Eventually he found a job in a Ballard sawmill. When not working, he struggled to save money from his meager wages and went to school studying chemistry, accounting and English.

In 1929, Mr. Bardahl had saved enough money to become a building contractor. Throughout the depression era, he worked 16-hour days building and selling homes he had built. By 1936, he had reached a point where he was able to try his hand in other business opportunities.

1939, he began his second business and bought a small chemical company (the beginning of Bardahl). He had a small manufacturing plant in Ballard, a small community of Norwegian, Swedish and Finnish immigrants. He personally oversaw the entire operation from operating blending tanks, serving as salesman, shipping clerk and canning machine operator. The company he bought had a number of cleaners and one oil product. Ole Bardahl was a man of vision quickly realizing the potential of his oil additive.

Sales in the first few years were slim. In 1939, sales amounted to a mere $188 and WWII kept growth to a minimum due to wartime shortages. By 1947, Ole Bardahl's oil product was an established top seller. Bardahl saw sales rise to $200,000 and by 1952, Bardahl sales were ranked third among it’s competitors. Soon after, the results of an effective television advertising campaign established Bardahl as the top seller in the United States and then the international number one seller, a position still enjoyed in many countries.

Mr. Bardahl was a considerable competitor in the racing/motor sports arena as well as in business. He felt higher compression engines were great testing grounds for his products. Starting early in his career, he gave oil to local racers to test his products. He sponsored Indy cars, air-racing planes and is most well known for his successful hydroplane-racing career that included 5 Gold Cups and 6 National Championships.

Ole Bardahl died in August of 1989 and is survived by his wife of 65 years, Inga Bardahl; two daughters, Lillian Wittrock of Florida and Evelyn Bardahl McNeil, Shoreline, WA as well as 7 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.

Bardahl Manufacturing Corporation corporate offices are still located in Ballard (Seattle) and the company is still run by the Bardahl family with Evelyn Bardahl McNeil, as Chairman.