The Cradle of Icelandic Industrialization

Photo: From the collection of Samuel Kadorian, U.S. Army photographer / Film Museum of Iceland.

Héðinn’s first premises were at Aðalstræti 6, on the site where the news paper "palace" from Morgunblaðið was later built. Aðalstræti was the location of Reykjavík’s first industrial district. The street was originally called Hovedgaden, later Adelsgaden, then Klubsgaden, before being given the name Aðalstræti in 1848. Héðinn’s machine workshop measured 60 square meters, and the building itself was constructed in 1895. This photo was taken in the winter of 1942–1943. As can be seen from the spelling of Héðinn’s name, the sign had not yet been updated, despite the new spelling rules introduced in 1929, when Jónas frá Hriflu was Minister of Education, which replaced je with é in written Icelandic.