Gopher-preneur book of the month

Steve · #1 01-10-2005, 04:35 PM

The Game Makers: The Story of Parker Brothers, from Tiddledy Winks to Trivial Pursuit
by Philip E. Orbanes

Parker Brothers was founded in 1883 by a 16-year-old dreamer named George Parker. He was the youngest of three brothers, living in Medford, MA, a suburb north of Boston. Fascinated by board games but frustrated by the lack of excitement in the games of that era, Parker invented a game of his own, a game he called Banking. His friends were so convinced that this was it. The game that kids everywhere would want. They persuaded George to try to publish Banking himself. He did publish his new game, and by Christmas Eve of that year, Parker had sold all but a few of his first 500 copies. After expenses, he had cleared a profit of $80. Now a minor celebrity, Parker published a second game called Baker's Dozen and then added a third, Famous Men. In 1888, Parker brought his brothers Charles and Edward on board and Parker Brothers was born. From $500 in 1883, annual sales grew to $40,000 by 1890 and rose to $110,000 in 1898. In fifteen years, George S. Parker's company moved from the basement of his mother's home to a storefront in downtown Salem to a three-story industrial building brimming with activity. I am sure you have heard of some of his games, Tiddledy Winks, Trivial Pursuit, Monopoly, Ping Pong, and Nerf football to name a few. Parker Brothers is now owned by Hasbro, which was founded in 1923 by two brothers, Henry and Helal Hassenfeld. The name Hasbro is derived from the Hassenfeld brothers.
This book is another great journey of an entrepreneur who had a dream and followed it through. We read it and recommend that you read it too. When you dream and think of the things you would like to do, remember George Parker. He made it happen and you can to.

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