Dubious China Business Stories of Old China #1 – Chewing Gum Sales in 1925

Now and again short, but rather strange, stories that seem somewhat improbable appear in the American newspapers in the 1920s and 1930s. Below is one on supposedly boosted chewing gum sales in China. Unlikely this was anything spectacular if anything at all. Mostly I suspect admen and boosters like Carl Crow and others in Shanghai either working for the gum manufacturers or touting for their business. They most probably planted these stories and an American media – eager for free content and fun stories to catch the readers eye as well as (as Crow would constantly remind us their dreams of 400 million customers in China) lapped them up…

But maybe I’m wrong, maybe everyone was chewing gun strolling through Peking’s hutongs and climbing up Chungking’s steps?…