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What is the origin of the brand names Saran Wrap and Oral B?

Question #14824. Asked by tjoebigham.
Last updated Jun 15 2021.

Senior Moments
Answer has 2 votes
Senior Moments

Answer has 2 votes.
Oral-B is a combination of oral hygiene and the letter B, which stands for the word better.

[wackyuses.com/wf_oral.html] link no longer exists




Response last updated by gtho4 on Aug 26 2016.
Apr 18 2003, 5:19 PM
heyman
Answer has 2 votes
heyman
24 year member
33 replies

Answer has 2 votes.
Saran polyvinylidene chloride or Saran resins and films (called PVDC) have been wrapping products for more than 50 years. Ralph Wiley, a Dow Chemical lab worker, accidentally discovered polyvinylidene chloride or Saran. Ralph, a college student who cleaned glassware in a Dow Chemical lab, came across a vial he couldn't scrub clean. He called the substance 'eonite', after an indestructible material in the comic strip 'Little Orphan Annie.' Dow researchers made Ralph's 'eonite' into a greasy, dark green film, which Dow called 'Saran'. Dow later got rid the of Saran's green color and unpleasant odor.
After World War 2, it was approved for food packaging, and it was Prior Sanctioned in 1956 (Society of the Plastics Industry).

Apr 18 2003, 5:22 PM
queproblema
Answer has 5 votes
queproblema
19 year member
2119 replies

Answer has 5 votes.
I cannot believe I really did this, but....

Thanks for contacting P&G. [Incident: 080622-002676]รพ
From: P&G Consumer Relations (pggillette@custhelp.com)
Sent: Mon 6/23/08 3:12 PM
Reply-to: P&G Consumer Relations (pggillette@mailnj.custhelp.com)
To: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Thank you for contacting us! "B" stand for brush!

Have a great day!
Melissa H
Oral-B Consumer Relations

[---001:000093:09147---]

Jun 23 2008, 5:17 PM
algo291
Answer has 4 votes
algo291

Answer has 4 votes.
The Turkish word 'sarmak' mean 'to wrap'. 'Saran' is the present participle of 'sarmak'. In other words, "saran" = "wrapping" in Turkish.

May 15 2010, 9:06 AM
georginawl
Answer has 9 votes
Currently Best Answer
georginawl

Answer has 9 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
The name "Saran" was coined by my great uncle Jack Reilly who was Ralph Wiley's boss at Dow Chemical (see link http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=110&dat=19940305&id=pDRQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=yFUDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4910,5139514) and an instrumental part of the invention of Saran Wrap that we use today. It was named by combining the names of his wife Sarah Reilly and daughter Ann Reilly. Jack Reilly was a prolific inventor and was part of inventing the blue dye for Levi's jeans and devising a way to put florida in toothpaste. He also served on Dow's Board of Directors for many years.

link https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/culture-magazines/saran-wrap

1943: Silicones, pioneered by Eugene G. Rochow and Charles Reed of GE Co., and fluorocarbons, discovered by Roy Joseph Plunkett of Du Pont, were brought into use for the first time. John Reilly and Ralph Wiley of The Dow Chemical Co. completed the final work needed for introduction of Saran (polyvinylidene chloride), which had been invented in 1939. Saran monofilaments were also extruded for the first time.

John Reilly was affectionately known as Jack Reilly.

Response last updated by satguru on Jun 15 2021.
Apr 28 2012, 10:54 AM
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