Leif Hansson

Leif Hansson (1916-1997) was a Norwegian luthier who started building guitars and violins 1935 when he was 18. In the early years this was a hobby and took place at home in the basement. In May 1943 - in the midst of the war - he started a guitar factory in Olso. In 1944 he was making strings for guitars, mandolins and violins. By 1945, he ran nationwide advertising for products and in 1946 the Leif Hansson Musical Instrument Factory wa a large company with 33 employees located in Heimdalsgata 23-25, Olso. They produced 115 guitars and a series of mandolins each month, with their own string production with a total of 8 string spinning machines. The factory also has its own mechanical department which made all the metal parts for the guitars such as tuning screws, string fasteners and screws. The factory moved to larger premises at Røssedal in Østre Aker.