Gillette Company

1891
Idea of the disposable blade
Got it
  • On a business trip to a hotel in Pensilvenia, Gillette came up with the idea of the disposable blade
  • he shouts "I've got it, our fortune is made" in the bathroom on a rainy day
1899
March 30
Three prototypes
3 prototypes
  • Gillette himself said that if he had known anything about toolmaking and metallurgy, he would never have founded the company
  • Everyone laughed at him and kept asking him, "How's your razor?"
  • Steven Porter a mechanic from Boston produces three 2nd generation prototypes
  • The workshop is located on Atlantic Avenue in Boston
  • Gillette shaves for the first time with his razor
  •  11. August 1899 Patent is applied for "new in the art of razor manufacture and use"
1901
American Safety Razor Company, State of Maine
Gillette is born
  • no office
    three directors and all are very busy
  • Gillette is president
    Heilbronn is secretary treasurer
    Stewart is director
  • one idea " razors, razor blades and appurtenances"
  • the capital stock is USD 500,000, consisting of 50,000 shares of USD 10 each
  • Gillette holds 17,500 shares
  • Heilbronn, Stewart and Nickerson together hold 12,500 shares
  • 20,000 shares remain in the company
  • The values exist only on paper. No money has been paid in
March 30
Investors
Investors
  • Finding investors proves to be very difficult
  • his friend Ward Holloway does not believe in the idea
  • his friend John Joyce was already invested in other companies
  • his father and brother did not believe in the idea and had problems themselves with their own company, the "Gillette Clipping Machine Company" (machines were even sold to the Queen Victory stables)
  • Gillette meets William Emery Nickerson through his friend Henry Sachs
  • Nickerson is an MIT chemist who has already invented a process for manufacturing the light bulb
  • Henry Sachs was so annoyed by Gillette and his razor idea that he asked Nickerson to take a look at the concept and the idea in order to assess its feasibility
  • Nickerson was not enthusiastic and only Heilbronn was able to convince him to take a look at the idea
  • On September 9, 1901, Nickerson writes to Heilbronn that the idea is feasible
  • Nickerson and Gillette get to know and like each other
  • It was very important to Nickerson to distinguish between Gillette "only" having the idea and him carrying out the implementation
  • That's why Nickerson was against "Gillette Company" and for ASR Company
March 30
First Office
Add Title Here
  • In December 1901, Nickerson invented everything to enable the production of razors and blades
  • the first production facility and office is opened at 424 Atlantic Avenue
  • Gillette prevails and renames the company Gillette Safety Razor company
  • 5,000 USD from Sachs are used up
  • Nickerson manages to find new investors in NY, who offer USD 150,000 for 51%
  • Gillete rejects the offer in order to keep the majority
    Joyce buys in with a total of USD 100,000
  • USD 9,500 is initially released in batches (the deal is closed on October 10, 1902)