A lot has changed since 1886. I'm glad they decided to keep the slogan on the can for old time's sake. What it means is that when chicks first come out of the eggs, it is a little while before they 'scratch' - before they begin to use their claws to rake the bedding material. Chickens spend a lot of their time scratching up the soil for food, and probably that first scratching is an innate knowledge of what they need to do to survive.
So, for a product that promises not to scratch your sink, this is the perfect saying. There's a nice page about the company here.
I've read that more people in cities and bigger towns are raising chickens now, so maybe the saying will be better understood in the populace. I certainly didn't know what it meant until we began keeping chickens all those years ago. Incidentally, we have new chickens arriving in May. I've written about the experience here on the blog.
I live in town and wish I could have chickens. One of these days I might. I agree that there are lots of sayings that will go by the wayside.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe it - 'by the wayside' is another old saying that I thought of writing about. Great minds, Lisa. You would love chickens. The Dominiques that we have are gentle natured, not fussy, long lived, with marvelous eggs.
DeleteThere used to be a time when my Mum and I seriously thought about having chickens. But where we live - my parents' flat is on the top floor of a house with 12 flats, and mine is on the middle floor in a house with 3 - it is simply not feasible. Also, I am away so often, both for work and for spending weekends with my man, that I would always need someone else to look after them.
ReplyDeleteYes, neither of those are ideal situations. I wonder if anyone has them on allotments.
DeleteI recently purchased a cleaning product called Bar Keepers Friend. I registered the name as being ‘rather odd’ but thought if it cleaned as well as it said it would I would be perfectly happy. I’ve used it and continued to think what an odd name but hadn’t thought to look it up until reading your post – this is what I found -
ReplyDeleteThe Bar Keepers Friend logo represents the swinging doors of a saloon. According to the president of SerVaas Laboratories, Paul SerVaas, although some people complained during prohibition, the name was never changed. It's been Bar Keepers Friend since 1882.
So now I and you both know and it’s all thanks to your post.
Have a lovely week.
PS Bar keepers Friend cleans just about anything and made a great job of my taps. (This is not an advert, and I’m not being paid to recommend it – just an observation) :-)
Thank you so much! I loved reading this, and will pick some up the next time I'm in the store! I love the logo story.
DeleteSo many sayings and expressions do not make sense any longer - with todays phones, not many hang up anylonger.
ReplyDeleteMargaretha
That's right! No slamming down that phone in anger. ;<))
DeleteI still use that! And oh indeed urban chickens are not uncommon in Eugene. There's even a store specializing in everything chicken not too far from the center of downtown!
ReplyDeleteYes, we do, too. I love it that there are chickens there!
DeleteNan, I often look up vintage ads — they read like picture stories.
ReplyDeleteThey really do.
DeleteHa! I did not know that. I always enjoy when products give a nod to times past. Vintage logos are just a little more fun and interesting than current ones.
ReplyDeleteProbably the current ones will be vintage someday!
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