[jsmith948]

Originally Posted by geo

Hank - Arm & Hammer originally produced Washing Soda (sodium carbonate) and Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate). Just like in the grey/black tanks, the Washing Soda softened the water and allowed it to clean the clothes with less soap. Detergent now contains some sodium carbonate plus soap (and other ingredients). What I don't know is if A&H ever mixed up the sodiums in packaging. Now that would be a surprise in the biscuits, wouldn't it?

For us in the petroleum industry, we always laughed about Arm & Hammer versus Armand Hammer - president of Occidental Petroleum and quite a character. It was always rumored that A&H was named after him, but it wasn't. A&H was around before Armand, and I doubt if his father named him after A&H. However, during the merger madness of the 1980's, Armand did own quite a bit of Church and Dwight stock (makers of A&H products) and even sat on the Board of Directors. Armand even publically joked about wanting to gain controlling shares of Church and Dwight, so that Armand Hammer would be CEO of Arm & Hammer!

Ron

What a great story!