In 1939 Hyman Gulker pawned his prized pocket watch for $50 and gave the money to his son-in-law and daughter, Israel and Pearl Stern. Israel had been selling vacuum cleaners door to door for a number of floor care companies, but with their $50 gift he and Pearl were able to launch their American Dream: The Metropolitan Vacuum Cleaner Company. It was a bold move because Israel was a very successful salesman. So good, in fact, that the President of the last company he worked for offered him $100 to return. “Nothing doing,” declared Pearl. “We’re on our own now!