Jacob Schick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jacob Schick
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| Born | September 16, 1877 Ottumwa, Iowa, United States
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| Died | July 3, 1937 (age 59) New York City, U.S.
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| Resting place | Mount Royal Cemetery, Montreal |
| Occupation | Inventor, Entrepreneur |
| Known for | Pioneer of Electric razor |
Jacob Schick (born September 16, 1877 – died July 3, 1937) was an American inventor and businessman. He is famous for patenting one of the first electric razors. He also started the company known today as Schick Dry Shaver, Inc.. Many people consider him the "father of electric razors."
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Jacob Schick's Early Life and Military Service
Jacob Schick was born in 1877 in Ottumwa, Iowa. He grew up in Los Corrillos, New Mexico. His father was an immigrant from Germany who started a coal mining company. Jacob began working there when he was a child. By the age of 16, he was in charge of a railroad line that went from Los Corrillos to his father's coal mine.
Serving His Country
In 1898, Schick joined the 14th Infantry Regiment in the military. He was sent to the Philippines. He returned to the Philippines again from 1903 to 1905 as a Second Lieutenant. After this, he came back to the U.S. because he was sick. It was during this time that he reportedly got the idea for an electric razor.
A year later, he was promoted to First Lieutenant and moved to Alaska. There, he helped lay telegraph lines for the military. He left the military in 1910. However, he returned to serve from 1916 to 1918 during World War I. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel before leaving the service for good.
Schick's Inventions and Business Ventures
Jacob Schick was not just a military man; he was also a clever inventor and a smart businessman. His ideas changed how people shaved.
The Magazine Repeating Razor
Jacob Schick's first big business was called the Magazine Repeating Razor Co.. This company sold a special razor. It used blades that were loaded like bullets into a repeating rifle. This idea came from his time in the military. The blades came in clips, and you could load them into the razor without touching the sharp edge.
He created a working model of this razor in 1921. He received a patent for it in 1923. Selling this successful business in 1928 gave him the money he needed to develop his next big idea: the electric razor.
Pioneering the Electric Razor
Jacob Schick successfully patented the very first electric razor in May 1930. This invention was a huge step forward. It allowed people to shave without water or shaving cream. This made shaving much faster and easier.
Besides razors, Schick also invented other things. He patented the "General Jacobs Boat," which was designed for use in shallow water. He also created an improved pencil sharpener.
Later Years and Legacy
Jacob Schick passed away on July 3, 1937, in New York City. He was 59 years old. He died from problems after a kidney operation. He is buried in the Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Jacob Schick's inventions, especially the electric razor, had a lasting impact. His company, Schick Dry Shaver, Inc., continues to be a well-known brand today. He is remembered as a true pioneer who changed daily life for many people.
