Halske

Halske is a German surname, best known for its association with the early engineering firm that eventually became Siemens AG. The name appears in the history of German telecommunications and electrical engineering through Johann Georg Halske, a German craftsman and entrepreneur who co-founded the company with Werner von Siemens.

In 1847, in Berlin, the Telegraphen-Bauanstalt von Siemens & Halske was established by Werner von Siemens and Johann Georg Halske. The firm specialized in telegraph technology, constructing and outfitting telegraph networks and producing related instruments. Its work contributed to the expansion of long-distance communications within Germany and across Europe, laying groundwork for later advances in electrical engineering.

Over the years, the company expanded beyond telegraphs into broader electrical manufacturing and engineering services. The Halske name remained part of the corporate title for much of the company’s history, commonly referred to as Siemens & Halske. In 1966, Siemens & Halske merged with other companies to form Siemens AG, a consolidation that marked the shift to the modern corporate structure while preserving the historical association with Halske in the lineage of Siemens.

Today, Halske survives mainly as a historical reference within the Siemens corporate heritage. The surname remains part of industrial history, signifying early development in telegraph technology and the emergence of a major European engineering group.