Likely unknown to all of us, William Boyle died in May 2000 at the age of 88. “Who was he?” you ask. Don’t bother to check your American history book because Mr. Boyle’s name will not be mentioned. Yet he came up with an idea that changed the financial landscape not only of the United States but of the developed world as well: the Credit Card.
Born in 1911, Mr. Boyle struggled, as so many did, during the Depression selling hair tonic and other items door-to-door. After serving in World War II, he went to work for Franklin National Bank in New York. In 1951, he developed the Franklin Charge Card. The credit card was born! By the next year, 750 local merchants and 28,000 customers had been signed up. And, as good ideas normally do, the concept of the credit card spread quickly and the rest is history. (1)
https://www.bwnonline.com/ManageContent/EduLaunch.asp?Topic=1&SubTopic=1
July 25, 2007 at 7:19 pm
If there were still door-to-door hair tonic men, i would love to order a whole bunch of hair tonic and pour them all into the bathtub. I would take a bath, and become a gorilla. Then i would follow fine folks like Mr. Boyle from door to door selling hair-removal tonics. People would say, “HEY, I CAN’T BUY YOUR HAIR REMOVAL TONIC CUZ I SPENT ALL MY MONEY ON HAIR TONIC.”
then i would give them a credit card application.
July 31, 2007 at 2:02 am
i just started watching the movie “FUR” but didn’t finish it does anyone know how it ends?
ugh credit cards i don’t mind them i mean use at discretion but i hate having to have one like to reserve a hotel and shit like that. that bugs me. thanks for the history lesson these are good things to know, i mean to know the origins of these things that have impact upon our lives BEYOND BELIEF…..
keep on keepin on keep postin. …. take care. hidingkayak