In 1926, in Providence, chimneys smoked day and night: the docks teemed with activity, textile mills set the pace of life in the working-class neighborhoods, and the scent of cotton and paper permeated the streets. It was in the business registry of this Rhode Island city that a new company was registered on January 8th: Hassenfeld Brothers. Behind it were Herman, Hillel, and Henry Hassenfeld, three Jewish brothers of Polish origin. Like many other Jewish families from Eastern Europe, the Hassenfelds had arrived in the United States seeking work, stability, and the chance to start over. Providence seemed to offer them just that. Their first business was modest. They bought and resold fabric scraps, a product with a low profit margin but high demand. Over the years, the business grew, and the brothers got to know suppliers and explored new sales channels. This led them to a conclusion: the key wasn't just marketing, but manufacturing. They got to work and, within a few months, they were already producing pencil cases and all kinds of school supplies. It seems strange, but that's the seed of the Hasbro toy empire, one of the world's leading brands in the sector. With names like Monopoly, Mr. Potato Head, Risk, Nerf, Play-Doh, Transformers, and My Little Pony in its catalog, in 2024 it generated nearly $4.2 billion in revenue worldwide and directly employed more than 6,000 people. But how did the three brothers go from selling pencil cases to becoming a toy giant?