Background
He was born in Sørum as the son of colonel and customs inspector Caspar Andreas Hals. When his father was appointed customs inspector in Christiania in 1828, the family moved there.
He was born in Sørum as the son of colonel and customs inspector Caspar Andreas Hals. When his father was appointed customs inspector in Christiania in 1828, the family moved there.
After this, Karl Hals spent time in Copenhagen and Hamburg to learn the skill of piano building. Originally they employed only one person. In 1866 this number had risen to 36.
They production facilities were moved around in the early years, eventually settling at the site of the later Hotel Continental.
By 1897, a year before the death of Karl Hals, the company peaked at 100 employees. lieutenant delivered pianos not only to Scandinavian customers, but also to the United States and Australia.
One piano is on exhibit in the Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology. From 1887 to 1908 the company also ran a music store and a concert bureau.
Hals was the chairman of the employers" organisation Den Norske Haandvaerksog Industriforening, Christiania from 1878 to 1897.
In addition he was elected to the Norwegian Parliament in 1889, representing the constituency of Kristiania, Hønefoss og Kongsvinger. He only served one term. A daughter of his, named Marie, married the musician Ole Olsen.