Hub van Doorne

Van Doorne was born in the small Dutch town by the name America, in Dutch Limburg, the son of blacksmith Martin van Doorne (1870–1912) by his marriage to Petronella Vervoort (1866–1952). In March 1912 the family moved to Deurne, where Van Doorne's father died soon after.

Van Doorne was keen to take on his father's business, but was considered too young: instead he became an apprentice in the small Mandiger machine factory of nearby Eindhoven.

After the First World War Van Doorne was employed as a chauffeur-mechanic by a well-known local doctor named Hendrik Wiegersma. Subsequently, he worked for the De Valk brewery. In 1920 he established his own business concentrating on metal working involving items such as stoves, bicycles and motor vehicles. However, he gave up on this business after four years and returned to Mandiger's as company manager.