77 Business History Trivia Questions with Answers
77 public questions with answers, drawn from the well. How many can you answer?
Business history trivia examines how companies, inventions, industries, and commercial practices changed over time. The questions move from the Dutch East India Company’s early share issuance to the rise of department stores, fast-food chains, automobiles, aviation, and consumer technology.
Expect landmark firsts and dates: Toyota introduced the Prius in 1997, Pan Am launched the first widely recognized frequent flyer program in 1981, and Ford pioneered a moving assembly line for automobile production in 1913. This topic is well suited to history classrooms, business courses, pub quizzes, and game nights where players enjoy linking famous companies with the innovations that made them influential.
Which company, founded in 1602, is considered the first to issue shares of stock to the public?
Answer
Dutch East India Company
Which company introduced the first moving assembly line for mass-producing automobiles in 1913?
Answer
Ford Motor Company
Which company introduced the first portable electric drill in 1917?
Answer
Black & Decker
Which company was founded in 1904 by Charles Rolls and Henry Royce?
Answer
Rolls-Royce
Which company was founded by King C. Gillette in 1901?
Answer
Gillette
Which company was founded by James Dole in 1901 as the Hawaiian Pineapple Company?
Answer
Dole Food Company
Which company invented the first digital camera in 1975?
Answer
Eastman Kodak
Which bank installed the world's first ATM in London in 1967?
Answer
Barclays
Which company was founded by William Procter and James Gamble in 1837?
Answer
Procter & Gamble
Which company was founded by Soichiro Honda in 1948?
Answer
Honda
Which company was founded by Gary Kildall to develop the CP/M operating system?
Answer
Digital Research
Which chocolate company was founded by Milton S. Hershey in 1894?
Answer
The Hershey Company
Which coffee company was founded in Seattle in 1971?
Answer
Starbucks
Which retail corporation was founded by Sam Walton in 1962?
Answer
Walmart
Which fast-food chain was founded by the McDonald brothers in 1940?
Answer
McDonald's
Which company was founded in 1884 as the National Cash Register Company?
Answer
NCR Corporation
Which company opened the first true supermarket in 1930 in Queens, New York?
Answer
King Kullen
Which retailer launched the first mail-order catalog in 1872?
Answer
Montgomery Ward
Which healthcare company was founded in 1886 by Robert Wood Johnson and his brothers?
Answer
Johnson & Johnson
Which motorcycle manufacturer was founded in 1903 by William Harley and Arthur Davidson?
Answer
Harley-Davidson
Which company became the world's first billion-dollar corporation at its formation in 1901?
Answer
United States Steel Corporation
Which company delivered the first commercial electronic computer, the UNIVAC I, in 1951?
Answer
Remington Rand
Business History trivia — quick answers
What are good business history trivia questions?
Strong business history questions focus on pioneering companies, inventions, products, industries, and commercial milestones. Useful examples include who introduced the first mass-produced hybrid car, which company created a moving automobile assembly line, which airline launched a frequent flyer program, and which retailer is associated with the first department store.
How hard is business history trivia?
Business history trivia is usually medium difficulty because it combines familiar brands with precise dates and historical context. Players may recognize Toyota, Ford, White Castle, or Pan Am but still need to remember which innovation each company introduced. Questions about early corporations and industrial technology are generally more demanding.
Which company introduced the Toyota Prius?
Toyota introduced the Prius in Japan in 1997. It became the first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle, combining a gasoline engine with an electric motor to improve fuel efficiency. The Prius later gained international attention and helped make hybrid technology a familiar part of the modern passenger-car market.
Which company introduced the first moving assembly line for automobiles?
Ford introduced the first moving assembly line for mass-producing automobiles in 1913 at its Highland Park plant in Michigan. The system reduced the time required to assemble a Model T and helped lower production costs. Its influence extended beyond automobiles, shaping modern factory organization and mass production.
Which company introduced the first portable electric drill?
The first portable electric drill is generally credited to Black & Decker, which introduced a handheld drill in 1917. Its pistol-shaped design was inspired by the form of a handgun and made drilling more practical outside a fixed workshop. The invention helped establish the modern market for portable power tools.