# What ONE PRODUCT comes to mind when you think 1950s? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 8, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855 "2014-02-08T20:44:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/21 "2014-02-09T01:28:10Z")
Mercurochrome. Mother used to paint us up as “Indians” in “War Paint”. Which does not even come close to explaining why it was the first thing which popped into mind… My mind was once a beautiful thing - now it needs not only new paint, but new… ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/22 "2014-02-09T01:31:04Z")
A toaster. I blame [Fallout: New Vegas](http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Toaster_%28Old_World_Blues%29). ---
**Author:** ![nevadaexile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb8c5e/32.png) [@nevadaexile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevadaexile)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/23 "2014-02-09T01:38:37Z")
Winston cigarettes [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/_9o5i9eNPhY/hqdefault.jpg "Winston - Taste Good Like A Cigarette Should!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9o5i9eNPhY) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/24 "2014-02-09T01:41:30Z")
[Brylcreem](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brylcreem) (Without reading any other responses.) Age 51 - Canada ---
**Author:** ![pohjonen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pohjonen/32/423_2.png) [@pohjonen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pohjonen)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/25 "2014-02-09T01:58:25Z")
Luster Creme shampoo in a jar. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/26 "2014-02-09T02:00:26Z")
As a guitar guy I think of the first generation Fender Stratocasters. First year 1954. Personally, I prefer the late sixties models but many Strat fans consider the late 50s models to be the ultimate. [Example](http://www.vintageandrare.com/uploads/products/37038/1294971/original.jpg) Also as a car guy the late fifties Chevy Bel Airs. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/27 "2014-02-09T02:29:54Z")
> [@River\_Hippie](#): > > As a guitar guy I think of the first generation Fender Stratocasters. First year 1954. Personally, I prefer the late sixties models but many Strat fans consider the late 50s models to be the ultimate. > > [Example](http://www.vintageandrare.com/uploads/products/37038/1294971/original.jpg) > > Also as a car guy the late fifties Chevy Bel Airs. I forgot to give my age. 56 (born 1957). As a knife collector I think of the pre-ban Italian switchblades, particularly Latamas, [Coricamas](http://people.delphiforums.com/AUTOKNIFE/My_Knives/coricamas_1a.jpg) and Edwin Jays. As a motorcycle guy I think of the [Harley-Davidson Sportster](http://www.ovelhanegra.com.br/XXCentury/images/HD-XL883-Sportster-1957.jpg), first year 1957. ---
**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/28 "2014-02-09T02:59:15Z")
Jello. It just seems 1950ish. I was born in 64 in Illinois ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/29 "2014-02-09T03:06:00Z")
Brylcreem. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/30 "2014-02-09T03:22:14Z")
I am sixty. I think of [Farfel the dog](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZi2og1YQJA): N E S T L E S Nestles makes the very best _chocolate!_ ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/31 "2014-02-09T03:39:40Z")
Born in '54 in SoCal. The very first item that comes to mind is a TV set. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/32 "2014-02-09T04:09:03Z")
The prevailing response in the other thread (to-wit: Elvis) would be an appropriate answer here too. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2014, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/33 "2014-02-09T04:20:12Z")
Interesting replies. I see about 3\* minor trends, but not like in Zeldar’s person thread. - brylcreme, hula hoops, cigs. I’m surprised by the cigs, but it makes sense. ---
**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:** [February 9, 2014, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/34 "2014-02-09T04:24:43Z")
My initial thought was Tang, but upon Googling it, apparently it was introduced in 1959, so it’s not much of a 50s product. My runners-up would be Brylcreem, Lucky Strikes and convertibles. 39, MI. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/35 "2014-02-09T04:39:08Z")
Boomerang Formica. Child of the 70s, Tx. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/36 "2014-02-09T04:49:07Z")
Without looking at other replies – onion dip. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/37 "2014-02-09T05:18:08Z")
I am a magistrate. Almost 50, born and raised in NE Ohio. TV dinners were the first thing to pop into my head when I saw the thread title: [Request Rejected](http://blog.americanhistory.si.edu/.a/6a00e553a80e108834014e8c3a18a2970d-500wi) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/38 "2014-02-09T06:55:13Z")
The 1957 T-bird. Also coon-skin caps, transistor radios, Jello molds, stereo LPs and traditional roller skates. 68, N.E. Ohio. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/39 "2014-02-09T13:00:10Z")
Hula hoops. Then yo-yos. I actually thought of cars with distinctive body designs like tail fins, but that’s not really a product as much as a changing style of an existing product. Hula hoops were invented in 1958 so they barely got into the fifties. Yo yos were around in ancient Greece. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2014, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855/40 "2014-02-09T13:59:16Z")
I would say “television”. The '50s is when they started appearing in ordinary homes, and the country began to see itself reflected in the light of the tube. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-one-product-comes-to-mind-when-you-think-1950s/680855.md?page=3)