Page 110 - One Thousand Ways to Make $1000

HEN Harry Brown finished college, he decided to see if he couldn’t make
some money with an idea he had been mulling over for some time. In his
chemistry course in college he had learned how to etch glass by coating it
with beeswax, lettering words with a steel point, and then exposing the
surface of the glass to the fumes of hydrofluoric acid. With a little practice
Harry found that he could produce some rather

neat looking bottles suitable for the medicine cabinet. He purchased a carton
of standard-sized bottles of good clear glass and etched them with the names
of the usual medicine cabinet remedies such as boric acid, witch hazel, hand
lotion, glycerin, etc. He made up several sets of four bottles each and sold
them to friends and relatives. Later he sold them from house to house. On
every call he tried to sell a complete set of bottles. However, when it was
plainly evident that the housewife did not need the entire set, he would
suggest her taking a pair of bottles. Sometimes he could get her to suggest
other labels for two more which he would etch for no additional charge. He
also took orders for special sets of bottles for the invalid in the family or for
the baby’s medicines.

Harry made it a point to deliver the orders in the evening. Generally, the
“man of the house” would be home and there would be no delay in getting
the money for his work. Furthermore, he frequently found that father would
be interested in securing for his “private supply,” a uniform set of bottles
with names such as Rye, Bourbon, Scotch, etc.

Another idea that sold well was a little mirrored-top match box. He bought
these by the dozen and etched numbers from one to eight on the mirrored
tops. Women bridge fans were delighted with them as they could use them
for bridge prizes. When these went over so big, he purchased some larger
mirrored cigarette boxes and etched the names of the popular cigarette brands
on the tops. Women bought these novelties for bridge prizes also as well as
for their own homes.

Before long, Harry found himself so busy that he not only had to secure
assistance in handling the work of etching the bottles, but also had to hire
someone to follow up inquiries.