Be Inspired: Learn from the man who invented the slice bread

 

The slice bread, like the neck tie, got me curious. Did you know the slice bread was invented by somebody? I understand everything under the sun is somehow invented, just didn’t think the slice bread should have gone through any sought of special invention. For god sake its bread you can slice it if you want it’s just a matter of choice.  And yes that choice was made by millions of Americans who preferred the pre-sliced bread on the shelf and like Aaron Bobrow-Strain said, 'The sliced loaf becomes a kind of small, edible promise of a better world.' this is the story of the man who invented the sliced bread, read and be inspired.

So many years ago, about hundred years ago, loaves were not sliced they were rather sold whole and had to be sliced by hand, because pre-slicing it would make it go stale quickly. But somebody had a different idea; his idea will change the view of the world forever.

On June 7 1928, a jeweler by profession an Iowa native Otto Fredrick Rohwedder invented a mechanical bread slicer. This changed ‘the art of sandwich making forever.’

The idea to invent the slice bread first came up in 1912,
then living in Missouri, with his family. His first prototype of the slicing machine held the bread slices together by metal hat pins, the baking industry were skeptical about this prototype since the pins fell out regularly.

Convinced his invention would be a success he sold his three jewelry stores in the Missouri town and put the money towards his new venture. However something happened in 1917 a fire destroyed the factory that contained the blueprints and original prototype of his bread slicer. Despite this major setback Rohwedder was determined.

He spent many years in getting funds and finding investors, at the same time working as an agent in an investment firm to carter for his wife and two children. But by 1927 he had designed another bread-slicing machine this design was even more different. This one did not only slice the loaves, but it also wrapped them in paper to keep them fresh. However his new design didn’t change how bakers felt about his invention. They were as well skeptical. But Frank Bench, a baker friend of Rohwedder's who lived in Chillicothe, Missouri, was the first to put his bread slicer to the test.

On July 7, 1928 Bench’s first loaf of pre-sliced bread, called Sliced Kleen Maid Bread, hit shelves, his sales skyrocketed almost overnight and in Two years later, Wonder Bread and several other major companies began selling sliced bread with the help of Rohwedder's invention

By 1933, five years after Rohwedder's machine was introduced to the baking industry, 80per cent of the bread turned out by bakeries in America was pre-sliced with his machine. Sandwich bread quickly became a household item, but another event threatened its existence.

In 1943World war II brought about food rationing in America, and this for the second time affected his invention. Claude R Wickard a food administrator announced that the country would go without sliced bread. The ban affected American families and this resulted to cutting loaves up themselves. No bakery was permitted to slice its bread. Officials explained that pre-sliced bread would require a heavy wrapping than an unsliced one if it is not to dry out quickly.

However two months later the ban was rescinded. Following the success of Rohwedder's invention, the sales of pop-up toasters soared as well, since the bread-slicing machine produced slices with a uniform thickness.

According to Aaron Bobrow-Strain, author of White Bread: A Social History of the Store-Bought Loaf, explained: 'The sliced loaf becomes a kind of small, edible promise of a better world.'

Inspiration:

1. On June 7 1928, a jeweler by profession an Iowa native Otto Fredrick Rohwedder invented a mechanical bread slicer: Otto Fredrick Rohwedder wasn’t in the bread or baking industry all he had was an idea for a commodity he probably purchased from the shelves, and this his idea transformed an entire industry. So the question is do we allow what environments we find ourselves limit our capabilities? It is time we look at things around us in a different way, the jeweler did and he noticed that we needed a slicing machine for the bread. The world is in constant need of better ways of doing things differently, we should not let our environment limit our capabilities. You don’t just know how capable you are until you make a move. 
2. The idea to invent the slice bread first came up in 1912:  It took sixteen years for his idea to come to actuality? The truth is there are so many ideas that have gone extinct because we have not been patient. Does how long really matter? If Otto Fredrick Rohwedder was impatient who knows, we might still all be cutting our loafs with knives today. Perhaps you have an idea in you, patience is key and it is needed to succeed in any venture. Man has to be patient it is the only way he can understand and take charge of his environment. 
3. Rohwedder overcame a fire that destroyed his first prototype before he was finally successful: His idea/invention suffered a setback. In life there are Ups and downs not everything has a smooth sail. But is it not what makes life worth living?  Problem solving Otto Fredrick Rohwedder and many great inventors didn’t give up on their idea’s so why should you?  I do not know your objectives or mission, whatever your endeavors in life do not give up easily, not when there is a way to succeed rather be determined.
4.  Convinced his invention would be a success he sold his three jewelry stores in the Missouri town and put the money towards his new venture:  This show how far Rohwedder was willing to go for his invention to come to light. Three don’t seem to me like a bad business he had going on, and even if he did, he had a strong conviction to sell them off, sometimes we are scared to push a little forward, we are afraid to resign from that bad job, we recline to nag about our boss, about how things are wrong, when in truth we have in our hands the abilities to make the changes.
5.  The baking industry were skeptical about this prototype: Sometimes we have new things to offer to the world but are rejected offcurse it wasn’t all smooth sail for Rohwedder. We need to be persistent in what we believe in, no matter the odds, people may reject you at first, but do not give up. It is easier said, but when you take a clue from people like Otto, you need only be strong and be patient.
6.  In 1917 a fire destroyed the factory that contained the blueprints and original prototype of his bread slicer another event threatened its existence in 1943:  what else could discourage a man with a purpose? What challenges are you currently facing? Do not be discouraged because the path you are walking now, men have walked down that path, and have come out of it standing tall. Do not give up, not today, when tomorrow comes tell yourself you “not today”, Rohwedder choose not to give up on his dream, He spent many years in making his dream come to fulfillment.      

what other lessons can you learn from the man who invented the slice bread?