seriously, did they just put a random letter in front of the "tip"?
2007-12-28 06:17:50 · 35 answers · asked by Mako 7 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Polls & Surveys
Queer tips
2007-12-28 06:19:23 · answer #1 · answered by I ♥ Tom DeLonge 3 · 7⤊ 1⤋
Quality
The Q-tip was invented in the 1920's Leo Gerstenzang (a Polish-born American). His wife had used a toothpick with cotton stuck on the end to clean their baby's ears, and Leo invented Q-tips to replace her jury-rigged invention. Gerstenzang's original Q-tips consisted of a wooden stick swathed in cotton at both ends; much later, the wood was replaced by white cardboard. Gerstenzang started the Infant Novelty Company to sell Q-tips (which he then called Baby Gays); in 1926, he changed the name of his product to Q-Tips® Baby Gays. The Q stood for "quality". Eventually, the name changed to Q-tips. Doctors today advise that you should not use Q-tips to clean inside your ears. Q-tips, however, have many other uses, including cleaning small areas (like jewelry or the space between computer keys), applying glue, spreading paint,
2007-12-28 06:35:48 · answer #2 · answered by Quizard 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What's the deal with that name?
Q-Tips®.
You know this product. I bet that you wish that you had invented this little gizmo (I certainly do).
So simple in its design, yet able to accomplish so many tasks.
You can clean your ears with them. Dab them in some Elmer's glue to join two objects together. Use them to clean delicate pieces of equipment. Get the dust out of small places. The list of possible uses goes on and on and on...
They warn you on the box not to insert these things in your ear canal, but it sure beats what the inventor's wife used prior to his creation.
Q-Tips® were invented in the 1920's by a Polish-born American named Leo Gerstenzang.
It seems that Leo's lovely and beautiful wife had rigged up a different device to clean their baby's ears at bathtime - a toothpick stuck into a piece of cotton.
Clearly, one wrong slip-up on Mom's part meant a nice little wound to little baby Gerstenzang.
Leo decided to design a ready made cotton swab that would do the same with less risk.
At this point, he named his company the Leo Gerstenzang Infant Novelty Company to market his new creation.
While Q-Tips® appear to be a simple concept, Leo spent several years perfecting the design.
Clearly, safety was on his mind. In particular, he was concerned that the wood sticks could possibly splinter (today they are a white cardboard-like material).
Another problem was the cotton itself. He needed to get an equal amount on both ends of the swab and to design a way to keep it from falling off (don't want it stuck in your ear).
Once he perfected his product, he needed to find a catchy name.
Lots of names must have gone through his head.
I can hear it now: Leo Gerstenzang's Ear Sticks. How about Baby Leo's? Or Ear Wipes?
A better name was clearly needed.
I bet that you think Q-Tips® was his choice.
You'd be wrong.
Instead, he chose the name Baby Gays.
Huh?
Yes, you read that right - Baby Gays. Certainly not a good name for the late 20th century.
In 1926, he changed the name to Q-Tips® Baby Gays.
So what did the Q stand for?
Q for Quality.
Eventually, the Baby Gays part of the name was dropped and the rest is cotton swab history.
Useless? Useful? I’ll leave that for you to decide.
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Q-Tips® is a registered trademark of Chesebrough-Ponds, Inc.
2007-12-28 06:22:19 · answer #3 · answered by jim 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Q-tip was invented in the 1920's Leo Gerstenzang (a Polish-born American). His wife had used a toothpick with cotton stuck on the end to clean their baby's ears, and Leo invented Q-tips to replace her jury-rigged invention. Gerstenzang's original Q-tips consisted of a wooden stick swathed in cotton at both {ends;} much later, the wood was replaced by white cardboard. Gerstenzang started the Infant Novelty Company to sell Q-tips (which he then called Baby {Gays);} in 1926, he changed the name of his product to Q-Tips Baby Gays. The Q stood for 'quality'. Eventually, the name changed to Q-tips. Doctors today advise that you should not use Q-tips to clean inside your ears. Q-tip, however, have many other uses, including cleaning small areas (like jewelry or the space between computer keys), applying glue, spreading paint, etc.
2007-12-28 06:21:30 · answer #4 · answered by evan_mt91 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
It stands for Quality.
Check out the Q-Tips website for the details: http://www.qtips.com/history.php
2007-12-28 06:21:30 · answer #5 · answered by Just Me 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Q stands for Quality
2007-12-28 06:21:43 · answer #6 · answered by PatBack 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Q stands for quality, better than the original - Baby Gays
2007-12-28 06:23:12 · answer #7 · answered by mxyzptlk137 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They were originally called (get this) Baby Gays when they were invented.
They were then changed to "Q Tips Baby Gays," and finally the Baby Gays part was dropped.
The Q is said to stand for "Quality." Some skeptics think it stands for something else, a play on words with the old "Baby Gays" name.
2007-12-28 06:19:43 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 9⤊ 0⤋
Good question~ it made Me wonder, also. Ah, but I am guilty of doing what (many) others did and I looked it up.
"Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't Fuzzy Was He" gave you the right answer. (tho somebody gave Her a thumbs down for it)
Kinda funny if you think about it~ we all call them by their name of "Q-tips" ---- what if they were still referred to as "baby gays"... that would just be WRONG !
2007-12-28 06:30:29 · answer #9 · answered by Udontnome (ad space for sale) 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Q is for question and tip is well for " hey buddy you already got your question tipped!"
lol i read it somewheer that is said its called Queer Tip....its just that "queer" doesnt sound pleaseing so they made it "Q- tips"
>why dont they call tyhem cotton swabs???
2007-12-28 06:29:19 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Quick",to use. Hence, Q-tip. I lied, it is "quality" because I saw an episode of this on the Dicovery Channel.
2007-12-28 06:22:18 · answer #11 · answered by !~"Fish On"~! 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