The year 1958 was certainly significant for the Nissen Trampoline Company as Europe was beginning to learn about, and now embrace the trampoline. Sales were up, shipments were going out the door and everyone was looking forward to more, more, more!
So, this "end-of-year wrap-up issue" is jam-packed with great photos!
Frank LaDue ; General Sales Manager for Nissen's, now accompanied my father
on his many cross-country trips.
Here, they're in California with a photo below that records a gathering of a very iconic group.
on his many cross-country trips.
Here, they're in California with a photo below that records a gathering of a very iconic group.
Roger Bartlett went on to open a thriving trampoline center in Los Angeles. Stan Mattox and Rich Harris are Nissen sales reps. for California. Rich went on to a long career teaching trampoline classes at San Mateo College, as well as authoring a book on trampolining. Xave Leonard (who taught school in California) never missed a chance to meet up my father; they were hand-balancing partners back at the U. of Iowa. (Xave had been the bottom-man in the "Three Leonardos" act) So, this leads to an interesting note: In just a few years, Xave will have young student Dan Millman in class...Xave will ask Dan to join the after-school trampoline club, and then...well, the rest is history! (Dan Millman became the 1964 First World Trampoline Champion)
Meanwhile, Kurt Baechler completed his year-long plan to promote the trampoline in what seemed to be "just about every nook and cranny" of Europe! His latest and last conquest: Italy. Including the Italian police departments, military, springboard diving team.
He even fit in a few demonstrations in nearby Belgium.
Note the photo with the Italian diver wearing the twisting belt invented by Charlie Pond. He and my father collaborated on the production and marketing of the belt; thus, it became the "Pond-Nissen Twisting Belt." Here is a LINK to Charlie Pond's biography that contains the story
behind how his invented the twisting belt.
The photo of Kurt Baechler's home brings back happy memories for me. During the summer of 1958, while my parents joined Frankie and Kurt for the many trampoline demonstrations throughout Europe...I spent many an overnight at Kurt's home enjoying the hospitality of his wife Hannie. Kurt's two boys, Urs and Tomas were about my age as well; soon I was introduced to the neighborhood kids and we spent our days swimming, careening on wooden T-handle-bar scooters and of course,
bouncing on the trampoline in the backyard.
Anyone with a traveling trampoline act knew that they could make a quick stop at Nissen's and repairs, repainting, whatever needed for their trampoline would be quickly taken care of. Here a trio by the name of "The Kovacs" stop by before heading on to England.
The annual Nissen employee Christmas party; a special time when the sewing room is transformed into Santa's North Pole. Then, the big gymnastics clinic in Sarasota, Florida will be held during the last week of December. Ted Blake is even flying his family over to attend.
Finally, note the visit to Cedar Rapids by Louie Green. If you ever wondered "just where did all that nylon fabric come from that was sewn into a trampoline bed?" - - The answer is Louie Green! The Nissen Trampoline Company proved to be his best contract for many, many years!
Do these newsletters spark a memory? You are invited to share your own stories and comments below.
"Nissen's - - a great place to work!"
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