Allen Gellman

Allen B. Gellman (April 19, 1906 – September 13, 1967) was a 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.
NationalityUnited States
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

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

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

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

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

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References
  1. "'Rags to Riches' Plaques Awarded to Eight Men". Los Angeles Times. May 11, 1956.
  2. 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 magazine, "Handy Andy", June 9, 1947.
  4. THE CONGRESS: Murray Garsson's Suckers. TIME. Monday, August 12, 1946
  5. Time magazine, "Still Calling Yankel", 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
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