# Johnson's Car Nu

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnsons-car-nu/821303>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 13, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnsons-car-nu/821303 "2018-09-13T21:56:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\
**Post date:** [September 19, 2018, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnsons-car-nu/821303/21 "2018-09-19T18:17:22Z")

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> [@Johnny\_L.A](#):
>
> {…} Well… we knew it was no earlier than 1940 from the copyright. The plastic cap that **crowmanyclouds** noticed seems anachronistic.

Given that I’d think the labeling might have changed over the decades between prewar packaging and whenever plastic bottle caps became common; my bet is old bottle new cap to replace the old metal one that rusted out.

I’d also note that that cap looks like it’s a childproof one that’s been modified, which would put the cap even closer to now than whenever plastic bottle caps became common.

CMC fnord!

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnsons-car-nu/821303/22 "2018-09-21T20:04:21Z")

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Here’s the reply from my follow-up question:

> [@](#):
>
> Please know Johnson’s Carnu with the specific label design shown in the picture you provided, was available in brown bottles until roughly 1944. We believe the red cap is original to your bottle of Carnu, as these caps were made from Bakelite - the first synthetic plastic commercially available.

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**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\
**Post date:** [September 21, 2018, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/johnsons-car-nu/821303/23 "2018-09-21T21:24:56Z")

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In the 30s & 40s, colored Bakelite was used in many household objects - appliances, kitchen tools, radios, etc. and is notorious for fading so I think your bottle was kept out of direct light for a long time.

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