# What Advertising Slogan Has Been Around the Longest? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 23, 2003, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566 "2003-04-23T12:40:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566/21 "2003-04-24T12:53:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\*I recall reading about this, and my recollection is that it’s not quite that old. The “99 and 44/100% pure” isn’t “purely made up” – it refers to the modern definition of a “soap” as “the salt of a fatty acid”, and Ivory soap is demonstrably that to better than 99%. I thought the slogan had originated in the early 20th century. \*\* **Cal** - see the link in **Umbriel** ’s post above - it is to P&G’s site and gives their history of Ivory Soap. It verifies the date, but also verifies the origin of 99 & 44/100% pure as having at least some basis in fact, which I was not aware of… And **Eve** - thank for the facts from the advertising site - very helpful. I wish you could’ve helped me find something for my [Renoir](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=178635&highlight=renoir) thread! ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566/22 "2003-04-24T14:18:39Z")
The oldest slogan? “Og say: Come to Og spear shop, buy good spear. Or Og kill you!” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566/23 "2003-04-24T14:23:50Z")
> [@](#): > > The bottoms of the sandals of ancient (@ 5000 BC) Sumerian prostitutes (I don’t know if there are any sandals extant; if there were, they probably just got stolen from a museum in Bhagdad) had embossing on the bottom which left the impression of letters in the dirt. They read “Follow me”. I’ve heard that this was the case with ancient \*Greek[/i[ sandals, from the Periclean age (much more recent that 5000 BC, for which IIRC we don’t have any Babylonian writing). I’ve seen it in several places, but the only one I can think of right now is Larry Gonick’s **Cartoon History of the Universe** , vol. I (the new Vol. I, not the old one). ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566/24 "2003-04-24T15:45:36Z")
To add to the list, since I find it delightfully old-fashioned: Bon Ami powdered cleanser has, since 1896, used the logo of a newly-hatched chick and the slogan, “Hasn’t scratched yet.” ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566/25 "2003-04-25T02:22:43Z")
> [@](#): > > 1852 - First advertisement for Smith Brother’s Cough Candy (drops) appears in a Poughkeepsie, New York paper - the two brothers in the illustration are named “Trade” and “Mark.” I have no evidence to dispute that. But the [United States Patent and Trademark Ofice](http://www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm) site is a fun place to search. Try it sometime. > [@](#): > > Word Mark SMITH BROTHERS Goods and Services IC 005. US 018. G & S: COUGH-DROPS. FIRST USE: 18770101. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 18770101 There is a picture of the famous Smith Brothers along with the application. Notice that the date of first use is **1877**. When the company applied for the trademark in 1905, the company said it was in use only since 1877. I’d love to see the 1852 ad. Not saying it doesn’t exist(it probably does). Just curious about it. **99 44/100% pure** is trademarked by P&G and they say “in use since 1882” in their application. Bon Ami said that “hasn’t scratched yet” was in use since 1901 Old Grand Dad(with picture) was in use since 1900. That doesn’t mean that the name wasn’t around much earlier. “When it rains, it pours” since 1914. “All the News that’s fit to print” since 1896. “Good to the last drop.” 1915 ---
**Author:** ![JustJoan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@JustJoan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustJoan)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566/26 "2003-04-25T03:27:54Z")
I think it would be some British concern, like Twinings Tea: “By Appointment To Her Majesty The Queen” ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566/27 "2003-04-25T03:44:23Z")
In the Kansas City area, there’s been a flurry of retro commercials. Local companies will air commercials from the late 1950s and early 1960s, complete with the cheesy jingles, vaugely hep jazzy studio music and six digit phone numbers of the day. “Hy-Vee … Hy-Vee … where there’s a helpful smile … in every aisle” (insert 1950s-sounding musicial twinkle here) ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566/28 "2003-04-25T03:53:11Z")
I built a Time Travel Machine Thingy™ and used it to go back in time to about, say 1,000,000 BC. Raquel Welch was doing a pitch for “The New Improved Spear!” I swear to og… ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566/29 "2003-04-25T06:44:37Z")
While it doesn’t even compare to most of what has been mentioned here, I was just thinking the other day that Chevy’s “Like A Rock” seems to be in it for the long Haul. I remember it from at least as far back as 10 years ago (and maybe a little longer) which seems ancient in today’s ADD advertising world. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566/30 "2003-04-25T12:20:59Z")
“My Goodness, My Guinness!” dates from the 1930s, and they’ve been using Arthur Guinness’ signature on the bottles since they started making them. I think before MGMG, they used the slogan “Drink Guinness”, which is catchy, but sort of unnecessary in Ireland. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566/31 "2003-04-25T12:25:58Z")
Guinness Is good for You. Gives you Strenght. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566/32 "2003-04-25T12:32:17Z")
the Harp and The signature combination has been in use since 1862. The fuirst national advertising campaign started in 1929 with the My Goodness, My Guinness! advert. ---
**Author:** ![hockeynut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c68b51/32.png) [@hockeynut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hockeynut)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566/33 "2003-04-25T14:06:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cisco \* > \*\*While it doesn’t even compare to most of what has been mentioned here, I was just thinking the other day that Chevy’s “Like A Rock” seems to be in it for the long Haul. > > I remember it from at least as far back as 10 years ago (and maybe a little longer) which seems ancient in today’s ADD advertising world. \*\* This is the most recent long-running ad campaign for Chevy. Prior to that we had “Baseball, hot dogs, apple pie, and Chevrolet” which followed “See the USA in your Chevrolet”. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566/34 "2003-04-25T14:11:57Z")
**The Oldest Profession[sup]TM[/sup]** ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2003, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566/35 "2003-04-25T14:17:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JustJoan \* > \*\*I think it would be some British concern, like Twinings Tea: > “By Appointment To Her Majesty The Queen” \*\* Not continuously. That would only date to 1953; for fifty years prior to that, it would be “By Appointment to His Majesty, the King” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Reckon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@Ms.Reckon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Reckon)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2003, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566/36 "2003-04-26T21:33:57Z")
**RealityChuck** - Wrong. Twinings was established 1706. They changed the slogan from King to Queen at Victoria Regent and just left it there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-advertising-slogan-has-been-around-the-longest/170566.md?page=1)