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How good were they and where are they now?


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#1 KarlLeFong

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 03:08


While reading old motor sports magazines, I often become fascinated by advertisements for weird and wonderful products. Almost all claim "amazing" resuts for very little conventional hard work, preparation and cost.

While not strictly motor sport, I am interested to know if any of them were actually any good and what happened to these "miraculous " productst over the years.

Here are a couple of examples

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Anyone have any ideas?

Karl



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#2 B Squared

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 03:51

I don't know if it is the same company, but they have the Valspar name. I believe they are a major paint supplier to Lowe's.

http://valsparglobal.com/

#3 Stinky

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 04:04

Hi All;
Might be a bit off topic but Valspar marine paints and varnishes were top line stuff.
The clear varnish was great,easy to apply,not prone to brushmarks or runs and did not yellow in sunlight.
If you put a few coats on and rubbed back between coats with fine wet and dry paper you would end up with the classic grand piano finish!! :D
One of those too good to get wet looking boats.
Especially on red cedar with ash trimming.
Cheers.
Roger.

#4 RogerFrench

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 04:05

Goodlass,Wall and Co were a big paint maker in Liverpool when I was a Midshipman and Deck Officer in the Merchant Navy many years ago. The company was bought by Beckers and I really don't know much about them today.
I saw an Austin Seven 2-seater hand-painted, painstakingly, with Valspar and it was superb, though I suspect that may have had a lot to do with the workmanship.

#5 john medley

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 07:17

There was, of course many a product promoted by your Fearless Steely Eyed Firm Jawed Racing Driver -- but never one so illustrious as Somebody-or-Other's Nerve Nuts ( a Real Tonic!) in the 1920s/30s in Australia. I havent time at the moment to locate an ad and an endorsement for the remarkable Nerve Nuts, but I am sure Brian Lear can

#6 Sharman

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 08:28

Valspar....the Special builders friend. it really did work on steel but was not great on ali or fibreglass.

Edited by Sharman, 01 February 2011 - 08:29.


#7 f1steveuk

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 09:41

Valspar was certainly being used on Rolls-Royce cars when I did my apprenticeship, whic ended in 1984.


At home I have, still in their sales packaging, a set of four alloy tyre valve caps that can be set to whistle when they reach a certain pressure. They look mid 50s, and on the other side of the coin, I have never seen them advertised anywhere!

#8 baz

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 11:33

There was, of course many a product promoted by your Fearless Steely Eyed Firm Jawed Racing Driver -- but never one so illustrious as Somebody-or-Other's Nerve Nuts ( a Real Tonic!) in the 1920s/30s in Australia. I havent time at the moment to locate an ad and an endorsement for the remarkable Nerve Nuts, but I am sure Brian Lear can

Hean,s Nerve Nuts......the Rolls-Royce of nerve foods and tonics. Invaluable in the treatment of nervous breakdown, insomnia, neuritus, anaemia and kindred ailments. 3shillings per box. works for me!

#9 KarlLeFong

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 12:14

Hean,s Nerve Nuts......the Rolls-Royce of nerve foods and tonics. Invaluable in the treatment of nervous breakdown, insomnia, neuritus, anaemia and kindred ailments. 3shillings per box. works for me!


Totally confused

#10 Tony Matthews

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 13:02

Hean's Nerve Nuts......

I have two Nerve Nuts - I'm saving them for a rainy day.

#11 alansart

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 13:27

I have two Nerve Nuts - I'm saving them for a rainy day.



An umbrella is much more practical!

I was looking through the digital versions of 60' & 70's Motorsport Magazine over the weekend. Some of the old ads are interesting. Some products have stood the test of time. Others haven't.

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#12 RTH

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 13:45

In the 1960s there were still huge number of pre-war cars in daily use. 1950s cars also often had paint that deteriorated quite quickly and unitary bodies pressed from thin gauge steel with no reverse side coating went in to holes after a few years.
Professional resprays were very expensive and brush painting your older car in Valspar became very common practice and the name very well known... Done really well it did give a deep gloss appearance, from a distance.
Apart from that brushable enamel type paint they also made conventional cellulose to be thinned and sprayed.

Edited by RTH, 01 February 2011 - 13:48.


