French ironworker and prolific weapons designer who founded the Brandt company which today lives on through several mergers as FagorBrandt, a manufacturer of household appliances. His work was acknowledged by the American Association of Architects making him an honorary member in 1929.
In 1901 he set up a small workshop at 76 rue Michel-Ange in the 16th arrondissement in Paris, where he began designing, silversmithing, and forging small items such as jewelry, crosses, and brooches. His business began to take off with special commissions such as the door of the French Embassy in Brussels, the Escalier Mollien stairs in the Louvre, and the stair and balcony railing for the Grand Theatre Municipal de Nancy.
At the start of World War I in 1914 Brandt was called to serve. Observing a need for mortars in trench warfare, he designed 60mm, 81mm and 120mm versions that were very widely copied throughout and subsequent to World War II. He also invented discarding-sabot artillery shells and contributed substantially to the development of effective HEAT-warhead weapons for infantry anti-tank use through his development of heatrifle grenades.
Following the war Brandt embarked on his most productive years as a designer, starting to show his work in the Salon d’Automne every year. In 1919 he decided to expand his business, engaging architect Favier and constructing a new building on the corner of the Boulevard Murat and the rue Erlanger. In it he maintained a physical catalogue of his ironwork. He also added nearly 150 people employees, each with specialized tasks ranging from concept to production.
Brandt’s career began to peak in the 1920s. Stylish entrances for shops in Paris and lighting were an important part of his production. Additionally, with the rise of radiators in homes, rather than concealing them, he drew attention their way with elegantly designed covers. Throughout the rest of his career his work spanned from iron gates and fireplace grills to and console tables.
As Brandt became more known internationally, he expanded his business again and opened a state-of-the-art factory in the Paris suburb of Chatillon-sous-Bagneux, where upward of 3,000 workers fabricated both decorative metalwork and armaments under his name. His company was nationalized in 1936. Several years later World War II forced him to flee with his family to Switzerland. At war’s end in 1945 Brandt returned to France but chose not to reopen his studio. Instead, he worked on small projects until he died in Collonge-Bellerive on 8 May 1960 at age 79.

Link to Wikipedia biography