Dahlström worked as manager of Kymi Papermill in 1873–1904 and board member of the subsequent Kymin Oy.

The head office remained in Turku and a part of the time Dahlström worked at factory located in Kuusankoski.

In 1905 the brothers founded steam shipping company Transito Ab which focused on timber and coal transportation.

[1][2] The brothers were theatre and art patrons and in the 1890s they started donating significant sums to their home city, Turku.

The granite-made Turku Art Museum planned by Gustaf Nyström was built on Puolalanmäki and inaugurated in April 1904.

Donations by Dahlström brothers had an important role in 1919 at founding Åbo Akademi, the Swedish speaking university of Turku.

[1][2] While the art museum and university were the most significant donations, the brothers also supported individual students and public health work.