1. A process for the preparation of disazo compounds of the general formula (1) see diagramm : EP0063276,P12,F4 in which R**1 denotes a hydrogen atom, a chlorine or bromine atom or a sulfo group, R**2 is a hydrogen atom or a chlorine or bromine atom, R**3 represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 C-atoms or an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 C-atoms and R**4 denotes an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 C-atoms and Z**1 and Z**2 are each bonded in the benzene nucleus in the meta- or para-position relative to the azo group and each represents a hydrogen atom, the beta-thiosulfatoethylsulfonyl group, the vinylsulfonyl group or the beta-sulfatoethylsulfonyl group, and Z**1 and Z**2 can be identical to or different from one another, but with the proviso that they do not both represent a hydrogen atom at the same time, and M represents a hydrogen atom or the equivalent of a metal, and the formula moieties R**1 , R**2 , R**3 , R**4 and M are identical to or different from one another and also identical to or different from Z**1 and Z**2 , characterized by that a mixture of two diazotized aromatic amines of the general formulae (2) and (3) see diagramm : EP0063276,P12,F5 see diagramm : EP0063276,P12,F6 in which R**1 , R**2 , R**3 , R**4 , Z**1 and Z**2 have the abovementioned meanings, are reacted with a coupling component of the general formula (4) see diagramm : EP0063276,P12,F7 in which M has the abovementioned meaning, first in a strongly acid range and then in a weakly acid to weakly alkaline range.