Oxol bottle - how old?

[Fiwi]

I found this sea glass bottle on the beach in the Bahamas (Exumas). It says Oxol on it. I'm wonding how old it is and what Oxol is. Was it a type of bleach?

TIA for your help!

 

[Poison_Us]

As far as I can tell, Oxol was a solvent. There was a lot of talk about Clorox and Oxol were related in some way, but I think it was in the making of figural elephant bottles. Anyway, at first look, it's as much info as I can dig up.

I found an unused advertising stamp that showed it with it's label, but it's not too clear on what the print says...they were calling it a cleanser.

here is an ebay listing from not too long ago. Didn't sell for much.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270622926019&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.com%3A80%2F%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp3907.m570.l1313%26_nkw%3D270622926019%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1

 

[jays emporium]

Those bottles date from the 1930's. The one on ebay in nice condition sold for 3 bucks. I guess yours with a chip and severe stain would be worth ???
If you like it keep that bottle and keep looking there may be older bottles waiting for you.

 

[Fiwi]

Thanks for the info! I'm not worried about the value. I just like it b/c it's been weathered so nicely by years in caribbean salt water.

 

[surfaceone]

Hello Melissa,

Welcome to this place, and thanks for bringing that ocean tumbled Oxol.

"Oxol is a liquid and is sold in brown bottles. J.L. Prescott
Company commenced to manufacture the solution in 1927 and first
placed it upon the market in 1928. It contains a bleaching
compound and is in fact a chlorinated solution. It acts
chemically. It is a detergent. Oxol possesses disinfectant
qualities. Oxol is represented as having a distinct function as a
deoderant, disinfectant, cleanser and bleacher, and we think that
this representation is borne out clearly by the evidence." From PROCTER & GAMBLE CO. v. J.L. PRESCOTT CO., 102 F.2d 773 (3rd Cir. 1939)

From the wrapper: "
Oxol, keep one in the
bathroom, the other for
the kitchen and laundry,
both ready always
for any emergency in
any room, anywhere!

"Oxol makes clothes
snowy white, it washes,
bleaches and removes
ordinary stains from
white linen or cotton
fabrics.

"Oxol works equally
well with bar soap,
flakes or chips.

"Oxol cleans windows.
It makes cut glass and
crystal ware, mirrors,
china and ordinary
glassware sparkle like
new."

"In the latter part of 1931,
Prescott began advertising Oxol by radio broadcasts. A typical
broadcast over Station WABC, upon November 24, 1931, we think
should be summarized. Early in the broadcast emphasis was laid
upon the efficacy of Oxol for washing clothes and the fact that
it would produce suds without rubbing "* * * to make that washing
snowy white." Reference was made to the brown bottle, to the
spelling of the word and to the fact that Oxol is neither powder
nor soap. It was then stated in the broadcast, "When you buy a
bottle of Oxol, take the label off and send it to the Oxol trio
in care of this Station, or address your letter to the J.L.
Prescott Company, Passaic, New Jersey. * * * In return, they will
send you the gaily colored "Oxol" rag doll that children love. *
* * And don't forget to send in an Oxol label for one of those
little Oxol Rag Dolls." Also from.

"This Oxol doll from 1931 is one of those - Oxol seems to have been a type of cleaner. I love how graphic and bold this doll is! I'd give anything to see it in color - the book says she was printed in red, black and blue." From.

"Oxol promotional glider (Broadfield Toy Co. circa 1930’s) - Oxol was a rather nasty cleaning product “containing lime and acids†manufactured by the J L Prescott Co. of Passaic NJ. The glider was part of a mail-in offer. It has unusually big wings and an extremely high tail … so this little glider would have been a nice, stable “floater†in light winds. The glider came with its original … and fragile … assembly and flight instruction envelope and its associated thick mailing envelope from Oxol." From.

 

[Fiwi]

Thanks for all the great information, SurfaceOne!