#13 Allan Lupton

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 13:54

From my experience of the product Valspar, the 2-4 hour lacquer, was a good example of the advertising of the time. Even in summer we reckoned the "-" was incorrect and it should have been "the 24 hour lacquer" as it stayed tacky as long as the traditional park bench paint - and was still soft for weeks afterwards.

#14 KarlLeFong

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 22:04

An umbrella is much more practical!

I was looking through the digital versions of 60' & 70's Motorsport Magazine over the weekend. Some of the old ads are interesting. Some products have stood the test of time. Others haven't.

Posted Image


Exactly what I mean Allen - was it any good and did it stand the test of time?

And what of the alcholol water injector? Did Alvis really fit them on their cars? - seems like a waste of alcohol to me!

Karl

#15 elansprint72

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 22:17

Totally confused


That's because you did not take your Nerve Nuts.

Try these:

Posted Image


#16 Geoff E

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 22:24

Ah yes, colloidal graphite ... in water it was AquaDAG, in oil it was OilDAG http://www.processlu...ents/Oildag.pdf

#17 fbarrett

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Posted 01 February 2011 - 22:38

Apart from some of the strange products, I've always found the old graphics and language of such ads fascinating.

Frank

#18 KarlLeFong

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Posted 02 February 2011 - 00:18

Colloidal graphite sounds rather unpleasant, unlike Bile Pills which sound like fun.

Here is another from 1954 - how many engines did it wreck or did it actually work? - after all it was "from England"

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Karl

Edited by KarlLeFong, 02 February 2011 - 00:32.


#19 Allan Lupton

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Posted 02 February 2011 - 07:44

Here is another from 1954 - how many engines did it wreck or did it actually work? - after all it was "from England"

Posted Image

Probably a diabolical plot to wreck Oz engines so that the poor colonials would buy more new cars (from England).


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#20 stevewf1

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Posted 02 February 2011 - 07:56

That's because you did not take your Nerve Nuts.

Try these:

Posted Image


Yikes! That sounds almost more offensive (to others nearby) than White Castles & Beer...



#21 f1steveuk

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Posted 02 February 2011 - 09:42

A largish advertising card (10x5ish) given to me by Mrs Goldie Gardner,

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Never heard of it, and never seen any!

#22 KarlLeFong

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Posted 03 February 2011 - 09:22

Probably a diabolical plot to wreck Oz engines so that the poor colonials would buy more new cars (from England).


I tink so....a Ford Consul or a Morris Oxford ..cars to die for .if you couldn't afford a powerful Vanguard
Karl

#23 MatthewMagilton

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Posted 03 February 2011 - 11:59

I can remember seeing an add for goggle wipers which were driven by a little propeller mounted on the helmet, but blowed if I can find it now.

Matthew.

#24 kayemod

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Posted 03 February 2011 - 13:12

That's because you did not take your Nerve Nuts.

Try these:

Posted Image


As a very small pre-school child back in the early 50s, I used to love those Bile Beans ads painted on the walls of buildings, but I thought they all referred to my favourite TV character of the time Billy Bean, minor spelling deviations weren't terribly significant to a four or five year old back then, and I suspect even less to today's Playstation generation.

I can even remember some of Billy's signature tune.

Billy Bean built a machine, to see what it would do.

He made it out of sticks and stones, and nuts and bolts and glue.

The motor ran, chuggalabang...

At this point, you may be relieved to hear that my memory failed me.

#25 h4887

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Posted 03 February 2011 - 15:24

I have two Nerve Nuts - I'm saving them for a rainy day.


Try planting one - you might get a Nerve Nut tree, it could keep you going for years!
When I said 'keep you going'... :(


#26 elansprint72

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Posted 03 February 2011 - 15:34

Rob....... yoo-hoo......

www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/tv/children/other/billybean.htm

Can't get the link thingy to work, so copy and paste.

#27 kayemod

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Posted 03 February 2011 - 15:49

Rob....... yoo-hoo......

www.whirligig-tv.co.uk/tv/children/other/billybean.htm

Can't get the link thingy to work, so copy and paste.



Ah! In a phrase no doubt uttered frequently by TNFs, "That takes me back!"

Following your link, I was amused to note that one of the voices on Billy Bean was done by someone with the rather unfortunate christian name of 'Gaylord'. I wonder what he's doing today, though on second thoughts, maybe not.

