Brands and inventions

When brands become words: 10 U.S. classics

Some 20th-century inventions solved real problems of everyday life, and their stories are just as surprising: like Band-Aid helping soldiers during World War II, or the Jacuzzi being created to relieve arthritis pain. Over time, many of these products became so popular that their brand names turned into everyday words. Here are 10 brand names that became everyday words.

Every small cut brings it to mind, but did you know that Band-Aid was created in 1920 by Earle Dickson, a Johnson & Johnson employee, for his wife? Josephine Dickson often got cut and burned while cooking, so Earle combined two products: adhesive tape and gauze, and the Band-Aid Brand adhesive bandage was created. One year later, 1921, they were already in stores, and in 1942, Band-Aid was the product in every soldier's kit on the front lines of World War II. One century later, in 2021, Band-Aid introduced "OURTONE" bandages, designed to better blend with brown skin tones. Today, it remains the top-selling bandage brand.

Although today they’re linked to relaxation and luxury, the Jacuzzi wasn’t originally designed for that. The story begins with seven Italian brothers who moved to California in the early 1900s. Known as the Jacuzzi Brothers Inc., they worked as inventors, developing water pumps for agriculture and engineering solutions for aviation.

Their most important invention came from a personal need. After one of the brothers’ sons, Kenneth, was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis, Candido Jacuzzi created a portable hydrotherapy pump to help ease his pain. Introduced in 1956, the device turned a regular bathtub into a therapeutic spa. In 1968, Roy Jacuzzi took the idea further and launched the first fully integrated whirlpool bath. Today, the company holds more than 250 patents, and "Jacuzzi" has become almost synonymous with whirlpool baths.

Another man who made a discovery that stood the test of time. In 1968, Spencer Silver was trying to create a super-strong adhesive at 3M (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company), but instead came up with a weak, reusable one. It could stick to surfaces without leaving marks, but at first, no one knew what to use it for.

A few years later, in 1974, Art Fry needed a bookmark that would stay in place without damaging pages. He realized Silver’s adhesive was perfect for that idea, and it quickly evolved into small and removable notes. In 1977, they were called "Press n’ Peel," but the product didn’t gain much attention until 1980, when they were relaunched as Post-it Notes and became part of everyday life.

Believe it or not, it all started with pie. The Frisbie Pie Company of Connecticut was one of the most successful bakeries on the East Coast by the mid-1900s. College students began tossing empty pie tins, shouting "Frisbie!" to warn each other, and the name stuck as the game spread across campuses.

On the other side of the country, Walter Frederick Morrison was experimenting with flying discs. Inspired by the growing fascination with UFO sightings, he designed a plastic version called the "Pluto Platter," which he was selling in Los Angeles by 1951. In 1955, Wham-O, a renowned toy brand, spotted him and brought him on board. After hearing the word "Frisbee" used by college students, the company officially adopted the name in 1957. Today, flying disc sports are played around the globe by millions of people.

During World War I, Kimberly-Clark developed crepe paper for gas mask filters. After the war, with less demand for military supplies, the company needed new uses for the material. In the 1920s, it was adapted into Kotex, offering a more hygienic option for women. It was later marketed as a "marvelous new way to remove cold cream," but, in 1927, the company suggested another use: disposable "absorbent handkerchiefs." By 1930, it was promoted as "the handkerchief you can throw away," reflecting a growing focus on hygiene and convenience. Today, it’s hard to think of tissues without calling them Kleenex.

In 1923, after seeing his wife wrap small pieces of cotton around toothpicks, Leo Gerstenzang founded the Leo Gerstenzang Infant Novelty Co. and began producing a ready-to-use cotton swab.

The product was first called "Baby Gays," then renamed "Q-Tips Baby Gays" in 1926, before being shortened to simply Q-tips. The "Q" stands for quality. It became widely popular in the 1920s–30s as a baby care product, and in 1987 was acquired by Unilever, helping expand it worldwide. Over time, the name "Q-tips" became so common that many people use it to refer to any cotton swab, not just the brand.

How did a young banjo player in Minnesota end up creating Scotch Tape? Richard Drew, who practiced the banjo in his free time, joined 3M Company (Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company) in 1923 and began working with materials in auto body shops. There, he noticed painters struggled to get clean lines because existing tape damaged fresh paint. He solved this by inventing masking tape in 1925. An early version didn’t have enough adhesive, and painters joked the company was being "scotch," or cheap; a nickname that stuck.

