Over engineered?

This topic has 24 replies, 23 voices, and was last updated 10 March 2012 at 09:42 by Doddy.

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4 March 2012 at 23:51 #6012
Martin Cottrell
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@martincottrell21329
Advert

4 March 2012 at 23:51 #86536
Martin Cottrell
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@martincottrell21329
Whilst shopping this morning I couldn't help but laugh when I picked up a pack of supermarket brand toilet rolls and noticed "easy start technology" emblazoned across the front of the packaging! I initially thought that some clever scientist had been employed to add an ingredient to relieve constipation. I discovered, on reading the blurb on the back, that in fact the "technology" amounted to no more than either diluting or using less of the glue used to stick down the first sheet thus enabling the roll to be opened without damaging the first 3 layers! Not only that, the've also made the plastic packaging softer to the touch, invaluable when lifting from the shelf to the trolley then once at home ripping off and throwing in the bin!

It's nice to know that in these worrying days of global warming, war and economic catastrophe that Asda are using "technology" to really usefully benefit mankind. Perhaps they would like to share their "technology" with the manufacturers of Sellotape, now there's a product that could really do with "easy start technology"!

Sorry if I'm slightly off topic in a Model Engineering context but it did amuse me at the time so I thought I'd share my amusement.

Regards, Martin.

Edited By Martin Cottrell on 04/03/2012 23:55:07
5 March 2012 at 00:06 #86537
dcosta
Participant
@dcosta
Hello Martin.

In Portugal there's a company who "invented" black toilet paper and it is being marketed as a successfull product.

See here, please

Dias Costa

Edited By dcosta on 05/03/2012 00:17:28
5 March 2012 at 00:42 #86539
Ady1
Participant
@ady1
…tested under dermatological and gynaecological control…

There must be an EU wiping directive for loo paper, like for the straightness of bananas

I wonder how my grannys "Izal Medicated" (anyone remember that stuff? omg.) would do

Andrex – soft strong and very long

Izal Medicated – not for the faint hearted

Edited By Ady1 on 05/03/2012 00:44:40
5 March 2012 at 00:51 #86540
Springbok
Participant
@springbok
well I am waiting for all the "bog standard" jokes to come flying.

sorry could not help that
5 March 2012 at 21:12 #86613
Sub Mandrel
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@submandrel
Izal – they used it in schools and hospitals -to stop people using too much.

Neil
5 March 2012 at 22:06 #86626
Clive Hartland
Participant
@clivehartland94829
You obviously have not used Army issue toilet roll, you could use it to write letters home on.

Clive

Edited By Clive Hartland on 05/03/2012 22:06:49
5 March 2012 at 22:08 #86627
The Merry Miller
Participant
@themerrymiller
What I can't get to grips with is "Recycled" toilet paper.

Len. P.
5 March 2012 at 22:34 #86631
Gray62
Participant
@gray62
Posted by The Merry Miller on 05/03/2012 22:08:29:

What I can't get to grips with is "Recycled" toilet paper.

Len. P.

I find the recycled stuff has a much better 'grip' factor than the more expensive varieties
5 March 2012 at 22:51 #86632
Martin Walsh 1
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@martinwalsh1
Posted by Graham Meek on 05/03/2012 22:02:13:

Yes Neil I remember that stuff, it was a second cousin to grease proof paper.

Gray,

Yes it was Horrible stufff what suprises me after doing a Internet search

is that you can still buy it

and it is still being made

Best Wishes Martin

Edited By Martin Walsh 1 on 05/03/2012 22:53:34
5 March 2012 at 23:39 #86635
blowlamp
Participant
@blowlamp
I find 80 grit production paper to be most effective, but Scotch brite (green) can be used again and again.

Martin.
6 March 2012 at 00:36 #86641
Flying Fifer
Participant
@flyingfifer
Oh blowlamp,

Doesn`t it scratch ?? One I also remember is the greaseproof writing paper with Government Property stamped on every perforated sheet. And boy were those perforations sharp !

Martin, I couldn`t agree more about sellotape specially if the roll hasn`t been used for a while. Wonder why no one has coated a bog roll with sellotape. Save wiping wouldn`t it? Just a quick dab & bob`s your uncle.

Ouch Alan
6 March 2012 at 01:02 #86642
_Paul_
Participant
@_paul_
Izal it made better tracing paper than toilet paper, nothing wrong with well torn squares of the Yorkshire Evening Post….now thats proper recycling no remanufacturing required…also gave you something to do ripping up paper when you were sat in the little room down at the end of the yard …

Paul
6 March 2012 at 04:54 #86646
Richard Parsons
Participant
@richardparsons61721
Army paper be blowed. Get the naval stuff. It is 2” (50.8mm) wider to allow for the roll of the ship.
6 March 2012 at 08:30 #86653
Michael Malleson
Participant
@michaelmalleson22793
I seem to remember that Izal and a comb made quite good music. Mike.
6 March 2012 at 09:17 #86659
Joseph Ramon
Participant
@josephramon28170
Back in the 1980s even Dixcel was recycled – made from used computer listing paper. Most posh loo roll is recycled, they just don't market it as such.

Joey
6 March 2012 at 12:03 #86669
Cornish Jack
Participant
@cornishjack
The Government Property stuff used to have a little square box in one corner. Asked the local wit, one day, what was it for ? … "For Civil Servants to tick to show it had been used" , he said.
6 March 2012 at 18:48 #86689
Ian Abbott
Participant
@ianabbott31222
Anyone remember BRONCO loo roll?

My grandmother used to buy it by the crate load and distribute it around the extended family. Everyone was too polite to tell her that it could be used to pave the drive.

Ian
6 March 2012 at 19:45 #86692
magpie
Participant
@magpie
I allways avoid ANYTHING that says "new improved", because it is ALLWAYS a whole lot worse than the stuff it replaced. What "new improved" realy means, is we have found a way to make the stuff a lot cheaper to "improve" our profits.

Derek
6 March 2012 at 20:39 #86695
Keith Wardill 1
Participant
@keithwardill1
Ruddy difficult playing the comb with this new-fangled soggy velvety stuff – at least the hard shiny stuff like Izal was good for something!
6 March 2012 at 20:59 #86701
merlin
Participant
@merlin98989
My father used to say that you only needed three sheets: a cleaner, a wiper and a polisher.
7 March 2012 at 10:24 #86727
Martin W
Participant
@martinw
Edward

Your dad's comments are backed up by the stuff issued under the banner of 'Government Property'. As mentioned before this was really dire stuff, made Izal look and feel like a luxury product, but one side was Smooth and the other Rough. I reckon rough for cleaner and wiper and the smooth for a polisher .

Cheers
7 March 2012 at 11:02 #86728
Windy
Participant
@windy30762
I hope we get to the bottom of this over engineered

Windy
7 March 2012 at 11:25 #86731
Ady1
Participant
@ady1
stuff issued under the banner of 'Government Property'

At school all my pens pencils rulers and rubbers had "property of HM Government" stamped on them

I think they were liberated from the GPO
10 March 2012 at 09:42 #86905
Doddy
Participant
@doddy
When I worked for the CEGB (Central Electricity Generating Board) there was a standard specification for everything ~ Yes you've guess it ! even toilet paper

as approved by the Standards Committee in November 1960 specification06/0500/5

It even had to meet the requirements of British Standards BS3137 "Method of Determining Busting Strength of Paper" and I quote "the toilet paper shall fail at a pressure not less than 7.5 lb.per.square inch"

I'm not too sure but I think 7.5psi is about 2 tins of beans or a curry and 8 pint of John Smiths !

Edited By David Dodwell on 10/03/2012 09:45:01
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