McDonald’s Mystery: The Dark History and Forgotten Legacy Of Everyone’s Beloved Burger Joint
The Beginning Of The End: Meet Ray Kroc
After serving as a Red Cross ambulance driver in World War I, Ray Kroc ventured into various jobs, including a 17-year stint as a paper cup salesman for Lily Tulip Cup Company. In 1954, he worked as a traveling milkshake machine salesman when he crossed paths with Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California.
The brothers bought eight of Ray’s Multimixers, each costing $150—a steep price at the time. These five-spindle machines could whip up multiple shakes simultaneously. “He was a very aggressive guy,” Richard recalled in 1991, noting that Kroc’s assertiveness left a lasting impression.
Next: Ray’s lightbulb moment!
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