#28 Amphicar

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Posted 03 February 2011 - 16:08

Pale cheeks? breathlessness? a general feeling of weariness? depression of spirits?
No - not typical TNF ennui brought on by the thought of another season of Bernie's Follies - these are sure signs that you need...

Iron Jelloids!

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#29 Amphicar

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Posted 03 February 2011 - 16:19

Colloidal graphite sounds rather unpleasant, unlike Bile Pills which sound like fun.

Here is another from 1954 - how many engines did it wreck or did it actually work? - after all it was "from England"

Posted Image



Karl

Pellets through the plughole eh?
Posted Image
Viagra is for wimps!

#30 kayemod

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Posted 03 February 2011 - 17:42

Pellets through the plughole eh?
Posted Image
Viagra is for wimps!


"For all the good those things did, I might as well have stuck them up my ..."


#31 KarlLeFong

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Posted 03 February 2011 - 22:53

Another amazing device from 1956 - don't see many around these days though!

Posted Image


Karl

#32 elansprint72

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Posted 03 February 2011 - 23:15

Sticking radium up one's jaxy was never going to be a good plan, Shirley?

The Twin-Port device looks to have some merit, however. Presumably the "red bit" is actually the end of the exhaust? I'd have to get my slide-rule out to see how much it might help but I can't help thinking that a circular device around the exhaust would be more efficient.
Strangely, only today, I was in discussion with a Senior Captain, flying 757s, whose fleet is being retro-fitted with winglets to try to eliminate dirty air and save fuel. Me; I'd fit a Gurney-flap and tighten my goggles. :smoking:

#33 h4887

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Posted 03 February 2011 - 23:21

I can't help thinking that a circular device around the exhaust would be more efficient.


Congratulations, you have just re-invented the Peco Exhaust Extractor! :wave:

#34 Bloggsworth

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Posted 03 February 2011 - 23:48

Molyslip you can still buy, but it is getting harder and harder to make, as the particular grade of oil used is in very short supply as the distil so little of it they do it less and less often as it is barely viable.

#35 elansprint72

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Posted 03 February 2011 - 23:49

Congratulations, you have just re-invented the Peco Exhaust Extractor! :wave:


Really? Basic laws of physics.  ;)

#36 RStock

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Posted 04 February 2011 - 00:53

Colloidal graphite sounds rather unpleasant, unlike Bile Pills which sound like fun.

Here is another from 1954 - how many engines did it wreck or did it actually work? - after all it was "from England"

Posted Image



Karl


Something like that is still available

http://www.cpillinoi...-automotive.htm

#37 johnny yuma

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Posted 04 February 2011 - 04:42

Somewhere I have a small add from a 1940s magazine for a graphite grease product.
A dark skinned girl with a big white smile beams beside the product with her name,
"Lubra Kate" ,giving a jokey hint as to the product's use.Quite non-PC now I'd guess...

#38 gtsmunro

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Posted 04 February 2011 - 07:10

Hi All;
Might be a bit off topic but Valspar marine paints and varnishes were top line stuff.
The clear varnish was great,easy to apply,not prone to brushmarks or runs and did not yellow in sunlight.
If you put a few coats on and rubbed back between coats with fine wet and dry paper you would end up with the classic grand piano finish!! :D
One of those too good to get wet looking boats.
Especially on red cedar with ash trimming.
Cheers.
Roger.

If their British arm was good, their Australian arm was third world by comparison in the 80's. We used Valspar polyurethane, enamels and acrylics on aircraft (and other equipment and vehicles) for 40 years until recently. Basically it was a low grade industrial paint. If you wanted a good finish, you bought elsewhere.
We once did a tour of the old manufacturing plant in the late 80's. When we got there, there were two big kiwi's dumping bags of lime into a vat with no protection. That was just the beginning. The entire plant was dodgy back then. Paint running into can's shared the same runner so if they were pouring red then white, they'd mix. There was a huge pipe running into the Parramatta river out the back!!! God knows what used to flow through that!! Obviously their new plant fixed those problems.
However by the 2000's they were trying to get out of supplying aircraft paint so when it was time re-negotiate the contract, they hiked the cost significantly hoping to scare us off. Our management said 'ok, we'll pay it' and they continued to supply us until last year.