hɪz fˈɑːðɚ, kɹˈɪstɑːf, hˌuː wˈɜːkt ɪn ɐ ʃˈuː fˈæktɚɹi, ænd ðə bɹˈʌðɚz zˈeɪlaɪn, hˌuː pɹədˈuːst ðə hˈændmeɪd spˈaɪks fɔːɹ tɹˈæk ʃˈuːz ɪn ðɛɹ blˈæksmɪθz ʃˈɑːp, səpˈoːɹɾᵻd ˈædɑːlf ɪn stˈɑːɹɾɪŋ hɪz ˈoʊn bˈɪznəs.
His father, Christoph, who worked in a shoe factory, and the brothers Zehlein, who produced the handmade spikes for track shoes in their blacksmith's shop, supported Adolf in starting his own business.