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Allen Gellman

March 16, 2024

Allen B. Gellman (April 19, 1906 – September 13, 1967) was an American jewelry manufacturer and first sponsor of You Bet Your Life, the radio (and later TV) program hosted by Groucho Marx. Gellman was elected to the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans in 1956.

Allen Gellman
BornApril 19, 1906
Fegyvernek, Austria-Hungary
DiedSeptember 13, 1967
Los Angeles, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Other namesAdalbert Béla Gellman
OccupationJewelry manufacturer
Known forAssociation with Groucho Marx
AwardsElection to the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, 1956

Early years and career edit

Allen Gellman was born as Adalbert Béla Gellman. He emigrated from Hungary to the United States in 1930, aged 24 and became a naturalized citizen on January 11, 1939. He worked as a machinist, attended night school, and began manufacturing costume jewelry.[1]

Gellman and a partner, Joseph Weiss, owned and operated the Illinois Watch Case Company in Elgin, manufacturing compacts and cigarette lighters, and the U.S. Wind Engine and Pump Company in Batavia, making farm equipment. In 1941, with the government restricting commercial production in order to allocate material and manpower to war production, Gellman and Weiss needed a government contract. Gellman met Henry Garsson in Washington outside a congressman's office. When Garsson described his requirements for the manufacture of shells, Gellman agreed to provide the means to fill them.[2]

Garsson and his older brother, Murray Garsson, had started a munitions contracting business in 1941. A Kentucky congressman, Andrew J. May, chairman of the House Military Affairs Committee during World War II, facilitated the Garssons' enterprise.[3][4]

After the war, a Senate investigating committee reviewing the Garsson's munitions business discovered evidence that May had received substantial cash payments and other inducements from the Garssons.[5][2]

Inventor edit

Gellman held patents for lighters, compacts, filler valves, and a container for personal items.[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Gellman's inventiveness extended to his office desk, which he designed with hidden elevators and pivoting drawers, giving him fingertip control over everything inside.[17]

Groucho Marx edit

Gellman, president of the Elgin American Company, maker of watch cases, cigarette lighters, and compacts, was the first sponsor of You Bet Your Life, Groucho Marx's radio program, on ABC Radio and CBS Radio from October 1947 to January 1950.[18][19] This company is unrelated to the Elgin National Watch Company.

Later life and death edit

Gellman was elected to the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, 1956.[20][21] He died from cardiovascular disease, aged 61.

References edit

  1. ^ "'Rags to Riches' Plaques Awarded to Eight Men". Los Angeles Times. May 11, 1956.
  2. ^ a b "When War Profiteering Hit Batavia. The Garsson–May Connection". The Batavia Historian. Batavia Historical Society. Batavia, Illinois. Vol. 38 No. 1. January 1997
  3. ^ Time, , June 9, 1947.
  4. ^
  5. ^ Time, , July 29, 1946.
  6. ^ Pyrophoric Lighter US Pat. 174806 - Filed January 3, 1955, United States Patent Office. Allen B. Gellman, Glencoe, Il1. Application January 3, 1955
  7. ^ Compact. US Pat. 2990054 - Filed September 18, 1958 AB Gellman
  8. ^ Filler Valve. US Pat. 3285298 - Filed September 11, 1963 AB Gellman
  9. ^ Pyrophoric lighter. US Pat. 2865185 - Filed January 28, 1957. AB Gellman
  10. ^ Fuel Valve. US Pat. 3286741 - Filed June 24, 1963 ab gellman
  11. ^ Carryall. US Pat. 2825345 - Filed March 1, 1956, ab gellman
  12. ^ Gellman Lighter. US Pat. 3222894 - Filed July 23, 1962. AB Gellman
  13. ^ Gellman Pyrophoric Lighter, US Pat. 2957328 - Filed April 10, 1957, AB Gellman
  14. ^ Container for Personal Items. US Pat. 2720208 - Filed August 20, 1952, AB Gellman
  15. ^ Gellman Lighter. US Pat. 3134251 - Filed December 27, 1960. AB Gellman
  16. ^ Allen B. Gellman on Google Patents
  17. ^ "Ultramodern Desk". Popular Mechanics. April 1950, p. 138
  18. ^ Charlotte Chandler, Hello, I Must Be Going: Groucho and His Friends (Doubleday, 1978) p. 190
  19. ^ Groucho Marx, The Groucho Letters: Letters From and to Groucho Marx (Simon & Schuster, 1967) p. 311
  20. ^ "Winners Of 'Rags-To-Riches' Horatio Alger Awards Named", The Sun, April 22, 1956
  21. ^ 1956 Horatio Alger Award Winner

