Karhu dominates the 1952 Helsinki Olympics with 15 gold medal-winning spikes, including those of Emil Zatopek. Karhu’s international reputation for technical expertise establishes the company as the world’s leading manufacturer of athletic shoes.

Karhu sells its three stripes trademark to a now well-known athletic shoe company that still uses it to this day. The price? Two bottles of good whiskey and about 1,600 euros.