Sam Farber facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sam Farber
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|---|---|
| Born | November 16, 1924 |
| Died | June 16, 2013 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | B.A. Harvard University |
| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouse(s) | Joan Levine (divorced) Betsey Wells Kriegsman |
| Children | 4 |
Samuel Farber (born November 16, 1924 – died June 16, 2013) was an American designer and businessman. He is famous for co-founding OXO with his son, John. OXO makes kitchen tools and items for your home.
Sam Farber changed the kitchen tool industry. He created a line of tools with soft, black plastic handles. These tools were more expensive than old ones. But people loved them because they were easy to hold and use.
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Early Life and Education
Sam Farber was born in New York City on November 16, 1924. He grew up in Yonkers, New York. His father, Louis Farber, started a company called Sheffield Silver Company. His uncle, Simon Farber, founded Farberware, which makes kitchen appliances.
During World War II, Sam Farber served in the Army Air Forces. He was stationed in North Africa and Turkey. After the war, he went to Harvard University. He earned a degree in economics in 1946.
Sam Farber's Career
Starting Copco
In 1960, Sam Farber started his first company, Copco. This company made cast iron cookware that was coated with enamel. He sold Copco in 1982. After selling the company, he mostly retired from work for a while.
Creating OXO Kitchen Tools
Sam Farber got the idea for OXO because of a simple kitchen tool: a vegetable peeler. He was on vacation in France with his wife, Betsy. Betsy had arthritis, which made it hard for her to hold things. She struggled to peel apples with a regular peeler.
This problem gave Sam an idea. He wanted to design tools that were easier for everyone to use. He and his son, John, worked with a design company called Smart Design. Together, they created a new line of kitchen tools. These tools had soft, black plastic handles. They were comfortable to hold and looked good too.
Sam Farber showed his new OXO tools in 1990. He named the company "OXO" because the letters look the same even if you turn them upside down. OXO products cost more than other brands. But people were happy to pay extra for tools that were so easy to use.
The Farber family sold OXO in 1992. Today, OXO is owned by Helen of Troy Limited.
Other Projects
Later, Sam and John Farber also created a line of kitchen products for the famous chef Mario Batali.
Sam Farber also loved art. He was part of the board of directors for the American Folk Art Museum in Manhattan.
Personal Life
Sam Farber lived in Manhattan for many years. Later in his life, he moved to Lexington, Massachusetts.
He was married two times. His first marriage was to Joan Levine. They had two sons, John and Thomas. Thomas Farber became a judge in New York. In 1985, Sam married Betsey Wells Kriegsman, who was an architect. He also had two stepchildren from her previous marriage.
Death
Sam Farber passed away on June 16, 2013. He was 88 years old. He died in East Meadow, New York, after complications from a fall.
