TRADE: Shavers Cut

Result of an Alaskan gold prospector's spraining his ankle 28 years ago was the creation of a luxury product with an amazing consumer appeal. The prospector was Jacob Schick. Forced to lie in camp several weeks, he spent much of his time thinking up a way to make some money. Rubbing his stubby beard, he hit on the idea of a mechanical shaver. But Schick electric shavers did not appear on the market until 1931, and these first hand-made models sold at $25. Many a man began to wonder how he had got...

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