Jacob Schick introduced the first successful electric shaver to go on the market
from his factory in Stamford, Connecticut. They first sold in New Your City for $25
each (equivalent to $350 today). Schick sold about 3,000 shavers the first year,
and sales increased until 1.5 million were in customers hands by 1937.
Despite some early claims, they didn’t shave closer than a wet steel blade, but
they were convenient to use.
Inventor Jacob Schick
Leo Hirschfeld, an Austrian immigrant to the U.S. started a candy
business in a small shop located in New York City. He named his
chocolate confection after the nickname of his daughter, Clara
“Tootsie” Hirschfeld.
By 1905, the company moved to a five-story factory and in 1917
the name was changed to The Sweets Company of America.
Trivia fact: Tootsie Rolls was the first penny candy to be individually
wrapped.
Carl Karcher, left, with daughter Anne Marie, and one of his
company’s first employees at “The Blimp,” his first hot dog
stand in Los Angeles.
Carl’s Drive-In
Carl N. Karcher and his wife, Margaret, made a leap of faith in 1941 when they
borrowed $311 on their Plymouth automobile, added $15 in savings and bought
a hot dog stand. In less than five years, Carl’s Drive-In Barbecue (above) opened
with hamburgers on the menu. Later, smaller versions of this restaurant called
”Carl’s Jr.” opened. Prior to the restaurant business, Karcher had worked as a
delivery boy for a bakery based in Anaheim.
Carl Nicholas Karcher (January 16, 1917 – January 11, 2008)
Carl Karcher behind a hot dog cart in front of his headquarters in Anaheim, California, 1981.
This view is of the Northwest Industrial District from NW Yeon Avenue at
Nicolai Street. The first two buildings on the right exist today as Imperial
Paints (below).
Imperial Paint Company has been in business since 1945.
