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 thread!
The oldest slogan?
“Og say: Come to Og spear shop, buy good spear. Or Og kill you!”
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).
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.”
I have no evidence to dispute that. But the United States Patent and Trademark Ofice site is a fun place to search. Try it sometime.
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
I think it would be some British concern, like Twinings Tea:
“By Appointment To Her Majesty The Queen”
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)
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…
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.
“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.
Guinness Is good for You.
Gives you Strenght.
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.
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”.
The Oldest Profession[sup]TM[/sup]
Not continuously. That would only date to 1953; for fifty years prior to that, it would be “By Appointment to His Majesty, the King” 
RealityChuck - Wrong. Twinings was established 1706. They changed the slogan from King to Queen at Victoria Regent and just left it there.