Monkey Brand Soap

In the days before Mr. Clean, there was Monkey Brand. Though it seems an odd choice for whatever ad man thought this up to figure that people would associate a grinning monkey with clean dishes.

Source: Sketch Magazine, April 1908

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Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over forty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. Contact Us

Posted By: Alex - Sat Feb 21, 2015
Category: Advertising | Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods | 1900s

Comments

Ah 'speck sum Yankee dun maid that'air drawin' 'cause Ah no fur a fact sum folks what got themselves kilt fur a-warshin' out a proper kurred skillit.

Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 02/21/15 at 10:40 AM

Now I remember Monkey Grip tire patches but no Monkey Brand scouring whatever.

Posted by Huntceet on 02/21/15 at 04:32 PM

I'm a little bemused by the big bold "WON'T WASH CLOTHES" at the bottom.

I also had the same reaction as Expat, thinking that cleaning a cast iron pan to gleaming is far from desirable.

Posted by Miles on 02/21/15 at 09:36 PM

Besides getting pans clean, it also straightens the end of their handles.

Posted by ges on 02/21/15 at 11:41 PM

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