# "Onan" generators...wtf? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 9, 2011, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041 "2011-08-09T05:54:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/21 "2011-08-09T22:11:16Z")
Thread moved from GQ to MPSIMS. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/22 "2011-08-10T00:48:50Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > How in the world did they get away with it? Probably by hiding under the blankets with a \*Playboy \*and a flashlight like we all… wait… what was the question again? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/23 "2011-08-10T17:48:28Z")
So that’s the explanation for that sign I see at a shop and yard in a nearby industrial area! I was amused and puzzled by the name, but any time I remembered to do a google search for it, I was at work and didn’t think I ought to type that name into my browser. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/24 "2011-08-10T18:10:53Z")
IKEA sells a computer desk, where a lot of people can do heavy “thinking” while visiting “websites for mature people.” Its name? **Jerking**. Yeah I know that “j” is probably a “y” sound. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/25 "2011-08-10T19:18:42Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > IKEA sells a computer desk, where a lot of people can do heavy “thinking” while visiting “websites for mature people.” Its name? **Jerking**. > > Yeah I know that “j” is probably a “y” sound. Close. My Google-fu says it’s actually **Jerker**. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/26 "2011-08-10T19:53:13Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Close. My Google-fu says it’s actually **Jerker**. Ah, minnets envishet. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/27 "2011-08-10T20:03:05Z")
My onan generator is slightly calloused and located at the end of my right arm. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/28 "2011-08-10T20:25:11Z")
Onan is a Turkish surname. It has a separate etymology from the Hebrew name. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/29 "2011-08-10T21:20:11Z")
I wonder if they have any at the Siemens place in [Staines](http://www.cylex-uk.co.uk/company/siemens-building-technologies-ltd-16840172.html), Middlesex. ---
**Author:** ![punch\_line\_loser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e7dd6/32.png) [@punch\_line\_loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/punch_line_loser)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/30 "2011-08-11T02:41:01Z")
Wanna guess who’s the #1 seller of RVs in Indiana? **Tom Raper.** Wanna know how I know? Because all along the interstate in Indiana there are literally dozens of signs advertising **Tom Raper RV**. I swear to Christ, one of the signs simply said **Raper! Raper! Raper!** and listed a phone number. So the point is, does Onan sell generators in Indiana? I can see Mr. Raper getting his power from Onan. ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/31 "2011-08-12T17:04:55Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Even worse, its [Cummins-Onan.](http://www.cumminsonan.com/rv/) 😃 Onan: Hey! How come YOUR name goes first? Cummins: And make it Onan-Cummins? Onan: … ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/32 "2011-08-12T17:21:38Z")
> [@punch\_line\_loser](#): > > Wanna guess who’s the #1 seller of RVs in Indiana? **Tom Raper.** Wanna know how I know? Because all along the interstate in Indiana there are literally dozens of signs advertising **Tom Raper RV**. I swear to Christ, one of the signs simply said **Raper! Raper! Raper!** and listed a phone number. > > So the point is, does Onan sell generators in Indiana? I can see Mr. Raper getting his power from Onan. I so want to see a pic of these billboards. It also reminds me of a USENET distributed list of student paper mistakes from 20+ years ago that included mention of the invention of the “McCormick raper” that could “do the work of ten men”. Har! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2011, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/33 "2011-08-12T18:21:05Z")
In an Orlando cemetery I have seen the tombstone of a couple: Raper-Farless. (I imagine, than the McCormick Raper would.) ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/34 "2011-08-14T02:09:53Z")
Anybody looking at the ADS under this thread? -Ask an Onan Mechanic -Top 5 Onan Generator -Ask an Onan Technician Oh, GOLLY, the potential there!! (especially Door #3!) ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/35 "2011-08-14T02:25:23Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Well somebody is obviously getting some practice in beforehand. And also probably bebackhand too. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2011, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/36 "2011-08-14T10:42:20Z")
I thought it was a song by Stephen Bishop. On and on and I feel like crying… ---
**Author:** ![delusionallinnea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@delusionallinnea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delusionallinnea)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/37 "2011-12-15T02:51:03Z")
HOLY SHIT YOU GUYS ARE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED. This is MY family you are talking about… it was my great grandfather, David Onan, who invented one of the first electric generators. Obviously our name has nothing to do with the bible, ITS JUST A NAME. We pass on the name because we are proud of the things our family has accomplished. (Probably way more than your family ever will.) Cummins bought over the company… the names are unrelated. DO SOME RESEARCH DIP-SHITS. k thanks bye. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/38 "2011-12-15T02:58:03Z")
It’s a joke. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/39 "2011-12-15T02:59:08Z")
Guess it didn’t all get spilled. ---
**Author:** ![delusionallinnea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@delusionallinnea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delusionallinnea)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2011, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041/40 "2011-12-15T03:01:13Z")
I can’t believe how STUPID humans are. If any of you want to actually know about the Onan name, heres our family website: [www.onanfamily.org](http://www.onanfamily.org) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/onan-generators-wtf/592041.md?page=3)