Modern Day Staple

Toilet Paper

Hubby and I went grocery shopping today, and of course had to buy toilet paper. That thing that is a staple for us, but hadn’t been back in the old west. Personal rant here—but I know the rolls keep getting smaller and smaller, even the ones manufactures claim are double or triple the average size.

 

Here are a few other tidbits about toilet paper:

The average American uses about 100 rolls of toilet paper a year.

Manufactures say an average roll of toilet paper lasts five days. (Manufactures have never visited my family, or we are above average.)

In the late 1500’s, when paper became more available, it began to take the place of rocks, stones, sponges, shells, corn cobs, and other various tools that were customarily used for ‘cleaning up’.

Toilet paper, i.e. paper manufactured specifically for ‘cleaning up’ was invented around 1880 by the British Perforated Paper Company and sold in boxes of individual square sheets.

Tiffany’s was one of the first stores in America to carry Woman’s Elegant Stationary directly imported from Europe, and it became such a rage, others soon followed. 

Around 1890, Scott’s Paper Company made the first rolls of paper used for such reasons.  

The Waldrof brand of toilet paper came about because the Scott’s Paper Company convinced the highly regarded and well-known hotel that toilet paper was something no other hotels had and that their customers would appreciate it. (The sales pitch worked and soon Scotts was selling to hotels across America. Other hotels were also able to brand the paper with their name.)

Toilet Paper was an ‘unmentionable’ product, and many were too embarrassed to ask for it by name, so shoppers would merely need to say, ‘Two please’, and the clerks knew what they needed. 

It was so unmentionable, Scotts wouldn’t put its name on the package, hence the various ‘hotel’ brands, they also had many other ‘private’ label brands. 

To keep things discreet, toilet paper was packaged and sold in brown paper.  

Early on, rolls of toilet paper were known to have splinters in them, many complaints and infections encouraged manufactures to find ways to break down the wood fibers more thoroughly. 

In 1901 Northern Paper Mills from Wisconsin introduced its version of toilet paper, which came complete with a wire through the center of the roll so it could be hung on a nail. 

By 1911 Scotts Paper Company had eliminated all the ‘private brands’ and put their name on their products. 

In 1928 the Hoberg Paper in Wisconsin introduced a line of toilet paper. Their logo, a woman’s head on a cameo pin had been designed to appeal to the woman’s fashions of the day. A female employee remarked that the design was ‘charming’ and the name Charmin was born.

1932 Charmin introduced the four-roll package, making it a convenient bundle for purchasers. 

On a separate note:

My next book, Married to Claim the Rancher’s Heir, will be released on February 1!

To claim his heir…
…he must marry his enemy!

Gabe Callaway is outraged when feisty Janette Parker lands on his doorstep with her orphaned niece—though he soon realizes little Ruby is heir to his ranch! If Janette wants money, he’ll pay her off to keep the little girl in her rightful place. But all Janette wants is Ruby… Will Gabe do whatever it takes to claim his heir—even marry Janette?

 

AND on a completely separate subject that has nothing to do with this blog, but because everyone in my household is still cheering....

GO VIKINGS!

BRING IT HOME!!