Feb 21st 2020

On February 21, 1931 Alka-Seltzer is introduced to the world by Miles Laboratories in Elkhart, Indiana. 

The chief chemist, Maurice Treneer was asked to come up with a concoction that the company could market to deal with a flu epidemic.  After creating a marketable product called Alka-Seltzer, which was a tablet dropped into water making a refreshing drink, it was passed out as free samples on a cruise, and it worked.

The mixture is effervescent, caused when an acid mixes with sodium bicarbonate. This worked well to ease indigestion while the aspirin in the drink helped to ease minor pains. The brand mascot was a funny little guy made of an Alka-Seltzer tablet and wearing a second one as a hat with a  voice provided by Dick Beals.

By the 1960s, the popularity of the drink was waning. Hip young people associated it with hangovers and indigestion and was just uncool. A new ad campaign blitz helped to increase sales. “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz / Oh what a relief it is.” was  original and entertaining. 

Miles Laboratories was bought by Bayer in 1979. Today there are 14 varieties of Alka-Seltzer. ***Most brands do not contain aspirin today, but instead use acetaminophen.

I needed a change today.

Off to coffee this morning

A chatty bunch today.

Then off for a bit of fresh air

With a walk in dalewood 

And then in waterworks.

I felt so much better 

After getting some fresh air 

And lots of sunshine.

Off to Wal-Mart.

I needed bread, 

to print some 5x7's

And to get my glasses fixed.

Did some running around

For the upcoming crop

And finally home

Where I found John already up!

We had steak, onion

and pepper wraps for supper!

(No lettuce Staci)

Now I can hear that wind 

whipping around outside,

So I am snuggling down to read.

Good night from John Street