The Birth of an American Brand
In 1890, Charles Knox developed the world's first pre-granulated gelatine. He had watched his wife go through the long and difficult process of making gelatine and resolved to find an easier method. He experimented until he found a process that resulted in a product that was superior to any on the market. As his granulated gelatine steadily gained popularity with homemakers, it began to revolutionize gel cookery.

The Napoleon of Advertising
In addition to developing the KNOX gelatine product, Charles Knox was a skilled marketer and promoter of the brand. For example:

• During the William Jennings Bryan - William McKinley presidential campaign of 1900, Charles Knox got permission from the Commissioner of Highways to hang fifteen political banners over the streets of New York with the words "Hopes to Win" under each candidate, and across the top: "Knox's Gelatine Always Wins." City officials were irate, but Knox had the permit to hang the banners and declined to remove them. The story, of course, made every newspaper in the state and led to Charles Knox becoming known as "the Napoleon of Advertising."

• In 1906, Charles Knox made the news once again, this time with "New Celestial Yacht," an airship he named "Gelatine", one of the very first motorized balloons. Knox appeared in air shows from coast to coast, making headlines and breaking records.

• In addition to an already famous string of race horses, Knox purchased Anaconda, "The World's Fastest Race Horse." He renamed the horse Gelatine King and raced it against many of the prize-winning horses of the day. In 1904, Knox offered the horse as a prize in a contest for grocers.

Mrs. Knox Takes Over the Reins
By the time of his death in 1908, Charles Knox was the leading manufacturer of unflavored gelatine in the world. Although his wife Rose was not as flamboyant as her husband, she had always been an important part of the success of KNOX Gelatine. In fact, it was her delicious recipes which had been used to promote KNOX Gelatine, and which had introduced home economic teachers everywhere to the benefits of granulated gelatine.

When Charles Knox died at age 58, he left his wife to run the largest gelatine manufacturing company in the United States. So, at the age of 50, Mrs. Knox became head of an important business, at a time when few women were even in business at all. Assuming responsibility for KNOX Gelatine, she reevaluated her husband's business methods and elaborate advertising stunts. Gelatine, she reasoned, was bought and used by women; and women were more interested in foods that were economical, nutritious, and easy to prepare. She set up an experimental laboratory and developed hundreds of recipes which were printed on KNOX packages, on leaflets, and in illustrated cookbooks. They also appeared in newspapers and magazines under the heading "Mrs. Knox says...."

One of the Six Greatest American Women
Mrs. Knox operated the company for more than 40 years. Under her able direction, the company expanded enormously. She became America's foremost woman industrialist and the first woman to be elected director of the American Grocery Manufacturers Association.

In September of 1922, the Pictorial Review ran a guessing game describing the six greatest women in America. This was one of the descriptions:

"American women actually lead the procession when it comes to women of striking business ability. There are many of them. But one stands out as unquestionably entitled to be called great. There is scarcely a housekeeper anywhere who is not familiar with the name of the business she conducts, who does not use the product she makes. When we use these products and enjoy them do we know that the genius of an American woman is responsible for them?"

The answer, of course, was Rose Knox.

End of an Era
Mrs. Knox died in 1950 at the age of 93. Her dedication to the company was evidenced by the fact that she was still serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the time of her death. The Knox founders, Charles and Rose Knox, left behind a rich legacy. They were benefactors of the local high school, churches, YMCA, Johnson Hall state historic site, and other community causes, including the establishment of a home for elderly women.

James Knox Takes The Helm
Rose Knox was succeeded by her son, James E. Knox. James had been active in the company since 1913, when as a 20 year old he began to familiarize himself with every aspect of the business. In the course of a year and a half, he "worked every machine in the place." More importantly, he got to know personally all the employees and their families.

James Knox believed that the business could be no stronger or better than people's opinion of it. Throughout his career, he often traveled to stores and conventions, making it a point to keep in contact with grocers. James became legendary for his dedication to the business, spending about five months of the year on the road. Given his diligence, the company continued to perform well. Even during the Depression, the company grew at a rate of about five percent a year - no easy feat for those days!

Heritage of Innovation
Under James Knox's direction, the company also continued its heritage of innovation. By the late 1920s, Knox had produced the first pharmaceutical gelatine, used mainly to encapsulate vitamins and medication. These were the first "gel caps." It was also about this time that James Knox was responsible for the development of a "plasma extender" at the Knox Laboratories. This intravenous solution was used as a blood plasma substitute during World War II, and saved many lives.

John Knox, Grandson of Founder, Takes Over
When James Knox died in 1958, his son became president of the company. Carrying on the family tradition, John Knox continued to provide consumers with recipes and information about KNOX products, but he also developed new ones that focused on diet and nail care. The Knox Eat and Reduce Plan and Knox Drink for Nails proved to be popular with the growing number of health conscious consumers.

John Knox also maintained his company's high standards of quality. And through the years, beginning way back in 1890, quality gelatine has always been synonymous with KNOX.

The KNOX Healthy Tradition Continues Today
More than one hundred years since the brand was first introduced, KNOX Unflavored Gelatine is as timely as ever. As a low-calorie, pure-protein food, it fits perfectly into modern lifestyles as an essential ingredient for light, healthful cooking.