & Susanna came to Coventry in the early 1890's. They lived initially on the Holyhead Road. Emanuel was a works manager at the Coventry Cross Cycle Company at 77 Foleshill Road, and Albion Mills, West Orchard. 

Emanuel & Susan were thoroughly involved in the Coventry Hebrew Congregation. Emanuel served as the Treasurer from 1896-1909, and was the President from 1899-1912.

In 1901 Emanuel established Kalker & Co as a motorcar manufacturers. In 1913 the Coventry Electric Cable Company was founded, specialising in the manufacture of Electrical Cables supplying the rapidly emerging motorcar industry and for aircraft engines. Emanuel ran this very successful business from Much Park Street for the rest of his life.

During World War I, Emanuel was the chair of the Belgian Refugees Committee. Coventry's Stoke Heath played host to a significant population of Belgian refugees. After the Great War, Emanuel was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to the community.

Emanuel was a member of the Coventry Board of Guardians and served as chairman during the years 1921-22. He was also a member of the Coventry Rural District Council from 1915 to 1927. Following that he was appointed as a Justice of the Peace (JP) for Warwickshire. He was a prominent member of the Council of Coventry Chamber of Commerce, serving at one time as vice-president, and on several of the committees. 

From 1911 until 1921 The Kalker family lived at The Woodlands, Whitley, Coventry. In the 1920's they moved to Dudley Lodge at 143 Warwick Road, Coventry, opposite King Henry VIII school. It was there that the grand wedding of their daughter Helena to Dr. Victor Feldman took place in 1927.

Emanuel continued to be involved in the Coventry Electric Cable Company until he was 80. He served faithfully as a JP until just 2 weeks before his death at home on 30 March 1940.

See these Links for further information:  (Note: These are external links for which we have no responsibility for the content)

• 1896-1899 Coventry’s Bicycle Heritage – by Damien Kimberley

• 1901-1911 Coventry’s Motorcar Heritage – by Damien Kimberley

• 1914-1918 Belgian Refugees Wikipedia Article - Including reference to Stoke Park, Coventry

• 1920 London Gazette Emanuel Kalker OBE

• 1927 Wedding of Helena Kalker & Victor Feldman - Coventry Evening Telegraph

• 1940 Emanuel Kalker Obituary - Midland Daily Telegraph