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Emil was born on March 3,1888 in Peoria, IL. His parents were Gustav Robert Trefzger and Bertha A Trautvetter Trefzger.
Emil's father may have had a drinking problem. He left the family when the boys, Emil and Gus, were very young. The boys were raised by their mother.
Both Emil and Gus had paper routes when they were young. They were poor and had to earn some money.
After grade and high school in Peoria, Illinois Emil went on to business school.
Both Emil and Gus had an uncanny gift of their fingers being able to respond to their brain automatically.
Emil competed in many typewriter contests for speed and accuraacy.
In the 1908 Internatiomal Typewriting Records Week at Madison Square Gardens Emil won second place in this contest.
"Emil A. Trefzger won second place in this contest on a blind Remington machine, writing at a rate of 86 net words a minute - the highest ever attained on a Remington for one hour in competition. Mr. Trefzger's present record on the Underwood for one hour is 116."*
In 1910 while Emil was traveling for the Underwood Typewriter Co. he visited his grandfather Anton’s hometown of Wehr, Germany and wrote
“At last I have found a town, village rather, where the ‘Trefs’ are not in the minority.
Practically the whole town = not quite that bad = is made up of people by that (Trefzger) name = all relatives.”
In 1911 Emil was 4th in the International Professional Championship at Madison Square Gardens.
In 1912 Emil was 2nd in the World's Typewriter Contest for Speed and Accuracy..
"Mr. E. A. Trefzger was second in the World's Championship, writing 116 net words a minute. Mr Trefzger is holder of the English Championship, having won the trophy representing same a three successive contest through wich the trophy became his personal property. Mr. Trefzger has demonstrated to wonderful speed and stability of the Underwood throughout Europe and America, and in all the contests in which he has participated, had always increased his former record."*
After being on and traveling with the Underwood demonstration team Emil moved into management with Underwood. He worked in San Francisco, London, and NYC.
Emil became a V.P. for Underwood at their International Headquarters in New York.
Bob Trefzger, Emil's nephew, visited Emil in New York City in 1944 when Bob was going overseas.
* from a press release by Underwood
Census info:
1910 Emil's residence is in Manhattan, NY
1930 Emil is in San Francisco, CA
Comment:
All of the above information has been furnished by Robert Trefzger, Emil's nephew.
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