"The Other Swedes"
~ Honoring Them and Remembering Them ~
G.N. Malm ~ Remembering him for his nationally recognized Lindsborg Decorating System
~ An account by Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg
~ Honoring Them and Remembering Them ~
G.N. Malm ~ Remembering him for his nationally recognized Lindsborg Decorating System
~ An account by Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg
1869-1928
Stenciled Decor
by
Mrs. Elizabeth Jaderborg
In the Lindsborg City Office is a huge painting of an Indian camp by G. N. Malm. The decor around the top of the room is a stenciled design that was a product of a once thriving industry in Lindsborg. Below is an account of it taken from the Lindsborg News Record, Friday, Feb 19, 1915:
“Among the business enterprises of Lindsborg that have been of great importance to the a building of the town and country, none have made a more rapid growth nor have been as far reaching as that of the Malm Brothers & Co., painters and interior decorators.
“For several years G. N. Malm, the senior member of the firm, has been working on a decorating system whereby even a common painter could apply decorative art to the interior of a building thereby saving the expense of a high-priced artist.
"Mr. Malm's plan was to design and cut stencils and by a system of colors selected especially for the design furnish the painter printed instructions for applying. He set to work and turned out twently (20) designs. These he mounted in a cabinet with swinging panels, arranged so that each design could easily be observed.
"Shortly after his designs were perfected he was prevailed upon by the Acme White Lead and Color Works, of Detroit, Michigan, to demonstrate his system. This he did and as a result the system was taken over by the company and Mr. Malm was engaged as designer of the decorators department.
"He immediately returned to Lindsborg and made arrangements for work rooms, shipping departments and the necessary help in cutting the designs, packing and handling the business. The first shipment was made in August, 1914, and up to February 1, 1915, the firm had shipped out of Lindsborg $5,500 worth of designs and cabinets, these going into almost every state in the Union.
"The plant today, (February, 1915) carries 25 persons on its payroll, a number of them being girls, many of whom are becoming experts at cutting designs. Not only has this enterprise given profitable employment to a number of Lindsborg people but the fact that the stencils, cabinet and everything connected with the system is constructed from the raw material right here at home attracts and calls attention to the town of Lindsborg to almost every city and hamlet in this and other countries.
"In discussing the affairs of the business with the heads of the company recently it was suggested to Mr. Malm that he remove the plant to a location near Detroit, but by using his strongest arguments and efforts it was shown by Mr. Malm that the work could be performed in Lindsborg as economically and satisfactory, (sic) as elsewhere and it was decided the plant was to remain here, for a time at least.
“Among the business enterprises of Lindsborg that have been of great importance to the a building of the town and country, none have made a more rapid growth nor have been as far reaching as that of the Malm Brothers & Co., painters and interior decorators.
“For several years G. N. Malm, the senior member of the firm, has been working on a decorating system whereby even a common painter could apply decorative art to the interior of a building thereby saving the expense of a high-priced artist.
"Mr. Malm's plan was to design and cut stencils and by a system of colors selected especially for the design furnish the painter printed instructions for applying. He set to work and turned out twently (20) designs. These he mounted in a cabinet with swinging panels, arranged so that each design could easily be observed.
"Shortly after his designs were perfected he was prevailed upon by the Acme White Lead and Color Works, of Detroit, Michigan, to demonstrate his system. This he did and as a result the system was taken over by the company and Mr. Malm was engaged as designer of the decorators department.
"He immediately returned to Lindsborg and made arrangements for work rooms, shipping departments and the necessary help in cutting the designs, packing and handling the business. The first shipment was made in August, 1914, and up to February 1, 1915, the firm had shipped out of Lindsborg $5,500 worth of designs and cabinets, these going into almost every state in the Union.
"The plant today, (February, 1915) carries 25 persons on its payroll, a number of them being girls, many of whom are becoming experts at cutting designs. Not only has this enterprise given profitable employment to a number of Lindsborg people but the fact that the stencils, cabinet and everything connected with the system is constructed from the raw material right here at home attracts and calls attention to the town of Lindsborg to almost every city and hamlet in this and other countries.
