After traveling aboard the SS Fürst Bismarck to Hamburg to visit family in April 1895, he died in the fifth cholera pandemic.

He briefly worked for a wine merchant before gaining employment with the drum and banjo manufacturing company, Albert Houdlett and Sons.

His shop was designed for the manufacture of banjos, tambourines, and drums, with the company experiencing some success catering to marching bands.

[5] The company would go on to produce instruments for artists such as: Chet Atkins, Eric Clapton, and George Harrison, who played a Gretsch guitar during The Beatles first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.

[14] On April 11, 1895, Gretsch traveled aboard the SS Fürst Bismarck to Hamburg to visit family and expand his business into Europe.