In 1930, Drew adapted the idea to cellophane, creating the first transparent Scotch Tape for sealing and everyday use. The product became especially popular during the Great Depression, when people used it to fix and reuse items instead of replacing them because they were rather expensive or scarce in markets.

In 1845, Peter Cooper created a powdered gelatin, but it wasn’t yet a ready-to-use dessert. Decades later, in 1897, Pearle Bixby Wait and his wife, May, added sugar and fruit flavor, turning it into what would become Jell-O. In 1899, the couple sold their flavored gelatin product and business to their neighbor, Orator Francis Woodward, for $450 because it wasn't growing.

Until Woodward then built a strong marketing campaign, using free recipe booklets and traveling salesmen to show how easy it was to make, helping Jell-O grow in popularity. By the early 1900s, it was already a household name, and today, it’s known as one of America’s most famous desserts.

Dr. Feet was a pharmacist in Lynchburg, Virginia, who opened his family-run pharmacy in 1869. He was known for creating remedies and experimenting with ingredients to help customers.

In the 1890s, he developed an early version of ChapStick. However, it wasn’t until his friends, Mr. and Mrs. Morton, who had already bought the product, refined the idea that the product took shape. Mrs. Morton melted the mixture and poured it into brass tubes to form sticks, making it easier to use and ready for wider distribution, turning the product into America’s easy-to-carry favorite for lip care to this day.

In 1959, the Xerox 914 copier was introduced, allowing people to make plain-paper copies quickly, changing office work for good. How did it all start? Patent attorney Chester Carlson created the first xerographic image in 1938. He needed a simpler way to copy documents after studying imaging processes at the public library. At first, he called his method "electrophotography," because it used light and static electricity. After being rejected by more than twenty companies, his idea was finally picked up by the Haloid Company, when a consultant suggested the name "xerography," meaning "dry writing," to replace the original term.

After the success of the Xerox 914, Haloid Company renamed itself Xerox in 1961, turning the invention into a global business. The copier quickly became essential in offices, making document duplication faster and more accessible than ever before. As the technology spread, the brand name became so widely used that "to xerox" started to mean "to photocopy," until these days.

THE PAUL AUSTER DECALOGY

Honoring the Great: 10 Books by Paul Auster Reviewed

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Paul Auster is an iconic figure in contemporary American literature and he’s celebrated for his masterful storytelling and innovative narrative techniques. His complete works include over 30 books and his career spans several decades. Auster has carved out a niche with his distinctive style, marked by existential themes, intricate plots, and a deep exploration of human identity and fate. Reality and fiction are divided by a blurred line, but the world he creates is definitely one worth immersing in.

In this article, we’ll honor his work by reviewing ten of his books like Leviathan, The Music of Chance, and, of course, the classics like The New York Trilogy. Enjoy the reading!

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This series comprises "City of Glass," "Ghosts," and "The Locked Room," and it is Auster’s breakthrough work. It’s a set of interconnected novels that blur the lines between detective fiction, existential philosophy, and metafiction.

Auster’s trilogy is a labyrinthine exploration of identity and reality. Each novel stands on its own yet interlinks with the others, creating a complex web that challenges readers to question the nature of narrative and existence. The main character’s descent into the heart of the city mirrors a journey into the self, making it a compelling read for those who enjoy cerebral and introspective fiction.

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Moon Palace is a heartrending coming-of-age tale set against the backdrop of 1960s and 1970s America. The novel follows Marco Stanley Fogg, an orphan navigating the complexities of identity and destiny. Auster intertwines Fogg’s personal journey with the broader American experience, creating a rich tapestry of historical and emotional depth.

The narrative is marked by Auster’s signature themes of coincidence and the search for meaning. Through Fogg’s encounters with a cast of eccentric characters, the story explores the intersections of fate and free will.

Moon Palace is considered a great work due to its lyrical prose and profound meditations on human connection and resilience.

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In The Music of Chance, Auster presents a compelling tale of luck, freedom, and the boundaries of human decency. The story follows Jim Nashe, a firefighter who embarks on a road trip after inheriting a large sum of money. His chance encounter with a gambler named Jack Pozzi leads to a high-stakes poker game that changes their lives.

