1977 (July) Nissen Women's Softball Team Wins Again ~ Nissen Hosts Safety Certification for Trampoline Instructors ~ VIPs Visit this Month

"Nissen's - It's a great place to work!"

1975 (Dec) Nissen Wood Shop Sets Balance Beam Record - Nissen Basketball Team Wins 1st Game

"Nissen's - - It's a great place to work!"

1974 (September) Mat/Sewing Dept Moves to New Home - New Nissen Warehouse on 6th Street - Engineering Dept Moves as Well

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"Nissen's - - It's a great place to work!"

1967 (Sept 21) Nissen Adds More Employees & Profile: Gary Robertson

"Nissen's - - It's a great place to work!"

Issue #26 (April 1, 1959) NCAA Meet in Berkley, California

Big things are on the horizon for the Nissen Trampoline Company; and these next two years (1959 & 1960) will be full of challenges. Right now a lot is "brewing" behind the scenes. I enjoyed the detective work of matching photos to events, sort of reading between the lines...and I'll try to give you, the reader, as much help as I can along the way.

First we get to meet Gary Robertson who joined the company September 1, 1955. Working back in the factory he eventually moved up to "shipping," and now will join the accounting department. Gary stayed on for nearly 30 more years as a member of the big Nissen Trampoline Company family!  

In last month's newsletter, Ted Blake addressed the need to maintain high quality products because competitors were knocking at the door. The first competitor that Nissen took on was the American Trampoline Company in Jefferson, Iowa. The lawsuit charged trademark infringement over their use of the word "trampoline" in their company name. 

The Nissen Trampoline Company was doing its best to defend its patent; for instance, if you go back to Page 1, and look closely at the masthead you'll see an asterisk by TRAMPOLINE, linked to a notation at the bottom of the page. (A notation added to all future newsletters) They also put their faith in Owen Ooms (who won Duncan Yo-Yo's trademark case).

The "trampoline" trademark lawsuit lasted a full two years.

On the good news side of things, my father received a very special award from the

American Academy of Physical Education.

"For his contribution to gymnastic apparatus through development  of the Trampoline which has become a major stimulus of the century to large muscle activity."

Page 3 is full of great names in trampoline and gymnastics!

Ed Cole - University of Michigan athlete who won first place in trampoline at the 1959 NCAA Championships, held in Berkeley, CA.

Coach Dick Holzaepfel - and members of the University of Iowa gym team.

Joe E. Brown - As a young boy back in the 1920s my father loved watching Joe E.'s vaudeville act; he thrilled audiences by jumping off the edge of the stage right into the orchestra pit, only to rebound up into view again. His secret was a barrel covered with stretched cloth and hidden in the orchestra pit below! The iconic photo captures my father meeting one of his "inspirations" for the trampoline.

Charles "Chuck" Keeney - A champion tumbler and diver from California who, when assigned to St. Mary's Navy Pre Flight school during WW2 saw the value of the then "new" trampoline and ordered 12 for the Navy from George Nissen's fledgling business. Chuck went on to a great coaching career as well as author his own book on the trampoline, published in 1961. Use this LINK to read more about Chuck's career in gymnastics.

I've added two photos that you'll enjoy.





 Page 4 - Even though the back page is almost always devoted to employee news...

I did find a few hidden references that hint at future excitement for the company:

That of Harry Raygor creating space for the new weaving loom - - this secret one of a kind loom developed with the help of the Singer Company could sew straight across the trampoline bed with 100 needles, rather than the old one-needle system.

Then, a visit by Bob Wright and Howard Short to the Sawhill Tubular Products Company in Sharon, PA.  - - in order to set up new contracts. My father's plans were slowly beginning to take shape; that of expanding beyond simply importing Gymport gymnastics apparatus, to eventually manufacturing his own Nissen line. More excitement in next month's issue!

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!"

Issue #16 (June 1, 1958) Trampoline Schools & Clinics

This issue of BOUNCE is bursting with fun photos, events and interesting facts!
Incredibly, my father George Nissen, managed to cover it all, and appeared to"be everywhere at once!"

The big news was the opening of Bob Bollinger's new outdoor trampoline school in Sycamore, Illinois. Quite a few notables from the world of trampolines were on hand to help out as well.  

Then, before my father took off for the big toy fair in Los Angeles he made a special stop in Soccorro, New Mexico to meet up with Bob Hazlett (recent University of Iowa graduate and collegiate tumbling & trampoline champion).

A quick family note here: Marie Jensen celebrated her 107th birthday in Dysart, Iowa. Marie was my father's grandmother who as a child traveled to Iowa in a covered wagon. Being seven years old at the time, I still have vivid memories of attending several of her big family reunion birthday parties that were held at her Dysart home. 

George Szypula, men's gymnastics coach at Michigan State held a trampoline clinic in Battlecreek, Michigan with trampoline champions Ed Cole and Don Carney assisting!

We also get to meet Gary Robertson, who stayed on at Nissen's for many, many years!

On page 3, we have the opportunity to see a number of folks not usually found on this side of the camera lens. I'll share a little background on each.

Irving "Speed" Wallace - - a free-lance writer for a number of professional journals. He never ran out of material when George Nissen was his topic!

Jacky Brown - - who years earlier with Xave Leonard and my father, performed together as the "Three Leonardos;" an acro-hand-balancing act.

Finally, bottom left is a rare photo of three special men standing next to my father: 

Ed Cole - University of Michigan trampoline champion.

Dick Kimball who one year earlier won the NCAA springboard diving championship and now coached diving at the University of Michigan.

Nard Cazell of Amarillo, Texas. Owner of one of the first trampoline schools and coach to numerous collegiate and national trampoline champions.

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Lest we think Europe and the U.K. weren't also feeling the "bounce,"  on page 4, we have Ted Blake teaching a special teacher's clinic in Essex, England. Plus, professional trampoline performer Eddie Murillo catching the "perfect shot" in Milan, Italy.

Do these newsletters spark a memory for you?

If so, please share your own stories and comments below.

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