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Christian Kent NelsonDanish inventor of the popsicle
Date of Birth: 12.03.1893
Country:  Denmark |
Content:
- Christian Kent Nelson: Inventor of the Eskimo Pie
- The Invention of the Eskimo Pie
- Partnership with Russell Stover
- Commercial Success and Patent
- Legal Battles and Company Changes
- Dry Ice and Impulse Purchases
- Patent Invalidation and Departure
- Re-entry and New Inventions
- Post-World War II and Retirement
- Legacy and Impact
Christian Kent Nelson: Inventor of the Eskimo Pie
Early Life and InspirationChristian Kent Nelson was born on March 12, 1893, in Denmark to Peder Nelson and Margrethe Madsen Nelson. In his early childhood, Nelson immigrated to the United States with his parents and seven siblings. The family settled in Iowa, where Nelson opened a small candy shop next to a school where he worked as a teacher.
The Invention of the Eskimo Pie
In 1920, Nelson was inspired to invent the Eskimo Pie after a hesitant boy who came into his candy shop decided to buy a chocolate bar instead of ice cream due to having only five cents. Realizing the boy's dilemma, Nelson spent weeks experimenting with ways to cover ice cream with melted chocolate. He eventually discovered that cocoa butter was the perfect solution.
Partnership with Russell Stover
On July 13, 1921, Nelson partnered with chocolate manufacturer Russell C. Stover to produce and sell his chocolate-covered ice cream confection. They renamed the product Eskimo Pie and agreed to split the profits equally. Nelson and Stover licensed the production rights to local companies for $500-$1,000, plus a royalty fee.
Commercial Success and Patent
The Eskimo Pie became an instant hit, with the first 25,000 units selling out in 24 hours. By spring 1922, 2,700 manufacturers were producing approximately one million Eskimo Pies per day. On January 24, 1922, Nelson obtained a patent (No. 1404539) for the Eskimo Pie, which covered any frozen product coated in chocolate.
Legal Battles and Company Changes
In 1924, due to legal expenses and other business difficulties, the Eskimo Pie Company was sold to United States Foil, a supplier of wrapping materials for the treats. Russell Stover sold his share of the company in 1922. United States Foil later became the Reynolds Metals Company.
Dry Ice and Impulse Purchases
In 1925, Nelson helped popularize impulse purchases of Eskimo Pies by introducing dry ice vending machines, which allowed street vendors to sell the treats without refrigeration.
Patent Invalidation and Departure
In 1929, the US Court of Appeals invalidated Nelson's 1922 patent, ruling that the Eskimo Pie lacked novelty and was merely a modification of an existing product. The verbal trademark "pie" was also deemed invalid due to its generic nature.
Re-entry and New Inventions
Nelson left for California and reassigned his royalty payments to his wife, Myrtle Skidmore "Skid" Nelson. In 1935, he returned to Eskimo Pie and developed new products, including a "pop-out" Eskimo Pie machine that streamlined production.
Post-World War II and Retirement
After a decline in sales during the Great Depression, Eskimo Pies regained popularity, particularly among US soldiers during World War II. Rising commodity prices in the post-war era forced the company to reduce the product's size. Nelson retired from Eskimo Pie in 1961 as Vice President and Director of Research.
Legacy and Impact
Nelson died on March 8, 1992. The Eskimo Pie brand remains widely recognized and has appeared in various forms of media, including movies and cartoons. It has even been included in the Funk & Wagnalls dictionaries. Eskimo Pie continues to produce a wide variety of frozen treats, and its legacy as a beloved invention lives on.
