Refresh for new random facts
1. Henry Ford invented the charcoal briquettes that are commonly used by the grilling enthusiasts of today, to make use of scrap wood left over in the manufacture of the Model T.
2. The U.S. steel industry introduced the 5 Day, 40 hour work week in 1923.
3. The Bank of New York was the first listed company on the New York Stock Exchange, in 1792.
4. The first major deodorant company in the U.S. was called Odorono; its first ad led hundreds of women to cancel their subscriptions to Ladies Home Journal in 1919.
5. Steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie would be worth upwards of $200 billion in today's dollars, adjusted for inflation.
6. Wanamaker's of Philadelphia, was the first U.S. department store to install electric lighting, in 1878.
7. Nathaniel C. Wyeth, son of artist N.C. Wyeth, brother of artists Andrew, Carolyn and Henriette Wyeth, developed the plastic soda bottle while working as an engineer for the DuPont Company.
8. The first vending machines were installed on New York City elevated subway platforms in 1888 and dispensed Tutti-Fruiti gum.
9. Before its name was changed in 1924, IBM was known as C-T-R, or Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company.
10. Railroad tycoon Cornelius Vanderbilt would be worth around $150 Billion in today's dollars, adjusted for inflation.
When me and old Abe used to sit by the fire he would tell me the darndest tales about this great land of ours.
