Consider the sharp, but humble disposable safety razor blade. Check out the trash can in a bathroom and there's a good chance you'll find a disposable razor blade, given that roughly 160 million Americans use them.
Today's trash was yesterday's breakthrough. Before disposable blades, many men used blades that they'd keep for years on end. These blades had to be constantly sharpened and could be dangerous to use. A fair number of folks simply skipped shaving altogether.
Yet as the 19th century wrapped up, technological innovation was reshaping society at breakneck speed. While cars and lightbulbs garnered much attention, other breakthroughs like the Gillette disposable safety razor, invented in 1895, were improving quality of life.
King Gillette revolutionized shaving by creating affordable steel blades that were quite sharp, but also cheap and equipped with disposable razor heads which could be replaced as needed. Further, Gillette's safety razors used built-in barriers to reduce the risk of cuts.
The disposable razor blade was also an example of a cutting-edge business strategy. Gillette's mentor, William Painter, had made a fortune by inventing the disposable bottle cap. He advised Gillette to create a disposable version of commonly used products. This way, he'd be able to create a steady stream of return customers.
Ultimately, King Gillette dreamed up and launched the disposable safety razor. Today, the company that still bears his name remains among the most popular razor blade companies in the world.
Interestingly enough, Gillette was a utopian socialist who dreamed of ubiquitous prosperity, but war may have ultimately sealed his company's lasting fortune. When the United States entered World War I, the American government contracted Gillette to produce millions of razors for American troops. When these troops returned home, many kept using Gillette safety razors.