Trade Names that Became Generic

[Miss Neecerie]

Needed to be said.....

"Why this car is automatic
It's systematic
It's hydromatic
Why it's greased lightning (Grease lightning)"




Goes back away now...

 

[Mike in Seattle]

One of the most iconic - Levis for jeans. And now, Dockers for almost any casual to dressier casual type of non-denim trousers.
Coke for almost any carbonated soda.
Hellman's or Best Food for mayonnaise.

 

[BegintheBeguine]

Dumpster!

 

[Lefty]

Stetson for most hats - especially cowboy hats

Scope

many perscription medications end up being known by their most famous maker - witness Viagra.

 

[Luddite]

How about Zeppelin? And in Golden Era Britain, 'Handley-Page' was used as the generic name for any large aircraft. Aga is used as the name for any solid-fuel stove, and Fairy liquid for washing-up liuqid. But I think the most universal is Petrol - the tradename for Carless' motor spirit.

 

[Charlie Noodles]

In Australia felt-tip pens are often called textas. Any vaguely country-styled hat can get called an Akubra.

 

[Brinybay]

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

Only in the southern US. That confused the hell out of me when I was in Louisiana for military training in the early 70s. When I went to the PX, a buddy asked me to get him a "coke". When I came back w/o it because they didn't have any "coke", he got po'd because I had a "coke" (a Nesbitt's orange pop). And on the east coast, they call them all "sodas".

 

[Lefty]

zippo

 

[Miss Sis]

I was going to mention Asprin but LizzieMaine got there first!

One for the Kiwi boys:

Janola for bleach.

Now I live in the UK, even I say "I'll just Hoover the carpet..." instead of vacumm. Sad!

Oh, just thought of another - Cellophane! It was originally thought it would be used as a food wrap.

 

[Smithy]

One for the Kiwi boys:

Janola for bleach.

Good one Miss Sis!

Oh, just thought of another - Cellophane! It was originally thought it would be used as a food wrap.

Memories of Standard 2 art class come flooding back

 

[DeaconKC]

"baggie" for any plastic bag for food.

 

[EMTech]

How about:

Shop-Vac for any vacuum for the workshop or garage

SkilSaw for any hand-held circular saw

 

[Luddite]

I've just come back in from the garage, where I was using Molegrips and Allen keys...

 

[EMTech]

Just thought of a few more:

Vise-grips for any locking pliers

Dremel or Moto-tool for any rotary tool

Cresant wrench for any adjustable wrench

 

[Mike in Seattle]

Just thought of a few more:

Vise-grips for any locking pliers

Dremel or Moto-tool for any rotary tool

Cresant wrench for any adjustable wrench

Sawzall for any power saw you want to use to make a quick cut or tear something down.

I wonder if "bulldozer" was a product or company name...

 

[MikeBravo]

Oh, yes

Caterpillar for earthmoving equipment. I believe that escalator (those moving walkway things) and Restaurant (a broth or soup) were both brand names

I'm sure there's plenty more

 

[dahliaoleander]

Bic - Lighter/ Razor

Marlboro - Cigarette

Bud - Beer

Ball Park - Hot dog

Kraft - Cheese.

Aqua Net - Hairspray
( 3ft can .89 cents! and that's the little one!) :lol

Kotex - Pads (Been in use since the 20's or so)

Heinz - Ketchup

French's - Mustard (maybe not so much)

But I know that at least in my circle if someone has a really bright smile we call them "Colgate". *Kohl-gah-teh*

So..

Colgate - Toothpaste

 

[Quigley Brown]

Frisbee
Coke
Milkbone

 

[cookie]

Rinso

My wife said that she was surprised after seeing an old Rinso sign on an old movie that this product had disappeared from sale in Australia...so much an integral part of out growing up...

 

[Smithy]

A few of my British mates call all cigarette rolling papers Rizlas. And a lot of Kiwis will call them simply Zig-Zags.