March 16, 2024
allen, gellman, allen, gellman, april, 1906, september, 1967, american, jewelry, manufacturer, first, sponsor, your, life, radio, later, program, hosted, groucho, marx, gellman, elected, horatio, alger, association, distinguished, americans, 1956, bornapril, 1. Allen B Gellman April 19 1906 September 13 1967 was an American jewelry manufacturer and first sponsor of You Bet Your Life the radio and later TV program hosted by Groucho Marx Gellman was elected to the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans in 1956 Allen GellmanBornApril 19 1906Fegyvernek Austria HungaryDiedSeptember 13 1967Los Angeles U S NationalityAmericanOther namesAdalbert Bela GellmanOccupationJewelry manufacturerKnown forAssociation with Groucho MarxAwardsElection to the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans 1956 Contents 1 Early years and career 2 Inventor 3 Groucho Marx 4 Later life and death 5 ReferencesEarly years and career editAllen Gellman was born as Adalbert Bela Gellman He emigrated from Hungary to the United States in 1930 aged 24 and became a naturalized citizen on January 11 1939 He worked as a machinist attended night school and began manufacturing costume jewelry 1 Gellman and a partner Joseph Weiss owned and operated the Illinois Watch Case Company in Elgin manufacturing compacts and cigarette lighters and the U S Wind Engine and Pump Company in Batavia making farm equipment In 1941 with the government restricting commercial production in order to allocate material and manpower to war production Gellman and Weiss needed a government contract Gellman met Henry Garsson in Washington outside a congressman s office When Garsson described his requirements for the manufacture of shells Gellman agreed to provide the means to fill them 2 Garsson and his older brother Murray Garsson had started a munitions contracting business in 1941 A Kentucky congressman Andrew J May chairman of the House Military Affairs Committee during World War II facilitated the Garssons enterprise 3 4 After the war a Senate investigating committee reviewing the Garsson s munitions business discovered evidence that May had received substantial cash payments and other inducements from the Garssons 5 2 Inventor editGellman held patents for lighters compacts filler valves and a container for personal items 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Gellman s inventiveness extended to his office desk which he designed with hidden elevators and pivoting drawers giving him fingertip control over everything inside 17 Groucho Marx editGellman president of the Elgin American Company maker of watch cases cigarette lighters and compacts was the first sponsor of You Bet Your Life Groucho Marx s radio program on ABC Radio and CBS Radio from October 1947 to January 1950 18 19 This company is unrelated to the Elgin National Watch Company Later life and death editGellman was elected to the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans 1956 20 21 He died from cardiovascular disease aged 61 References edit Rags to Riches Plaques Awarded to Eight Men Los Angeles Times May 11 1956 a b When War Profiteering Hit Batavia The Garsson May Connection The Batavia Historian Batavia Historical Society Batavia Illinois Vol 38 No 1 January 1997 Time Handy Andy June 9 1947 The Congress Murray Garsson s Suckers Time August 12 1946 Time Still Calling Yankel July 29 1946 Pyrophoric Lighter US Pat 174806 Filed January 3 1955 United States Patent Office Allen B Gellman Glencoe Il1 Application January 3 1955 Compact US Pat 2990054 Filed September 18 1958 AB Gellman Filler Valve US Pat 3285298 Filed September 11 1963 AB Gellman Pyrophoric lighter US Pat 2865185 Filed January 28 1957 AB Gellman Fuel Valve US Pat 3286741 Filed June 24 1963 ab gellman Carryall US Pat 2825345 Filed March 1 1956 ab gellman Gellman Lighter US Pat 3222894 Filed July 23 1962 AB Gellman Gellman Pyrophoric Lighter US Pat 2957328 Filed April 10 1957 AB Gellman Container for Personal Items US Pat 2720208 Filed August 20 1952 AB Gellman Gellman Lighter US Pat 3134251 Filed December 27 1960 AB Gellman Allen B Gellman on Google Patents Ultramodern Desk Popular Mechanics April 1950 p 138 Charlotte Chandler Hello I Must Be Going Groucho and His Friends Doubleday 1978 p 190 Groucho Marx The Groucho Letters Letters From and to Groucho Marx Simon amp Schuster 1967 p 311 Winners Of Rags To Riches Horatio Alger Awards Named The Sun April 22 1956 1956 Horatio Alger Award Winner Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Allen Gellman amp oldid 1166561633, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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