Janos Bartl

Janos Bartl
Born	April 13, 1878 Nagy Becskerek, Hungaria (now Zrenjanin,Serbia)
Died	September 27, 1958 (age 80) Hamburg, Germany

Janos Bartl (1878-1958), a descendant of a German craftsman family which had emigrated to Hungary, was one of the most important magic supply dealers of the pre-war era.

Biography

His parents called him Johann, but on his Hungarian birth certificate it said Janos.

After attending school, he learned the craft of book-binding in his home town. As a journeyman he worked in Budapest, Vienna, Dresden, Munich, and Hamburg in large workshops. By 1902 Bartl was employed as a book cover gilder.

He studied magic books in his free time and by 1909 he was performing professionally. He traveled predominantly through German towns under the name of "Aradi" and later under his own name. Around 1910 he opened a magic school, which called "Academy for Modern Magic Art", but was apparently not very successful. A short time after their arrival in Hamburg, they rented several rooms in the adjacent house for the production and sale of magic items. The store took off quickly offerings not only magic tricks and books but also gag gifts, puzzle games, fireworks, and picture postcards.

From 1919 to 1924 he joined Carl Willmann in the "Vereinigte Zauberapparate - FabrikBartl & Willmann" (United Magic Instruments Factory BartI & Willmann). Bartl was still offering Willmann's products for years afterwards in his sale lists.

Bartl shipped his products to all parts of the world. Okito, Chefalo, Cortini, Kassner, and other stars used Bartl's inventions.

References

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