You'd Never Guess What They Started With! The Unexpected First Products of Famous Brands

Ever heard the expression, "Don't judge a book by its cover"? The same could be said for some of the world's biggest brands. While we know them today for their iconic products and services, their origins might surprise you.

Starting from modest beginnings with surprising initial products, these companies have undergone remarkable transformations to become the household names we recognize today.

Let's take a trip down memory lane.

Samsung: 1938 - Dried Fish & Noodles

Long before smartphones, Samsung started trading noodles and dried fish.

Sony: 1946 - Electric Rice Cooker

Sony's first foray into electronics was with a simple, yet essential, electric rice cooker.

Apple: 1976 - Apple I computer

The tech giant we know today began with the Apple I, a bare-bones computer for hobbyists.

Nokia: 1865 - Paper

This telecom titan's roots lie in the humble beginnings of a paper mill.

Canon: 1934 - Kwanon

Before cameras, Canon's first product was the "Kwanon," a prototype for a 35mm camera.

LG: 1947 - Lucky Cream (Face Cream)

This electronics giant began its journey in the beauty industry with "Lucky Cream," a face cream.

Nintendo: 1889 - Hanafuda Playing Cards

Long before Mario and Zelda, Nintendo entertained families with Hanafuda playing cards.

LEGO: 1932 - Wooden toys

The iconic plastic bricks we know today were preceded by simple wooden toys from LEGO.

Toyota: 1924 - Type G automatic loom

Toyota helped automate the textile industry with the Type G automatic loom, way before they entered the car domain.

BMW: 1916 - Aircraft engines

This luxury car manufacturer first took to the skies, producing aircraft engines.

Honda: 1947 - Motorized Bicycle

Honda's journey began with attaching motors to bicycles, creating an early form of motorized transport.

So next time you see a familiar logo, remember that even the most iconic brands started somewhere – often with a product far different from what they're known for today.

Image credits: Wikipedia, LG, Canon, Reddit, National Air and Space Museum