Issue #14 (April 1, 1958) Big 10 Coaches Tour Nissen Factory

In the spring of 1958, Kurt Baechler initiated his marketing plan to raise interest for trampolining in Europe. This involved having my father George Nissen, join up with Kurt and Frank LaDue for three weeks of daily trampoline performances. Together, they criss-crossed Germany and Switzerland doing up to three demonstrations a day.

However, my father knew that a very special event was happening back in Iowa and he hopped a quick return flight in order to be there. It was the Big Ten men's gymnastics meet at
the University of Iowa, to be held in the Fieldhouse North Gym. The day before the big meet

 he proudly invited all of the Big Ten gymnastics coaches to Cedar Rapids for

 a special tour of his trampoline factory, then later that evening they were his guests for

a grand banquet dinner.

The Nissen Toy Company was still rolling along - - with both the "High-Guy" diablo game and "Thumper" trampolines featured in the booth at the New York Toy Fair.

(Note: the shower for Gladys and Marla was held in our family's first home on 27th Street, NE)

You might have easily missed last month's mention of the Swiss teacher Hansueli Schwaar

from the the little town of Gohl, Switzerland. Hans was Switzerland's famous cross-country racer, famous skier and track and field man who attended a trampoline demonstration - -

and immediately ordered one for his school.

That was just the easy part!

Below, are the photos that capture the final delivery of the trampoline to the remote town of Gohl where no roads exist for cars. The trampoline made the final leg of the trip
from the rail station to the school ...by mule cart!

A lot of local news is squeezed onto just this next page. The Nissen Trampoline Company employees sure kept busy even on their days off!

Do these newsletters spark a memory for you? You are invited to share your own stories and comments below.

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"Nissen's - - A Great Place to Work!"