When they originally moved to Amsterdam, Walbrodt's parents were very poor, but by 1881, they had acquired enough money to pay for his schooling. By the mid-1890s Walbrodt and his brother owned a small factory making pantographs.
Initially, when Walbrodt's family moved to Amsterdam, his parents were in a state of financial hardship. However, by 1881, they had accumulated enough wealth to enable him to receive an education. By the mid-1890s, Walbrodt and his brother had established a small factory that manufactured pantographs.