Tinius Olsen was born in
Kongsberg,
Norway. He was one of eight children. Olsen graduated from the
Horten Technical School (
Horten tekniske skole) in 1866.
Employment and Immigration Olsen first became the foreman of the machine department at a large naval machine shop. Olsen subsequently immigrated to the United States during 1869.
"Little Giant" In the mid-1870s, he borrowed money from his wife to start his own company. In 1880, he submitted a patent application for an improved testing machine and the patent was granted the same year, on June 1, 1880.
Later years Olsen was awarded the
Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1907. Olsen retired from the company in 1929 and died during 1932 in Philadelphia. Olsen remembered his origin with gifts to his home land including awards to Horten Technical School and
Kongsberg Church as well grants to a retirement home in his wife's home town of
Helsingborg,
Sweden.
Personal life In 1874, Olsen married Swedish-born physician,
Amalie Charlotte Yhlen (1839–1920). Olsen died during 1932 and his wife during 1920. Both were buried at
West Laurel Hill Cemetery in
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of Thorsten Yhlen Olsen (1879- 1957) who succeeded his father as president of the firm. ==Selected list of patents==