Jul 5, 2011
The inventor of the weed eater showing off the original prototype
In 1971, George Ballas was inspired by the spinny thingamajigs in an automatic car wash to apply a similar principle to cutting grass.
Nobody wanted his idea, so he started selling his “Weed Eaters” himself. By the time he sold the company in 1976 it was a $40-million-a-year business. And now pretty much everyone who cares about their lawn has one.
Here’s how they started…
(via LA Times)
(via My San Antonio)
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He’s like the Liberachi of lawn care! Also, pop corn in a can!?
“Spinny thingamajigs”. You ought to be a science writer.
LOL
A simple invention that turned him into a millionaire
That is amazing.
Why is no one commenting on how handsome this man is in his fitted polyester leisure wear?
LOL Jan! I was wondering the same. Snazzy giant lapels, wide white leather belt…what a stud.
I don’t care about my lawn.
But I do care about those killer sideburns.
Is that Inglebert Humpherdink, or Tom Jones? Or someone in that family?