February 1959 - Time once again for the National Sporting Goods Dealer Show!
This year it's being held in nearby Chicago and the BIG news at the Nissen booth is the debut of gymnastic apparatus under the brand name: GYMPORT.
Expanding into the world of gymnastics equipment was a big step for the Nissen Trampoline Company.
It was based on my father's determination that in order for American gymnasts to have a chance to excel in international competitions...they needed access to Olympic-caliber equipment as well. GYMPORT (the name being a combination of GYM and IMPORT) was his solution.
Bottom left is a photo of my father's brother Paul Nissen. Back when they were kids, Dad tagged along to his older brother Paul's gymnastics classes. One day they needed a small person for the top spot in a group pyramid balance - - and Dad filled in. From that point on, gymnastics was his favorite sport!
Paul by the way, created quite a reputation for himself through the years as a Handball champion.
My father always knew that the best way to introduce a new line of gymnastics apparatus was to show top level gymnasts using it. So he made sure that the touring Finnish Gymnastics Team had the new Gymport equipment at their stops which included Sarasota Florida Clinic, New Jersey, Canada and in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
On this page is a unique photo of the fellows who are responsible for building the Nissen Trampolines over in the Essex, England - - under the expert management of Ted Blake. As you read through their job titles/duties it's easy to see that even back in 1959, a lot of work went into building each trampoline!
Thanks guys, from all of us!
The back page: once again reserved for the "newsy-news" of Nissen employees.
By 1959, Dad was creating his own personal "time zone;" the result of his weekly cross-country and globe-trotting travels. Whenever he felt the need to sleep, he'd simply take off his neck-tie, wrap it around his head a couple of times and...nod off for forty-winks!
My naps were never as "stylish" as Dad's. This rather embarrassing photo of me :-) proves that even a young 8-year old kid couldn't keep up with her own Dad's zest & energy!
Do these newsletters spark a memory? You are invited to share your own stories and comments below.
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Nissen's - - a great place to work!
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