Book Review: "View Master, The Biography of William B. Gruber,"
  by Gretchen Jane Gruber

Most people will wonder why I am reviewing a book here that tells
the View Master story.  This book is relevant to the mechanical music
collector because most people do not realize that William Gruber was
a factory trained technician for the Welte-Mignon.  He worked for
M. Welte & Söhne in Freiburg im Breisgau.

Willi Gruber immigrated to the USA in the 1920s and worked in Portland,
Oregon, as a Welte-Mignon technician and piano tuner.  The book tells
the fascinating story of his life.  Readers will learn how Willi
Gruber's politics got him into trouble, his zeal for life and nature
and how his spirit of determination allowed him to accomplish great
things.

This book tells the human story of how his passions drove him.  How
Willi Gruber's knowledge of pneumatic operation from the Welte-Mignon
helped him build the machines that assembled View Master reels.
Readers will learn how Willi Gruber's training at M. Welte & Söhne
served him well his entire life.

The author is Willi Gruber's own daughter, Gretchen Jane Gruber.
She tells his story from a point of view of great love and admiration
for her father's amazing story.

Readers should understand that the editor working with the author
did not have a good knowledge of the Welte-Mignon or its history, so
those seeking facts specific to the Welte-Mignon should look elsewhere.
It is unfortunate that the editor suggested Freiburg be spelled as
'Freiberg' but this is a minor detail since the book is about the man,
William B Gruber, his genius and his zeal.

To order a signed copy from the author, the book may be ordered through
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WilliamBGruber?fref=ts 

The book may be found elsewhere but for an author-signed copy, the
Facebook site is the point of contact.  You need to request that the
author sign the copy.  Also, you need not be part of the Face Book
social media community to order a copy.

One last point not mentioned in the book, Willi Gruber so loved the
Welte-Mignon that he had a model D Steinway with a T-100 Welte-Mignon
Vorsetzer in his Portland, Oregon, home.

We see so very little published about the lives of the people that
worked at these companies.  This book tells the very human side of one
such life.  I strongly recommend this book.

Mark Reinhart
Charles Town, West Virginia