GERNSBACK Sidney

Sidney (also called Sally) GERNSBACK was born in 1876 in Bühl, Baden (DE). His original family name was in fact GERNSBACHER. He was the first child of Moritz GERNSBACHER and Bertha DURLACHER, both born in Baden (DE). Moritz was a Kaufmann
The GERNSBACHER-DURLACHERs came to Luxembourg in 1882. They resided first in Luxembourg-city, Marie-Theresienstrasse 9, later in Prinzenring 15 and finally moved to Hollerich, Feldgen 2.
Moritz GERNSBACHER created a Weingrosshandel in Luxembourg-city and in 1897 acquired large plots of land on the Plateau Bourbon where he established his enterprise. He was joined by his younger brother Max GERNSBACHER (b. 1856).
In 1893 Sidney GERNSBACHER left Luxembourg for further education in Frankfurt (DE) and around 1900 joined his father in the wine business as Weinhändler. His father Moritz died in 1903 which led to the closure of the business.
Bertha DURLACHER left Luxembourg for Baden-Baden and sold the family assets. Sidney took up residence in Brussels.

It is quite likely that Sidney and his younger brother Hugo were the founders of the Brussels company GERNSBACHER & Cie which obtained two patents in France in 1903. Hugo emigrated to the US in 1904.
Sidney followed him to the US in 1911 at the age of 35. Like his brother Hugo, he changed his family name to GERNSBACK, joined Hugo’s business and eventually acted as sales representative for Hugo’s science-fiction publications.
In 1914 he married Lottie Clara AUERBACH in New York.
Sidney GERNSBACK died in Chicago in 1953.

FamilySearch database (LCP5-51K)