Non- music: Pear's Soap?

Subject: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 08:25 AM

This may seem totall banal to some, but can other US Mudcatters tell me what has happened to the supply of Pears soap? I've been using it since my teens, and suddenly it isn't available anywhere. UKers, what do you know about this stuff? Is it the lovely, mild, sweet stuff I think it is or is it the product of some evil corporate giant? There is nothing in the US that compares- thru all the skin problems my family has had to deal with, Pears was the one soap we could all use. And now it's gone...*sniff*
My mom got me some by mail order but the catalog company told her they weren't sure they could get more. Is it available anywhere on this continent?

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Llanfair
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 09:12 AM

Now, it's funny you should ask. In my youth I visited Port Sunlight, on the Wirral, to see how soap was made. The transparent pears soap is left to dry out for 3 months to get that lovely amber colour. The factory and tha model village, which was enchanting, were built by, I think, the Lever Brothers.
I'll check if it is still on sale here, perhaps we can send you some if it is.
I remember that, when it was put to dry, it looked like coal tar soap.
Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: bbelle
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 09:19 AM

I did a yahoo search and only came up with several "Pears" including Church of the Twisted Pear, but no soaps. I used to use Pears, too, but haven't in years. I prefer Caswell-Massey, now. But I think I've seen it somewhere, and it may have been in Wal-Mart. I'll take a look for you, today, and let you know.

moonjen

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Llanfair
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 09:21 AM

www.britishtraditionals.com/pears.htm.
That seems to be the site you want.
Cheers, Bron.

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Llanfair
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 09:22 AM

That was a Google search!!!!

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 09:22 AM

This link may answer it.

Jon

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: bbelle
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 09:25 AM

Thank you Llanfair, and you, too, Jon.

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 09:30 AM

Only problem is Bron's link makes it look as if it is still available and mine indicates that the brand has gone.

Jon

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: bbelle
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 09:34 AM

I'll still check WalMart.

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: katlaughing
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 10:01 AM

I also found it on google at this one: click here.

I could swear I just saw it at the health food store the other day. I will call and ask today.

kat

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 02:16 PM

Thanks, everyone. Maybe I'll just have to take a trip to England next summer (as I truly deeply hope I can!) and buy me a case of it to bring home!

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: bbelle
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 02:21 PM

We'll see if we can find you some "around town" in the meantime ...

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: BigDaddy
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 02:42 PM

Animaterra, where are you? I feel the same as yourself about Pears soap. Been using it for nearly thirty years. Have been able to order it at a local drug store (Rite-Aid) for $1.49 per bath-sized bar. have seen it as high as $7.50 per bar from pricy New York "chemists." Also available through the Cumberland General Store in crossville, TN. Their price is somewhere in between. Let me know if you need more help.

J.

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 02:56 PM

I'm in New Hampshire; my mom and I have tried the Vermont Country Store, and shops from Hanover to Keene to Concord to no avail. Bron's web page above looks promising, even if Jon's didn't. As I said, an on-the-spot investigation to the UK may be necessary for me to get to the bottom of this!

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: rabbitrunning
Date: 30 Sep 00 - 03:35 PM

When Woolworths went out of business it really hurt a lot of the older people here in Boston because it was the only place they could buy their favorite remedies/soaps/cosmetics etc. The we lost rent control and most of them lost their apartments, too, but that's another story. One of my library patrons who's managed to hang in there tells me that the little bodegas are good about stocking the older remedies and things, but you need to look carefully because the labels are mostly in Spanish.

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Penny S.
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 01:30 PM

And they are now abandoning Lux and Lifebuoy, because sales have dropped, so it wouldn't be surprising if Pears went too. Losing out to fancy stuff and liquid in dispensers, apparently. I am waiting for it to turn out to be like the Heinz Salad Cream scam, with a return at a higher price.

Penny

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Bert
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 01:32 PM

Your local East Indian Grocer will probably have it. If not the Neutrogena is a close substitute.

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 03:17 PM

Bert, do you remember the brown semi-transparent soap, was is Durbac? I think it had mildly antiseptic qualities, made your eyes sting when dear old mum washed my hair with it in the old tin bath in front of the fire.Probably kept the nits at bay.(I'm depraved on account of I was deprived)
RtS

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Bert
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 03:45 PM

No, don't remember Durbac, my Mum used 'coal tar' soap to get rid of the nits. Gawd what a smell!

