A cookery book published in 1822 by the English food writer William Kitchiner gave a recipe for fried potatoes, sliced about ¼" thick. This is often cited (particularly by UK sources) as the invention of the potato crisp – and the recipe was replicated in American cookbooks published in 1824 and 1832. Crum however is said to have sliced the potatoes "razor–thin" to appease a customer who kept sending his fried potatoes back, complaining that they were too thick. They were apparently known as "Saratoga chips" in the USA until well into the 20th century.
According to a US advertising campaign of 1973 (for a company that made packets for potato chips/crisps) Crum's customer was the shipping and railway magnate, and noted philanthropist, Cornelius Vanderbilt.
© Haydn Thompson 2017