August Carlstedt & Co Guitars and Mandolins

 

1904 advertisement for the 'Ideal' guitars and mandolins
Image Credit: New York Public Library Digital Collections - The Cadenza

About

Born: Mårten August Lorentzsson on October 1, 1863, at Norra Uvekull in Villstad parish, Jönköping County

Emigration: left the home of his parents at Kållåkerskog in the parish of Villstad on May 4, 1888, for America

He left the port of Göteborg on May 11, 1888, going to Hull, England, with the final destination listed as Chicago.

1895 went into business of manufacturing mandolins and guitars, high grade, labeled “Ideal” in Chicago.

1903 moved to Crystal Lake, IL firm August Carlstedt & Co had increased output so larger quarters required (Swedes in IL).

Built structure on West Woodstock St. (according article from Crystal Lake Herald, 1959, the first floor was used for factory

and upper floor for residence was called the Ideal Manufacturing Co. and had mail order business in thirty-eight states and

foreign trade in Cuba and the Philippines. Only musical instrument firm in the county from 1903-1916.

Following the death of his wife (my great grandmother Alma) in 1916 he returned to Chicago where he was proprietor of a music store and

did instrument repair until a year before his death.

November 6, 1943, at age 80, dies of cerebral hemorrhage due to arterial sclerosis at Swedish Covenant Home of Mercy in Chicago.

November 10, 1943 he was buried in Union Cemetery on Woodstock Street in Crystal Lake, IL.

 Quote from Gordon Kling via https://ackegura.proboards.com/thread/14398/ideal-av-august-carlstedt?page=2

According to the 1910 US census, August was a cabinet maker and had two daughters, Anna and Lydia, with his wife Alma [2].

According to the 1940 US census, August was living on his own having been widowed and listed his occupation as a proprietor of a music store [1].

August Carlsedt in his Crystal Lake, Illinois workshop
Image Credit: Gordon Kling, great grandson of August.

Sources

[1] https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89MB-PP2Z?personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AKW1F-CN9

[2] https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9RVX-LGT?i=24&cc=1727033&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMK64-8PB