Odd factoids

[Drago]

Gloves were invented to slap duelling opponents around the face. Several hundred years after their invention it was realised the could be worn on the hands.

 

[Joey Shabadoo]

Gloves were invented to slap fuelling opponents around the face. Several hundred years after their invention it was realised the could be worn on the hands.

I remember the infamous BP Esso wars of 1974.

 

[Drago]

Yes, and the attempted invasion of Shell territory by BP, who'd armed their supporters with free glass tumblers to make Molotov cocktails. Dangerous times.

 

[raleighnut]

It was resorting to 'put a tiger in your tank' that caused all the trouble.

 

[Drago]

The phrase "put a tiger in your tank" was the petrol companies attempt at creating a humerous cockerney rhyming slang for having a w**k, but it was misunderstood. As you suggest, the message was misguided, and resulted in people putting real tigers in their tanks. This caused many breakdowns, a worldwide shortage of tigers, and several very grisly petrol forecourt deaths.

 

[classic33]

Shell was the first company to purchase and use the computer Ferranti Mark 1 around 1952.

 

[Threevok]

The phrase "put a tiger in your tank" caused havoc in 1982, due to a typo on advertising billboards

Many cars had to have their tanks and fuel lines flushed at great expense, although sales of the soft drink Tizer went through the roof

 

[Drago]

Tizer is actually made from diluted degreaser Jizer, with a dash of food colouring.

 

[Andy in Germany]

Tizer is actually made from diluted degreaser Jizer, with a dash of food colouring.

That explains a lot.

 

[Profpointy]

Tizer is actually made from diluted degreaser Jizer, with a dash of food colouring.

or is it the other way round?

 

[classic33]

Tizer was launched in 1924 by Fred and Tom Pickup of Manchester, when it was known as "Pickup's Appetizer", and is the offspring of Vimto and Irn-Bru.

Who knew drinks could have offspring!

 

[Threevok]

In a blind taste test, most people can't tell the difference between Mountain Dew and a regurgitated lager and lime

 

[colly]

The fact is one should not count your lips before the chicken slips twixt the hatch.

 

[NorthernDave]

The late American politician John McCain invented the oven chip.

 

[colly]

And ketchup was invented by a Japanese chap called T. Omatoesauce.