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Dave Swan
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 04:10 PM

This month's Smithsonian magazine features an article entitled You Are What You Buy. Authors Richard and Joyce Wolkomir quote Thomas J. Barratt, the 19th century manufacturer of Pears' Soap, who said "Any fool can make soap. It takes a clever man to sell it."

It was Andrew Pears, Barratt's father-in-law, who developed the soap.

Barratt convinced John Everett Millias that his painting, Bubbles, featuring Everett's curly-haired grandson watching the ascension of a soap bubble, would reach thousands of art lovers if used as an advertisement. A cake of Pears' soap was added to the painting, and art and advertising took another step closer to one another.

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 04:28 PM

Brown soap - yecchh. Had my mouth washed out with it more than once. My niece finds Pears for me in pretty little tins - outrageously expensive. Did you know Lillie Langtry was among the first celebrities to endorse a product - Pears Soap and she charged her weight in pounds as a fee? I am full of good stuff like that.

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Bert
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 04:32 PM

Isn't that also where the song "I'm forever blowing bubbles" came from?

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Morticia
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 04:36 PM

I'll go looking for it the next time I'm out shopping and if I find some I'll buy some and post it to you.

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 05:11 PM

I thought I was pretty well informed (for an American) about all things British, but I am unfamiliar with Pear's soap. I have only heard of it by seeing reproductions of old advertising posters. If I wanted a real mild soap, I'd probably use Ivory.

What is coal tar soap like?

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 05:15 PM

oh, Morrrrrrrrr-teeeeeeeeee, I'll be your friend for evvvvvvvv-errrrrrrrrrrr- and what rare and unavailable delicacy could I send you from the good old US-of-A?

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: SINSULL
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 05:24 PM

Ivory Soap smells funny. It's only claim to fame: "It Floats". Need to add this to the stupid ad thread.

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Bert
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 05:34 PM

Coal tar soap was a dirty brown colour and it smelled just like coal. I don't know if they still make it. There was a big scare about it being carcinogenic years ago.

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Morticia
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 06:07 PM

No problem Animaterra.....I'll go looking tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Mbo
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 06:11 PM

Sins, she sends soap but doesn't send word? How is she doing over there?

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: mousethief
Date: 03 Oct 00 - 06:12 PM

Did coal-tar soap make you clean? Sounds dreadful.

Alex
O..O
=o=

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: BigDaddy
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 12:49 AM

I think you maybe missed my message above. Cumberland General Store of Crossville, TN carries Pears' soap. Try Click here

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: BigDaddy
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 12:53 AM

That was my first attempt to create a "Blue Clicky Thing." The phone # for the store is 1-800-334-4640. Also, if all else fails (or even if it doesn't), I'd gladly mail you some bars at my cost plus shipping charges. As I said before, I'm buying it close to home here in Michigan for $1.49 - $1.98 per bath-sized bar.

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: BigDaddy
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 12:57 AM

Red-faced, I try again: Click here

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: GUEST,Roger the skiffler
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 03:57 AM

Yes, Bert, Wright's Coal Tar Soap! I remember that one as well, (I think "Durbac" may have been a war-time substitute) another one you don't see nowadays. Some brand names seem to have gone domestically but linger on in the export market.I often see brand-name products in Greece that I haven't seen for years in the UK.
Rts (sounding even more of an old fart for one so young- and handsome-looking)

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Gary T
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 09:26 AM

The Smithsonian magazine aritcle mentioned above explained that Ivory soap was born when a worker accidentally left a stirring machine on too long, whipping extra air into the soap, which made it float. Probably most other soaps were as pure, but Ivory captured the puplic's perception of purity with their slogan.

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Gervase
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 10:37 AM

You can still get Wright's coal tar soap in the UK (I've got a bar in my bathroom right now), but the formula must have changed, because once it had so much phenol in it it must have been severely carcinogenic.
It still cleans well, and has that whiff of coal tar about it, however - very bracing with a cold shower in the morning to blow away the cobwebs.
As for Pears, I used it for years, but how any women can swear by it I don't know - it was the most alkaline soap I ever came across and stripped every bit of natural oil out of your skin!
For years the company traded on the Millais image and had an annual "Miss Pears" competition, whereby millions of cute little moppets would be judged and one chosen to represent the company for a year. I once worked alongside a grown woman who once let slip that she had been "Miss Pears 1970-something" and the poor lass was never allowed to forget it!

