Johannes Müller

Johannes Müller / J. Müller & Cie., Schaffhausen, was the founder of the Müller family playing-card business that later became AG Müller (AGMüller). Johannes Müller (1813–1873) entered the workshop established by Johann Bernhard Zündel in 1828 as an apprentice in 1829, and in 1838 acquired the business from Johann Georg Rauch. He progressively mechanised production and in 1863 acquired the long-established David Hurter card factory in Schaffhausen. After Müller's death in 1873, his son Johannes Müller II (1837–1901) consolidated the business at Schaffhausen and expanded its range for export. The firm subsequently traded as J. Müller & Cie. and, from 1960, as AG Müller (AGMüller). The company became particularly important in the development of the modern Swiss-suited playing-card pattern and remained in production until its playing-card business was acquired by Cartamundi in 1999.