SHALL WE TALK ABOUT Q TIPS?

Lindsays Grandma · ‎03-10-2010

The name certainly rolls off the tongue better than the general cotton swab name, that's for sure.

How was the Q Tip first conceived? Leo Gerstenzang observed his wife stick a bit of cotton to a toothpick and decided she had the right idea and he improved on it in 1923 when it became known as the "Q Tip," the Q standing for the word "Quality." And there we have the "Q Tip."

Originally named "Baby Gay's." The first three years the cotton swabs were called "Baby Gay's," which was later modified to become "Q-Tip Baby Gay's." Down the road they dropped "Baby Gay's" altogether and were just left with "Q-Tip."

So there we have another story my sister in Florida passed on to me, which I in turn have just passed on to all of you.

The moving finger writes; And having writ, Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line Nor all your Tears Wash out a Word of it. Omar Khayam

Foxxee · ‎10-03-2014

That's interesting toothpicks came before Q-tips. To think Q-tips might not have been invented without them.

Q-tip became the generic name for cotton swabs.

"Genericization:"

A brand name becomes so popular and commonplace, it's used generically.

Other examples of genericization.

Thermos

Popsicle

Laundromat

Aspirin

TV Dinner (What Swanson named its frozen dinners.)

Velcro

Plexiglass

Zipper

Crock-Pot

Post-It-Note

Escalator

Vaseline

Kleenex

Zerox

Bubble Wrap

Photoshop

Band-Aid

Dumpster

Chapstick

iPod

Jacuzzi

Cellophane

App (Apple coined the word "app" for application.)

Fiberglass

Astroturf

Lindsays Grandma · ‎03-10-2010

@Foxxee ...I have to congratulate you for how quickly you entered the names of other examples of generalization. Interesting though, isn't it?

The moving finger writes; And having writ, Moves on: nor all your Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a Line Nor all your Tears Wash out a Word of it. Omar Khayam

AnjalenaQVC · ‎07-21-2018

Moved:

This post has been removed by QVC because it contains a link.

ValuSkr · ‎03-15-2014

I think it was good they dropped the Baby Gays part.

I've bought store-brand cotton swabs and they aren't as good as the J&J product - they bend more easily. But they're cheaper and that's important too.

Sweetbay magnolia · ‎04-14-2013

I'll share this with my husband. He goes through those things like crazy, and it has to be the real thing. He will not stand for any imitation!

When he's down to several hundred he asks me to get back up.

Cogito ergo sum

amyb · ‎04-05-2010

@Foxxee Thanks for that list! I always find it interesting, and the sign of true success in your field when your brand name becomes the name everyone uses for the product itself! I was amazed at how many there actually are. Thanks for posting that.

For some reason, that I maybe made up in my own head...I thought Apps were just short for "application."...not Apple related?

candys mine · ‎08-20-2012

@Foxxee It's funny how the Brand names become universal. I had a translation book where one of the questions was "Do you need a Kleenex?" In Every language it was Kleenex Except for English. In english it was Facial Tissue. Some sort of copywrite thing.

Isn't App short for Application?

How about

JELL-O

mamaslittlepotato · ‎03-09-2010

For years I thought all pork roll was actually Taylor Ham.

Foxxee · ‎10-03-2014

@candys mine wrote:
@Foxxee It's funny how the Brand names become universal. I had a translation book where one of the questions was "Do you need a Kleenex?" In Every language it was Kleenex Except for English. In english it was Facial Tissue. Some sort of copywrite thing.
Isn't App short for Application?
How about
JELL-O

@candys mine

Yes, but Apple was the first to call them Apps. Jello is another good example.