Trade Names that Became Generic

[Flivver]

I was thinking recently about Golden Era trade names that became generic names for an entire category of goods. Some that come to mind are:

Victrola - for any phonograph or talking machine

Kleenex - for any facial tissue

Frigidaire - for any electric refrigerator

There must be many others. Does this practice still occur today?

 

[dhermann1]

In Britain Hoover actually became a verb.
Q-tips.
Styro Foam, for any polystyrene material.

Hmmmm . . . . .

Lemme think some more. I'm sure there are others.

 

[rmrdaddy]

Band-Aid
Clorox

 

[DerMann]

The hard rubber material used in fountain pen bodies and feeds is often referred to as Ebonite even though Ebonite is a specific brand name.

Not sure if it's the right time period, but a Coke for any type of soft drink.

A Biro for a ball point pen (Biro was the bloke's last name, not so much a brand).

 

[LizzieMaine]

Aspirin was a registered trademark of the Bayer concern in the US until that company's assets were seized as war booty by the US Government during WW1. It then became a generic term in the US - but is still protected in Europe.

Xerox has become a generic term for "photocopy."

"Ditto machine" was a generic for any sort of mimeograph, although it probably has meaning only to those of us over 40.

Kodak was used as a common term for any cheap camera during the Era, along with the verb "to kodak," meaning to take snapshots, but you rarely if ever hear those terms now.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Xerox has become a generic term for "photocopy."

"Ditto machine" was a generic for any sort of mimeograph, although it probably has meaning only to those of us over 40.

Interesting note...in Portuguese (Brazilian) the verb 'to photocopy' is xerocar...


and I remember ditto machine...but then again I am pushing the 40 mark in 2 years...so probably count as old...


Another one...but again it's in Brazil....Gillette is the de facto name for any razor.

 

[BellyTank]

Acme, anti-brand

Acme became an anti-brand.
It became so heavily used in the '20s and '30s, that it became a joke,
a cliche, an anti-brand, later, the mail order company Wile E. Coyote bought
his explosives, rocket skates and giant rubber bands from.
Warner's generic brand. They used Acme brand supplies in the animation dept.

THE Generic and fictitious brand.

Like that 555 California phone number.

They make a good anvil.


T
N
T

 

[Smithy]

Back home in NZ the brand name "Jandal" became the generic word used for flip-flops/thongs.

I would've thought BT would've got that one

 

[BellyTank]

Probably Durex (the contraceptive device and a generic name used for other brands)but then again, in some countries,
Durex is a brand of self-adhesive tape. Ask someone who isn't aware of this, for Durex tape and they may well give you a strange look, whilst they pause, trying to draw a mental image.


B
T

 

[Miss Neecerie]

Wite-out....for corrective fluid for typewritten copies...in the US.

Of course this is now obsolete as well....

 

[Smithy]

A couple more from NZ...

Sellotape for sticky-tape
Gladwrap for that see-through plastic wrap for keeping food fresh.

And an Aussie one for good measure...

Esky for a cooler box.

 

[BellyTank]

A couple more from NZ...

Sellotape for sticky-tape
Gladwrap for that see-through plastic wrap for keeping food fresh.

And an Aussie one for good measure...

Esky for a cooler box.

Smithy, I left the Jandals for you.

Lotta Glad in Scandinavia, the branding works well.

Bin Chilly in Norway?

B
T

 

[Smithy]

Bin Chilly in Norway?

That was good

Just got back from a week in Bodø, fishing and visiting the in-laws, much fun.

Summery here, definitely jandal weather.

 

[BellyTank]

Wite-out....for corrective fluid for typewritten copies...in the US.

Of course this is now obsolete as well....

In NZ, corrective fluid used to carry the generic term TWINK, due to a locally available brand.
I've been away for many years but I'd hazard a guess, that other uses of that term may have put an end to it. There are a few, apparently-

"Borrow your Twink, mate?"


B
T

 

[Fletch]

Walkman, back before the iPod, came to mean any dual-earphone handheld radio or tape player.

iPod either totally dominates its market or else has become a generic term for "mp3 player." Anybody see a Zune, Chocolate, Rio etc. in use and think "there's an iPod"?

Warner's generic brand. They used Acme brand supplies in the animation dept.

Acme was the industry's favorite animation camera.

 

[Smuterella]

I don't even call my iPod an iPod, his name is PeaPod, he is green.

 

[Miss Neecerie]

A couple more from NZ...

Sellotape for sticky-tape

Scotch tape in the US.....


and Elmers....for any white glue..

 

[BegintheBeguine]

Jell-o for gelatin.
People still ask to 'borrow' Wite-out. Yes, you may borrow the bottle but don't use any. People also want to borrow tape. Or a postage stamp. Ugh.
Dramamine.
Pepto. They mean Pepto-Bismol or anything to soothe their tummy.
I didn't know Styro Foam and Sellotape were brand names, nor about Aspirin!
A Ziploc.

 

[Sarge]

Nerver really thought about how many of these genericized brand names there are out there. When ya give it a think there are quite a few.

Scotch Tape: Clear tape
Saran Wrap: Plastic Wrap
Chapstick: Lip balm
Windex: Glass and window cleaner
Porta Potti: Portable toilet
Vaseline: Petroleum jelly
Wite-out: Correction fluid
Thermos: Vacuum flask
Brillo Pads: Scouring pads
Post-it note

 

[Flivver]

I thought of another, from the early 1950s...Hydra-Matic.

GM's Hydra-Matic, first used on the 1940 Oldsmobile was the first successful fully-automatic transmission. By the early 1950s, when most cars offered an optional "automatic shift" it was common to ask "Does that car have a Hydra-Matic?"...even if it was a Ford with Ford-O-Matic or a Buick with Dynaflow.