Viktoria Mikhaylovna Marasanova,
Doctor of Historical Sciences, Professor, P.G. Demidov Yaroslavl State University, Yaroslavl, Russia, e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Viktor Ragozin, Dmitry Mendeleev, Nobel Brothers and the Development of Petrochemical Production in the Yaroslavl Province in the 1870s–1910s
DOI: 10.31518/2618-9100-2023-5-8
The article shows the trade in oil, oil products and the formation of petrochemical production in the Yaroslavl province. The study was carried out on the basis of scientific literature and documents of the State Archive of the Yaroslavl and its branch in Rybinsk. The author analyzes the role of Yaroslavl and Rybinsk as major transport hubs for river and rail traffic in the 19th century, shows the relationship between the development of communication lines and the emergence of new industries on the example of the creation in 1879 of the “Plant of the Partnership for the Production of Mineral Oils by V.I. Ragozin and Co.” in Konstantinovo. As a result of the initiative of the Nizhny Novgorod merchant V.I. Ragozin and scientific support of D.I. Mendeleev, a new competitive production has appeared in the region, unconnected with local traditions and raw materials. Vladimir Ragozin, as an entrepreneur and inventor, brought to the Russian and international markets a diverse line of popular products based on oil refining, which meant an increase in the cost of production and, accordingly, the price of products and profits. At present, this enterprise continues its work and is recognized as the oldest petrochemical enterprise in Russia. The favorable position of Yaroslavl and Rybinsk was taken into account by the Partnership “Nobel Brothers” that created their warehouses and offices here and contributed to the further development of the transport industry. Archival data show that from the Yaroslavl warehouses of the Partnership deliveries were made to 12 warehouses in 4 provinces and at least to 39 cities of the country. Based on the studied documents, in 1907–1909 the distribution of quotas in the cartel “Br. Nobel” – “Mazut” in the Rybinsk region was 70 % and 30 %. In 1912, the Partnership “Nobel Brothers” became the owner of the mineral oil plant in Konstantinovo. Ragozin’s initiative and organizational talent combined with the capabilities of an influential company and laid the foundation for the development of petrochemistry in Yaroslavl region. This led to the development of the industrial sectoral structure of the textile region. The studied materials allow to imagine the scale of trade operations and transportation of oil and oil products, showing both successful business and trade practices, and the difficulties of doing business.
Publishing: 28/10/2023
The article has been received by the editor on 01/06/2023
How to cite: Marasanova V.M. Viktor Ragozin, Dmitry Mendeleev, Nobel Brothers and the Development of Petrochemical Production in the Yaroslavl Province in the 1870s–1910s // Historical Courier, 2023, No. 5 (31), pp. 120–130. [Available online: http://istkurier.ru/data/2023/ISTKURIER-2023-5-08.pdf]
The work was carried out with the support of the project of Yaroslavl State University of VIP-018.
Links: Issue 5 2023
Keywords: V.I. Ragozin; D.I. Mendeleev; the Nobel brothers; Partnership; “Mazut”; plant; petrochemistry; trade; storehouse; Yaroslavl; Rybinsk