Russian business before 1917 - part 1

I have recently discovered, that my blog has no central idea whatsoever. So, I decided to write down another random topic, which nobody cares about. 

Russia is a country with the most dramatic history of private enterprises ever. Technically, the industrial revolution could not take off before 1862 when serfdom was officially abolished. Yes, Russia freed about 80% of its population from slavery after the US freed african-american slaves. From a social point of view, the situation was super-complex in Russia. In 1862, slavery wasabolished. The Tzar's government, howether did not dare to hit on the interests of the nobility too hard. All the freshly freed peasants found themselves in debt which they had to pay over a period of 10-20 years to their ex-masters for their land and freedom. Only the reforms of the early 1900's allowed this stagnation to end, resulting in massive immigation to the Russian cities and extensive industrial growth. By 1913, St. Petersburg was a modern European capital with lots of industrial enterprises and technological marvels, available to the rich in the forms of cars, private boats, electric lights and as sewing machines, electric trams and cinema to the public. It is fascinating to know, that many of the future giants of European business were already in Russua these years: Siemens, Citroen, Zinger. 

All the plants were nationalized in 1917. So now only the old buildings remember the start of free enterprise in Russia.