Immigrants and farmers at the dawn of São Paulo's industry: the formation of the Cia. Mecânica e Importadora de São Paulo (1882-1892)

Abstract Despite the recent growth in the field of corporate history in Brazil, there are still gaps regarding how and who constituted some of the major national firms present at the beginning of the industrial advance of São Paulo, such as the Cia. Mecânica e Importadora de São Paulo, created in 1890 in the state’s capital. Thus, the article seeks to show that in the formation of the largest goods company in São Paulo’s capital from the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the Cia. Mecânica e Importadora de São Paulo - from the incorporation of Lacerda, Camargo & Cia. and of Engelberg, Siciliano & Cia. - competed with both national and foreign firms, who led the companies that were incorporated. To do so, we will use financial statements, reports, contracts and minutes from the following companies: J. Arbenz & Cia.; Lacerda, Camargo & Arbenz; Lacerda, Camargo & Cia; Cia. Mecânica e Importadora de São Paulo, as well as newspaper reports from the Correio Paulistano in the period 1882-1893.