 On 28 December 1903, the founder of the modern rope factory, Gijsbert van der Lee, died at the age of 84 at his villa ‘Klein Hekendorp’ opposite the factory on the IJsseldijk.Gijsbert’s sons Adrianus and Cornelis Gijsbertus followed in their father’s footsteps and turned the ropery into a general partnership named G. van der Lee.On 1 July 1919, Cornelis Gijsbertus left the company and G. van der Lee was passed on to his brother Adrianus (1854–1920) and his son Gijsbert (1883–1966).