BROOKLYN – In the 1950s, when television watching began, people left the dining room, but still wanted to eat “properly” in a civilized way. The people of American aspiration, namely upper middle class Americans, ate at dinner tables, a habit of generations, the emblem of upward mobility and respectability. RadioMORE HERE
Seald Sweet is promoting its history for its 110th year. MORE HERE
Perhaps one of the better paper brands was Boise Cascade. It, according to the Boise website, became a craft paper brand in 1958 in Wallula, Washington. Over the years, the brand grew, with plants across the country. It was tied together, with all sorts of other lumber businesses, into aMORE HERE
PALMETTO – Across the U.S., there is no shortage of run-down small and medium-sized towns that used to be far more prominent than they once were. Through most of the 20th century, these towns and small cities often had regional brands connected to them, the most prolific being agricultural produceMORE HERE
So this is one brand that we don’t want to see back on the shelves. Back then, pet food was sold both for dogs and cats. While we’re not sure Horse Meat would sell (and its apparently not legal in the U.S.) the dual use pet food might be interesting.MORE HERE
Remember Interwoven Socks? They were one of the nation’s top sock brands, and were part of Kayser-Roth. This ad is from a 1968 Esquire, but by the mid 1970s, Interwoven was known for much more, including the John Newcombe tennis brand. Interwoven was part of Kayser-Roth, which still exists inMORE HERE
We came across another great old brand. Jack Tar Marine Finishes marine paint. It’s made by BLP Mobile Paints of Mobile, Alabama. The Mobile Paint Company made “Southernized” coatings in Mobile, Alabama’s waterfront district. They developed special formulas for the “subtropical” region and still have a “Caribbean Division.” Mobile PaintMORE HERE
We were thinking of great brands related to lighters. Of course there is Zippo, which has done an aggressive and smart job of keeping an anachronistic brand alive at a time when folks don’t smoke as much as they used to. One other brand is Ronson, the flint and lighterMORE HERE
At home, in a sewing kit, I noticed a handy little brand many have forgotten is still around. Dritz. It’s part of the great pantheon of sewing brands, some over a century old. Brands like Singer, The McCall Pattern Company, Coats & Clark and Talon Zipper. And of course thereMORE HERE
SARASOTA – At the Mote Marine Aquarium here, there is a small cabinet of shark repellent brands. During World War II, the Navy tried to come up with ideas, and numerous brands were launched. They didn’t survive. Apparently, certain copper compounds do chase away sharks, but there has never beenMORE HERE