At the age of just 27, Herrmann Zerver founds the HAZET company. The trade name “HAZET” is formed from the German spellings of the initial letters of his name, “H” (HA) and “Z” (ZET). Initially in his small house in Remscheid, Vieringhauser Hof, with the forge downstairs and the flat above for himself and his family, he used the first tools such as an anvil, bellows and striking tools to produce plane irons, saw setters, hinges and ball locks.

In 1874, the family moves into a new house with an adjoining smithy. In the new premises, the manufacturing programme is expanded to include door pulls, ball locks for bedside cabinets and ball joints for mowing machines.

Their first son Ernst was born on 21 November 1874 and the second, David, was born on 5 October 1883. Four more children followed until Herrmann Zerver's wife died in 1884.
In 1888, the first 4 HP steam engine is installed to drive the production machines. Telegraph pliers, bicycle keys and shoe button fastening pliers are added to the production range.

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