1850 American Gold Tycoon

"Mr. Pinkerton, your job has come."

Liang Yao said to Pinkerton.

Coney, his assistant, was robbed in broad daylight in New York, and it would be unjustifiable for him to stand idly by.

It just so happens that we can take this opportunity to test Pinkerton's business capabilities.

"I am happy to oblige. I guess this is your assistant Mr. Kony?"

Pinkerton's eyes lit up, he shook hands with Coney and said.

"Mr. Coney, Pinkerton Detective Agency is very honored to serve you, but after the money is returned, we need to take 30% of it as commission."

"Thirty percent?"

Kony almost jumped up. This is 40,000 US dollars, and 30% is 12,000 US dollars. It is a huge sum of money. This person is too greedy.

"Of course, you can also refuse our service, report to the New York Police Department, and seek help from the New York police. You are a New Yorker. I believe you know better than me what the New York police are like." Pinkerton said, "Look for New York police, you may not get a cent back."

"Thirty percent is thirty percent." Coney could only blame himself for his bad luck and agreed to Pinkerton's request. "But how long will it take for you to get the money back?"

How long it will take to get the money back is Kony's biggest concern.

"This kind of small matter only takes a day or two. Your matter is much easier than what Mr. Liang told me." Pinkerton said with great confidence.

Pinkerton had handled many similar cases when he was a police detective in Chicago, and he was already familiar with this kind of cases.

Erics and Yin Sak came to Doyle's cafe to meet Liang Yao as scheduled. Yin Sak's patent lawyer Edward also came with Yin Sak.

Edward has many identities. In addition to being the most famous patent lawyer in New York, he is also a speculator on Wall Street, but his recent speculation has not gone well.

During the gold turmoil some time ago, he was also one of thousands of gold speculators. He lost a lot of assets in the process of speculating on gold.

Of course, Edward came here today as Yin Sak's partner and the largest shareholder of Singer Brothers.

Edward had a vague hunch that this meeting was likely to subvert the sewing machine industry in the United States and even the entire world.

His sense of smell has always been very keen, and he trusts his own judgment.

Liang Yao would not buy all of Walter's patents for no reason, nor would he award the first prize of Liang Yao's Invention Award to the sewing machine patent for no reason.

This rich man must be optimistic about the sewing machine industry and want to enter the sewing machine industry!

The sewing machine industry is owned by the three of them. Losing patent ownership means that they will have to pay corresponding patent fees for every sewing machine they produce in the future.

The current selling price of sewing machines is generally US$75 per unit, and the patent fee is 20% of the selling price, which means that for every sewing machine produced, they have to pay a patent fee of US$15.

Patent fees are a huge expense for them.

Sewing machines are very profitable, but after deducting patent fees, the remaining profits are not that impressive.

Thinking of this, they all felt frustrated, and the originally bright road to wealth suddenly became gloomy.

"Mr. Liang, do you have anything to do with us?"

Alex asked.

Erics didn't know what Liang Yao wanted to do with them.

The patents related to the sewing machine have been completely transferred to Walter's name, and all of Walter's patents have been bought out by Liang Yao.

Liang Yao is a person of status and there is no need to quarrel with them over the sewing machine patent.

"If you were given a choice, would you choose to remain a shareholder of a small factory owner or choose to become a giant in the sewing machine industry and become a shareholder of the largest sewing machine manufacturer in the United States?"

Liang Yao said calmly.

Erics, Yinsak, and Edward are not ordinary people, and they have good vision and ability.

If it weren't for Liang Yao's sudden emergence, according to the trajectory of history, Yinsak would have continued to make Singer Brothers bigger and stronger and become a world-class sewing machine giant.

Even in the 21st century, the sewing machines produced by Singer are still the leaders in the industry.

The sewing machine industry has created three multi-millionaires in the United States, and they are now sitting respectfully in front of Liang Yao.

When Yinsak died in 1875, he had accumulated a fortune of US$15 million and was ranked among the top 100 richest people in the United States.

Erics is slightly inferior, but his assets have also reached the level of tens of millions of dollars.

As for the remaining one, Edward Clark, Insac's patent lawyer and the largest shareholder of Singer Brothers, when Clark died in 1882, his property reached an astonishing US$40 million, which was more than Insac's and Singer's. Erics's total is even more.

"You want to enter the sewing machine industry?" Yinsak was a little surprised.

The sewing machine industry is still an unknown emerging field. Even the largest sewing machine manufacturers themselves have no idea how big this market is.