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Peter K (Fionn)
Date: 04 Oct 00 - 09:22 PM

Was this this thread inspired by someone in another post trying to remember that Punch cartoon of someone writing a testimonial letter to the company: "I tried your your soap seven years ago, since when I've used no other"? Or was that just coincidence?

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 08:30 AM

Just coincedence! I think I was more inspired by the Smithsonian article mentioned above.

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Margaret V
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 08:54 AM

Gervase, I tried Pears once as a teenager because I was enchanted by the packaging and the beautiful translucence. But it did indeed sap the moisture right out of me and besides I thought it smelled kind of acrid after all, so although I continued to admire it from an aesthetic point of view, I could never use it again. How is it that you could stand using it, since it had that effect on you too?! (No offense intended to all for whom Pears does the trick) Margaret

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Gervase
Date: 05 Oct 00 - 11:43 AM

I use to use Pears because I've got skin like a badger's bum, and seem to be immune to most known chemicals. These days I don't, though - it's Wright's coal tar if I'm feeling macho, or Simple Soap if I'm feeling like a wimp!

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 29 Oct 00 - 07:26 AM

I am so clean I can't believe it! Thanks to some wonderful 'Catters I now have about a year's supply of Pears- I love the smell, and my skin loves the astringency. Thanks, Bert, Morticia, and Bill- your goodies are on the way!

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: JTT
Date: 30 Oct 00 - 05:46 AM

Wasn't it Pears Soap that had the advertisement showing a very, very scruffy tramp (hobo for Americans) writing an "unsolicited testimonial" that said:

"Since I have tried Pears Soap I have used no other".

Here's a supplier's address: http://www.lifebuoy-uk.com/

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Troll
Date: 30 Oct 00 - 07:54 AM

"Ivory Soap. 99&44/100ths % Pure. It Floats." was the entire slogan I think. Pine tar soaps were for nits and those dirty, greasy jobs like cleaning out the furnace of clinkers and soot. However, for the hands, you used Lava (L*A*V*A!) which contained pumice. It worked but was NOT for those of delicate skin.
Anyone remember "Hadacol"? How about "Rinso Blue"?
Ahhhh. Nostalgia! I really miss nostalgia.

troll

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Bernard
Date: 30 Oct 00 - 04:08 PM

Our local ASDA (now part of Walmart!) stocks Pears. And apples, bananas, etc...

On the box it says:

In November 1807 Andrew Pears discovered
a unique process for making pure, transparent
soap. This method of mellowing and ageing
each long lasting Pears Bar, for over two months,
is still used today. Natural oils and pure glycerine
are combined with the delicate fragrance of
~ rosemary, cedar and thyme.

INGREDIENTS
Sodium Palmate, Sodium Peanutate, Colophonium,
Sodium Stearate, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoate,
Aqua, Alcohol Denat., Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA,
Tetrasodium Etidronate.

For information or any comments about Pears please telephone: [phone] or write to:
Consumer Bureau A & F PEARS LTD. Freepost, Admail 1000, London SW1A 2XX.
(supplier). Manufactured under licence of A & F Pears Ltd. in India. No. MH/COS/C-992.


Phew! Anyone care to argue with that?!!

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Kim C
Date: 30 Oct 00 - 04:45 PM

I make my own soap. :)

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Oct 00 - 07:00 PM

Pine tar soap! Where do you get that, Troll? I mean, is it still available?

I may have had some once. A friend of mine gave me a strange bar of soap. Someone had given it to him and he didn't like it, so he passed it on to me. It came to me without a wrapper or label, so I never found out for sure what it was called. It was rather hard, greenish-gray, and smelled powerfully of pine. Left you smelling like a lumberjack, and not the Monty Python variety. I liked it, and would buy some more if I could find it.

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 30 Oct 00 - 09:10 PM

Oh well it looks like the article I had found was giving out false information and the Pears soap is still being made - sorry.

Ayway Animaterra, I am pleased to read that you have got a good supply.

Jon

Subject: RE: Non- music: Pear's Soap?
From: Bernard
Date: 31 Oct 00 - 03:31 PM

I'll smack your legs next time I see you, Jon!