The most important of the Rothschild's French railway investments was in the Chemin de fer du Nord. Only when all the flags were lowered on the table and the balance achieved, could the Chairman declare a ‘Fix’.Īll the Rothschild banks were enthusiastic supporters of railway development, from the very first days of their construction. While these discussions were going on, the representative would raise their flag to indicate unreadiness to settle. At any stage, customers could be advised by telephone of price changes and could alter their instructions. If a balance of buyers and sellers was achieved within the room the price was fixed if not the process would be repeated at a higher or lower price until balance was achieved. On the basis of orders received, each dealing room instructed its representative at the Fixing to declare as a buyer or seller of a certain number of bars. They relayed the price to their customers around the world. The Chairman would announce an opening price which was telephoned to the dealing room of each of the houses represented. Each representative sat at a small desk with a telephone and a small Union flag. Every day, the representatives of the five members of the London Gold Market would assemble in a room at New Court. The 12 September 1919 saw the first Gold Fixing take place at New Court, the offices of N M Rothschild & Sons.
Sources for business history: letters of August Belmont Rothschild Agent in New York: 1860s Sources for business history: Rothschild gold bars produced by the Royal Mint Refinery: 1930s Sources for design history: plans for Lionel de Rothschild's Rolls-Royce: 1930 Sources for London history: entrance to New Court: 1965 Sources for Rothschild family history: Lionel de Rothschild's yacht Rhodora: 1927 Sources for local history: gardeners at Aston Clinton: 1899 Sources for sporting history: St Amant winner of the Derby: 1904 Sources for political history: Lionel de Rothschild: first Jewish MP: 1858 Sources for Royal history: shooting party with Edward Prince of Wales: 1893 Sources for local history: Tring Park: c.1900 Sources for the history of travel: Lionel de Rothschild's tours of Spain: 1909 Sources for architectural history: Halton House: 1890s Sources for business history: detail of a Rothschild bond coupon Sources for social history: Rothschild Hospital Paris: 1920s Sources for business history: index cards to bank files Sources for global financial history: Map of lines of the Brazil Railway Company: c.1920
Sources for natural history: Walter 2nd Lord Rothschild and his zebra carriage: c.1910 Sources for yachting history: Plans for Nathaniel von Rothschild's yacht Veglia 1905 Sources for art history: Catalogue of the pictures of Alfred de Rothschild 1901 Sources for business history: plans of New Court