"You were born in Oswego, New York. You left home when you were twelve and became a failed actor. Finally, you moved to a factory in Pittsburgh to repair machines. Fortunately, you are very talented in this area. Pittsburgh saved a fortune.”

Liang Yao stared into Yin Sak's eyes and said.

"Later, you designed a new printing press. You were very optimistic about the future prospects of the printing press and opened a factory in New York to prepare the printing press.

Unfortunately, a big explosion occurred in the factory's boiler. The big explosion destroyed your entire factory and killed more than a dozen workers. At the age of thirty-nine, you became penniless again, until one day you made a I came into contact with the sewing machine patent in a dishonorable way and saw business opportunities again. "

Liang Yao's words were heart-breaking and touched Yin Sak's pain point. Yin Sak's body trembled uncontrollably.

"How do you know this?"

Yinsak held up the coffee cup with trembling hands, took a sip of coffee and asked.

"How I know this is not important. What is important is that you are very lucky to have met me. I am willing to give you a chance. I will now acquire your factory, merge your factory and inject capital to become the largest in the world." Sewing machine factory.”

The purpose of Liang Yao calling them to Doyle Cafe was to buy their factory.

Singer Brothers and Bridgeport Machinery Company are the only two companies in the United States with experience in mass production of sewing machines. Starting in 1850, these two factories began to produce hand-operated sewing machines for the home market.

The factories of both companies have ready-made production lines and skilled workers, and the management also has rich management experience. Even the three of them have experience in marketing sewing machines.

Edward, in particular, is not only good at patent companies, but also good at advertising and raising funds.

A considerable part of the success of Singer Brothers was due to Edward's contribution.

This is also the reason why Edward has made more wealth than Yinsak in this industry.

Liang Yao can also choose to build his own production line to produce and sell sewing machines.

But there was no convenience or hassle compared to the outright acquisition of Singer Brothers and Bridgeport Machinery.

Problems in factories and production lines are easy to solve, but management and marketing personnel are a headache. After all, sewing machines are a new gadget with a high price, so it is not easy to sell them.

If these people can be used to their advantage, these problems will be solved.

After all, they have proven their ability historically.

"Of course, you can also choose to refuse my friendly acquisition, but I have to remind you that I have all the patents for sewing machines. If you want to continue to make money in the entire industry, the sewing machines you produce are by no means my opponent. Wait. There is only one outcome for you, and that is bankruptcy."

Liang Yao glanced at the three people, who had different reactions. Edward and Erics were ready to make a move, but Yin Sak was still hesitant and continued to add fuel to the fire.

"At that time, there is only one result waiting for you, and that is bankruptcy and nothing."

This is not because Liang Yao is alarmist.

The patent fees in the United States are astronomical, which is why many patent owners have succeeded in setting up factories themselves.

As long as you have the patent in hand, you can strangle your competitors by the throat and block their lifeblood.

Without patents, patent costs can only be passed on to consumers, but consumers are not fools. Most consumers will definitely choose cheaper products when faced with products of the same quality.

Especially for high-end durable goods such as sewing machines, which are very expensive, many families may not be able to buy them more than once in their lifetime.

If Liang Yao stopped manufacturing sewing machines himself, neither Singer Brothers nor Bridgeport Machinery would have room to survive.

“What will we gain if we agree to be acquired by you?”

Edward, who looks gentle in business affairs, asked bluntly.

How much tangible benefit he can gain from this acquisition is what he is most concerned about.

"The combined company will still be run by the three of you. Each of the three of you will receive 10% of the shares. I think you should know that what I want is not a small factory with tens of thousands of dollars, but a millionaire investment." The big dollar factory.”

Liang Yao called Doyle, asked Doyle to refill his cup of coffee, and then continued.

"There are more than 4 million families in the United States. As long as one-tenth of them buys 400,000 of our sewing machines. If we can open the European market, the prospects are limitless. Do you want to become a giant in this industry, or do you want to be like me?" It’s your choice to pay patent fees and survive.”

Liang Yao’s calculations are still very conservative. In the future, sewing machines, as “messengers of civilized society,” can be seen from prosperous New York, London, and Paris to jungle-covered Central America and even as far away as Madagascar. "The figure.

Sewing machines were also one of the first American industrial products to enter the world. Even the American Civil War failed to stop the expansion of Singer Brothers.

By 1865, Singer Brothers had established branches in 29 countries, with sales of $4.2 billion.

This is just the sales of Singer Brothers, not counting other American sewing machine manufacturers.

The huge profits in the sewing machine industry can be seen in general.