Armor All is a line of car care products manufactured by American company Armored AutoGroup of Danbury, Connecticut….whose sprays, gels, liquids and wipes are specifically designed to clean, shine, and protect most interior and exterior automobile surfaces. The company that became Armor All was started in 1972 by entrepreneur and marketer Alan Rypinski….which Rypinski sold all of the rights to the Armor All brand name and protectorant to McKesson Corporation….the San Francisco-based consumer products company in 1979….the same year this tv ad aired first.
Bengay, spelled Ben-Gay before 1995, is an analgesic heat rub used to temporarily relieve muscle and joint pain associated with arthritis, bruises, simple backaches, sprains and strains….as Ben-Gay was developed in France by Dr. Jules Bengué….and brought to America in 1898. The name Bengué was anglicized to Ben-Gay. It was originally produced by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare….and then was acquired by Johnson & Johnson. The product is used topically for adults and children 12 years of age and older, and no more than 3 to 4 times daily.
Skoal is a brand of dipping tobacco, also known as moist snuff…..which is produced by the U.S. Smokeless Tobacco Company(USSTC)…..which is a subsidiary of Altria. It is considered a higher-priced product within the dipping tobacco market. Skoal was first produced by USSTC in 1934….as “Skoal” is an Anglicisation of “skål”….which is a term used sometimes in Scandinavian regions to announce a toast of friendship, with connotations of well-wishing. This tv ad uses “Skoal Brother” Walt Garrison….who “loves to put a lil pinch ‘tween his cheeks and gums”….just like many other good cowboys do.
Sears Tires were actually National Tire and Battery(NTB) and National Tire Warehouse(NTW)….which was an American brand of auto service centers…..that Sears owned until it was spun off in 2003. Sears created the brand in 1997 by consolidating the Tire America (TA) and National Tire Warehouse (NTW) brands…. when they added the “B” to include its DieHard brand of batteries.
