My Genealogy Hound

OSCAR HELBIG, music, Bloomington. There are probably but few men in Central Illinois so thoroughly skilled in the construction of musical instruments as Mr. Oscar Helbig, of 316 North Main street; he is a native of Germany; came to the United States in 1871; though before leaving his native country, he had learned the trade of manufacturing pianos, and had worked in most of the large cities of Germany; he worked one-half year in New York City, for George Steeks, in the manufacturing of pianos; then went to Chicago, where he remained about one and one-half years, also working at his trade while there, and did some business on his own account; he then came to Bloomington and began work for Mr. Strops; then worked for Andrus & Van Schoick, and finally began business for himself in tuning; he began on a small scale; by his close attention to business he now has a fine trade; has a fine line of musical instruments, for which he paid cash, buying them direct from the manufactories, more especially the pianos, of which he keeps several different manufactures; he also does something in the jobbing trade of small instruments; his reputation as a piano-tuner is not equaled in the city, as he keeps most of the finest instruments in order for a circuit of eighty miles; he is a thoroughly educated man in his line of business, and bids fair to rank among the large dealers of the State.