It had initially specialised in the import of tobacco from the Netherlands and Bremen but later engaged in trade in the Danish West Indies.

Moritz G. Melchior joined the company in 1840 and became its sole owner upon his father's death in 1845.

[1] Melchior was elected to the board of representatives of the Jewish community in Copenhagen and served as its president in 1852–1853.

He was a member of the Maritime and Commercial Court (Sø- og handelsretten) from 1862 to 1883 and of the Copenhagen City Council from 1851 to 1869.

He was a co-founder of Frihandelsforenignen (Free Trade Society) in 1861 but left the organisation fairly early.

Melchior lived with his family in the apartment on the second floor and also operated his company from the complex.

A plaque on Kalkbrænderi Vej 16 commemorates that Hans Christian Andersen died at the site.