Of the many items in ORAU’s Museum of Radiation and Radioactivity, Radium Boot Polish may have the longest history. This fascinating collection item dates to the early 1900s. In addition to its age, there are some other facts that make this item unique. Here are four facts about Radium Boot Polish:
1. Radioactive with a backstory
With a name like Radium Boot Polish, you would think it’s radioactive, and you would be correct. However, there are other reasons why this item made its way into ORAU’s Museum of Radiation and Radioactivity. We will talk a little more about that later. First, let’s cover a little history. This can in the museum indicates that it was made in England. More specifically, it was produced by Boot Polish Works in Manchester. A small cake of dried polish remains in the container.
2. Believed to be the best on the market
As with most consumer products, Radium advertised as having the best boot polish on the market. In fact, the firm’s marketing messaging said they produced goods of the highest quality at the lowest price possible. In many of their advertisements, they pointed to some of the common flaws with competitors and used those to reference some of the best things about their brand of boot polish. Some of the advantages mentioned included durability, efficiency of use, price and effectiveness.
3. Reason behind the name
Now that you know some of the history behind the company and the product, let’s talk about the name and how it became part of the museum collection. There are several items in the collection that have atomic brand names. Paul Frame, Ph.D., who was a health physicist and trainer at ORAU and the founder of the collection, wanted to capture the impact that radioactivity had on the world, including household products. At the time the boot polish was produced, the term radium equated to the idea of quality; similar to being the gold standard among all the boot polish products on the market.
4. Similar product emerged in New Zealand
The original Radium Boot Polish debuted in England around 1904, and its use spread across Europe. In 1910, a similar product made by McLeod & Son was sold in New Zealand. New Zealanders were glad to have this product because imported Radium Boot Polish from England was quite pricey. There were many similarities to the English product, both focusing on the same themes of being effective and efficient for workers who wanted to protect their footwear and keep it looking its best.
Would you like to learn about some of the other consumer products at ORAU’s Museum of Radiation and Radioactivity? Browse through the entire online collection to explore all the incredible items!