Posted on 09/29/2018 7:18:25 AM PDT by DUMBGRUNT
Over the years, abridged versions of the peeler’s origin story have been shared in design museums and even business schools. But talking to Smart’s founder, Davin Stowell, I had no clue how rich the history was, including cameos from Monsanto, samurai sword makers, and retail magicians from another era. What follows is his lightly edited story–an insider’s account of the world’s most famous vegetable peeler.
We went to knife companies in Japan. One company called Mitsubohi Cutlery, dated back to the 1800s when they made samurai swords.
We hop in the the limousine to the tooling factory, and there’s this guy with overalls, with a remote controller and a giant steel tool over his head they’re moving from one side of the shop to the other. They showed him the model I’d made, conversing back and forth in Japanese. We had no idea what they were talking about. Then all the sudden, they started to laugh, and they came over and said, “Yes, Mr. So-and-So said we can make this.” I asked, “What did you decide that based on?” When they were talking, they kept pointing at me, so I didn’t know what was going on. Apparently, Mr. So-and-So said that if I could make it, he could make it.
(Excerpt) Read more at fastcompany.com ...
Perhaps not for everyone, I'm easily amused.
Was Hattori Hanzo the craftsman?...
Thanks for the break from the blood pressure-raising politics!
I peel a LOT of vegetables. The Pampered Chef makes the BEST peeler I’ve ever used.
And I ADORE the ‘spiralizers’ they invented a few years back.
Sort of reminds me of the 15 minute commercials run in the 1950s for Slicer-Dicer ...
I was just going to write: Chef of the Future! Ha Ha!
You can have my Zyliss Y peeler when you pry it from my cold dead hands.
we were turned onto a material called Santoprene. From Monsanto, it was created following several years of research and development........
I thought Monsanto was Satan’s company from hell?
Mom bought one of those back then. It was a flimsy piece of junk.
I've dealt with this too in my career. There is no more racist or condescending people than the Japanese.
Was Hattori Hanzo the craftsman?...
The guy selling them in the discount mall , said it was Hattori’s great ^8 nephew’s neighbor.
He could cut a tin can and peel a ripe tomato with it!!!
He was very good!
I purchased the Samurai Supreme set of six and also received a FREE Ginsu knife!
Possibly the funniest episode.
The Pampered Chef, Addison Illinois!
I drive it occasionally.
We have the lemon zester, each time my wife attends one of their events we acquire something new.
I like and use the zester often.
But it is not a Ginsu.
I miss those shows..
Like Jackie Gleason
I think it was called the Magic Slicer-Dicer. I remember the guy in the white chef’s hat that demoed it had a mustache which made him look like a villain. I was maybe 5 or 6 at the time. Around 1948-49.
“You can have my Zyliss Y peeler when you pry it from my cold dead hands.”
Looks dangerous!
Reminds me of my mandoline slicer, I still have the scars.
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