"In discussing the affairs of the business with the heads of the company recently it was suggested to Mr. Malm that he remove the plant to a location near Detroit, but by using his strongest arguments and efforts it was shown by Mr. Malm that the work could be performed in Lindsborg as economically and satisfactory, (sic) as elsewhere and it was decided the plant was to remain here, for a time at least.
"It is shown that from a statement from the (ACME) home office that the system is going big and no doubt will be a hit of their 1915 lines.
"Painters, architects and consumers pronounce it the first and only decorative idea that permits the use of exclusive effects by the average painters at a price that the average person will pay.
"The system has the most hearty support of every person from the president down to the selling force of this mammoth concern and with the push and enterprise that is back of the Acme Quality House the system has got to be a success.
"In selecting G. N. Malm as designer of its decorating department the Acme made no mistake as he is a true artist in his line. His work has been known over this section of the country for years and he was engaged where ever high-grade artistic decorative work was desired.
"Aside from Mr. Malm, Mr. O. Gunnarson has charge of the Lindsborg Plant, Rudolph Lindstrom the sample and shipping department, and E. E. Malm demonstrator with office in Chicago.
"Malm's contracts for interior designing included Madison Square Garden, New York; Spokane, Washington Auditorium, and a New Port, Connecticut, private mansion.
"But the stencil business closed out soon after the death of G. N. Malm in 1928, and Rudolph Lindstrom, who now lives in California, is the only surviving member of the enterprise. Malm's stucco studio still stands and is presently in use as a repair shop."
"Painters, architects and consumers pronounce it the first and only decorative idea that permits the use of exclusive effects by the average painters at a price that the average person will pay.
"The system has the most hearty support of every person from the president down to the selling force of this mammoth concern and with the push and enterprise that is back of the Acme Quality House the system has got to be a success.
"In selecting G. N. Malm as designer of its decorating department the Acme made no mistake as he is a true artist in his line. His work has been known over this section of the country for years and he was engaged where ever high-grade artistic decorative work was desired.
"Aside from Mr. Malm, Mr. O. Gunnarson has charge of the Lindsborg Plant, Rudolph Lindstrom the sample and shipping department, and E. E. Malm demonstrator with office in Chicago.
"Malm's contracts for interior designing included Madison Square Garden, New York; Spokane, Washington Auditorium, and a New Port, Connecticut, private mansion.
"But the stencil business closed out soon after the death of G. N. Malm in 1928, and Rudolph Lindstrom, who now lives in California, is the only surviving member of the enterprise. Malm's stucco studio still stands and is presently in use as a repair shop."
Sample of stencils that were cut by hand by women in Lindsborg at Malm Bros. & Co.
"Lindsborg on Record," page 42
*"Stenciled Decor" by Elizabeth Jaderborg on G. N. Malm from Lindsborg On Record, 1965 pages 40-42.
*Mrs. Jaderborg, a teacher at heart, made it clear that she was fine with the fact of using her work just as long as credit was given to her. She made that clear in some of her small books, (which were created from her 350 Lindsborg News-Record articles written from 1962 to 1969) coupled with the fact that her initial incentive to write all the stories that she did was for the Lindsborg children then who were not being taught about their own Lindsborg history, (as there were several resources from which they could have used then).
*Mrs. Jaderborg, a teacher at heart, made it clear that she was fine with the fact of using her work just as long as credit was given to her. She made that clear in some of her small books, (which were created from her 350 Lindsborg News-Record articles written from 1962 to 1969) coupled with the fact that her initial incentive to write all the stories that she did was for the Lindsborg children then who were not being taught about their own Lindsborg history, (as there were several resources from which they could have used then).
* * *
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated, or obviously concluded it is not.
Copyright © 2021 www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
Swedes: TheWayTheyWere
~ restoring lost local histories ~
reconnecting past to present
* * *
All color photography throughout Swedes: The Way They Were is by Fran Cochran unless otherwise indicated, or obviously concluded it is not.
Copyright © 2021 www.swedesthewaytheywere.org. All rights reserved.
