Pears’ soap has a well-deserved reputation for being a high-quality soap. It also enjoys the notoriety of being the first mass marketed transparent soap. Originally billed as the “English Complexion Soap,” Pears’ soap has been a leading contender in the bath soap arena for more than 225 years. As enduring as the soap itself has

The little Fisk Tire Boy was created in 1907 by an artist working for the advertising agency retained by Fisk Rubber Corporation.  The artist, Burr E. Giffen, was only eighteen years old.  He drew a sketch of a little boy wearing one-piece sleeper pajamas, and yawning very wide.  In one hand he held a candle,

During the ’50s and ’60s, hundreds of different branded picnic coolers were produced. These metal coolers came in different sizes, and some featured bottle openers on the unit. One of the most popular brands emblazoned on these vintage coolers was Coca-Cola. Collectors of this line of coolers seek out specific variations in the text included with

During the economic boom of the 1950s, companies enhanced the design of plenty of practical products to attract new customers and inspire existing customers to upgrade. Bell System nearly missed its mark, finally introducing the Princess telephone in 1959. It would be Bell’s first real foray into widespread marketing, with a product created primarily for

By the early ’30s, Powel Crosley Jr had already built cars and radios. His foray into household appliances started with the Icyball, a refrigerator that was powered by kerosene rather than electricity. It was the Shelvador, though, that would make him millions, while an industry eagerly awaited its chance at the same success. The story

For centuries men have given something to their bride-to-be, (besides just grief), but it  wasn’t always a ring. Even if it was, it wasn’t necessarily a diamond. Prior to the 20th century, an engagement gift might have been a thimble (in lieu of jewelry), or, near the end of the 19th century, a  posy ring (a simple gold band

I didn’t think anything of it when I clicked on #Velveeta–a trending topic on Twitter today. Needless to say, imagine my surprise when I learned that Kraft Foods has announced that there’s an honest-to-goodness Velveeta shortage. Me? I didn’t think such a thing was possible. I mean, not that I’m questioning the amount of actual

In the 1920s, Clarence Birdseye developed a quick freezing process in order to preserve foods without heavily compromising flavor. In quick freezing, food is frozen very fast, so only tiny ice crystals have a chance to form. While many companies attempted to make ready-made meals, it took nearly thirty years to see real success. That’s

In an effort to re-energize it’s long-lasting brand, Coca-Cola took one of the biggest risks in consumer goods history on April 23, 1985. That’s the day the company introduced “New” Coke, unprepared for the consumer firestorm it would trigger. I remember that week well. Still able to leave school grounds during lunch hour, friends and

In honor of this Easter Sunday, I wanted to share my all-time favorite Easter TV commercial. This M&M’s ad spot ran in 1984.   Ah, the memories…