Skoda Works

The Škoda Works (Czech: Škodovy závody) was one of the largest European industrial conglomerates of the 20th century, founded by Bohemian industrialist Emil Škoda in 1859 in Plze?, then in the Kingdom of Bohemia, Austrian Empire. History 1859–99: establishment of Škoda The noble Waldstein family founded the company in 1859 in Plze?; Emil Škoda bought it in 1869. It soon established itself as Austria-Hungary's leading arms manufacturer producing heavy guns for the navy, mountain guns or mortars along with the Škoda M1909 machine gun as one of its noted products.