The novel’s minimalist style and philosophical undertones highlight Auster’s exploration of existential themes. As Nashe and Pozzi find themselves imprisoned in an absurd task**, the narrative probes the absurdity of life and the illusion of control.** The Music of Chance is a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of fate and freedom.

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Leviathan is a riveting exploration of friendship, identity, and the elusive nature of truth. The novel centers on Peter Aaron, a writer who reconstructs the life of his friend Benjamin Sachs after his mysterious death. Through a series of flashbacks, Auster delves into Sach’s transformation from a celebrated author to a radical activist.

The narrative weaves both personal and political themes, reflecting on America’s social landscape. Auster’s deft storytelling and intricate character development create a suspenseful and introspective read. Leviathan stands out for its refined portrayal of the complexities of human relationships and the search for meaning in a turbulent world.

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Mr. Vertigo is a whimsical and darkly humorous tale of transformation and redemption. The novel follows Walter Claireborne Rawley, a young orphan who becomes a sensational levitator under the tutelage of the enigmatic Master Yehudi.

It is a story set in the 20th century, and it blends magical realism with a vivid depiction of American history. Auster’s narrative is rich with eccentric characters and disturbing moments. It explores themes of ambition, resilience, and the quest for identity. Mr. Vertigo is a testament to Auster’s imaginative storytelling and his ability to craft deeply affecting narratives that resonate with readers long after the final page.

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In this novel, Auster tells a heartwarming yet tragic story, that of Mr. Bones, a loyal dog on a quest to find his deceased master’s final resting peace. Narrated from the dog’s perspective, the novel offers a unique exploration of loyalty, love, and the human condition.

Mr. Bones’ journey through a harsh and indifferent world is both touching and absorbing.

Paul Auster paints an empathetic portrayal of the main character, the dog, who provides a fresh lens on themes of mortality and companionship. Timbuktu is a beautifully crafted and emotionally resonant novel. This novel is a true testimony of the author’s versatility.

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The Brooklyn Follies is a warm and witty exploration of redemption and human connection. The novel follows Nathan Glass, a retired insurance salesman who moves to Brooklyn seeking a quiet end to his life. Instead, he finds himself drawn into the lives of his estranged family and an eclectic group of Brooklynites.

This novel is particularly filled with humor and heart, it captures the vibrancy and diversity of the borough. The novel’s mixed stories reflect on the complexities of modern life and the enduring power of hope and second chances. The Brooklyn Follies is a celebration of the small joys and unexpected connections that define our lives.

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Travels in the Scriptorium is a metafictional puzzle that, once again, blurs the line between reality and fiction. This novel is centered on Mr. Blank, an amnesiac confined to a room, piecing together his identity and purpose from cryptic notes and photographs.

Auster’s minimalist style and fragmented narrative create a sense of disorientation and intrigue. The novel explores themes of memory, authorship, and the act of creation, inviting readers to question the nature of existence. Travels in the Scriptorium is a provoking and enigmatic work that showcases Auster’s skill in blending philosophical inquiry with narrative experimentation.

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We’re close to an end and Invisible needs to be part of the list. Why? Because it is a gripping tale of love, betrayal, and the puzzling truth. The novel follows Adam Walker, a young aspiring poet who encounters, by chance, a mysterious Frenchman. This encounter sets off a chain of events that will alter both their lives. The story unfolds through multiple perspectives and timelines, revealing the complexities of memory and identity.

Auster’s deft narrative structure and rich character development create a haunting and immersive reading experience. Invisible is praised for its intricate plotting and profound exploration of the darker aspects of human nature. Master of suspense, this novel portrays a deep understanding of the human psyche.

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4 3 2 1 is an ambitious and sprawling epic that explores the divergent paths a single life can take. The novel revolves around Archibald Isaac Ferguson, whose life splits into four distinctive narratives, hence the title. Each of these is shaped by different choices and circumstances.

The author deploys meticulous storytelling and rich prose full of details that bring each version to life.

The novel reflects on themes of fate, identity, and the impact of historical events on individual lives. 4 3 2 1 is celebrated for its inventive structure, which might seem difficult to follow, but it is definitely worth doing to get a profound insight into the human condition.