Re^2: Ressources for Acme namespace cultural implications

hello, the wikipedia article miss another important fact: during the early sewing machines era, among vibrating shuttle sewing machines (1880s-1890s period) Acme was both a name of a company (Acme Keystone Manufacturing Company, a bit later ~1910) and a machine name (Acme by J. A. Titus & Co 1886 1887). See some pic.

We must consider these machines as first hi-tech objects breaking into common people lives (at least in western countries and Europe). Names of this kind of things sometimes remains in the spoken language used per antonomasia (ἀντονομάζω, antonomázo, "to change name"), in the same way nowadays we can address to a fast car as a Ferrari, or to a genial people as an Einstein.

Given the meaning (hightest point) and the imaginary backgroud it evocate, such name, as sometimes happens, revamped one century after and for casual circumstances, as to be used inside cartoons.

There are no rules, there are no thumbs..
Reinvent the wheel, then learn The Wheel; may be one day you reinvent one of THE WHEELS.

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Re^3: Ressources for Acme namespace cultural implications by afoken (Chancellor) on Jan 10, 2021 at 17:02 UTC
in the same way nowadays we can address to a fast car as a Ferrari, or to a genial people as an Einstein. Not so much in my enviroment. But there are other examples for what I think is the same effect: Tempo for all kind of handkerchiefs made of paper, not only the ones sold using that brand name (mainly in Germany) Kleenex (Germany, USA?) UHU for wet universal adhesives (Germany) Tesa or Tesafilm (Germany), Sellotape (Britain), Scotch Tape (USA, Canada) for adhesive tape, especially clear tape Selters for mineral water (Germany) Walkman for pocket-sized cassette players (Germany, worldwide?) Xerox for photocopier machines, the action of using them, and the generated copies (US, Canada?) Matchbox for die-cast toy cars (Germany, worldwide?) Kärcher for high-pressure cleaners (Germany) Google for any kind of internet search engine, and for using such engines (worldwide?) Vespa for any kind of scooter (Germany) Fön (named after Foehn wind) for hair dryers (Germany). The Fön brand is a little bit unusual in my list. All other examples are still recognized as brand names, but Fön is not. It became a common word like radio or bread. Only experts still know it is a brand name that may get you in trouble when using it for hairdryers. The Fön / Foen brand was registered in 1909, bought in 1957 by AEG, sold including AEG in 1996 to Electrolux. While it is still in use, it is no longer aggressively used in marketing. Asking for a Kärcher in a shop will get you a Kärcher machine, and nothing else. Asking for a Walkman will very likely get you a Sony machine. Asking for a Tempo might get you some cheap clone, especially outside shops. Asking for a Fön will get you any hair dryer, rarely one made by Electrolux. The German orthography reform of 1996 changed the official spelling from Fön (the brand) to Föhn (like the wind Fön was named after). This might avoid brand name issues, and the context usually is so clear that you won't confuse the wind with the hair dryer. Alexander -- Today I will gladly share my knowledge and experience, for there are no sweeter words than "I told you so". ;-)	[reply]
Re^4: Ressources for Acme namespace cultural implications by Discipulus (Canon) on Jan 10, 2021 at 17:15 UTC
Hello afoken, I can confirm `Kleenex` and `Walkman` usage for Eataly too. `Fon` (or incorrect forms: fohn and fohn or even fono) too is used here. We also used to call Tomtom any gps navigator. Google.. well among younger people google now means the whole pc when used to browse and search :) L* There are no rules, there are no thumbs.. Reinvent the wheel, then learn The Wheel; may be one day you reinvent one of THE WHEELS.	[reply] [d/l] [select]
Re^4: Ressources for Acme namespace cultural implications by LanX (Saint) on Jan 10, 2021 at 17:25 UTC
Nutella Healthy Italian food (brown and soft ;) Cheers Rolf _{(addicted to the Perl Programming Language :) Wikisyntax for the Monastery}	[reply]
Re^5: Ressources for Acme namespace cultural implications by afoken (Chancellor) on Jan 10, 2021 at 17:31 UTC
Nutella Right, completely forgot that one. (But I prefer a clone over the original.) Oh, and thanks to the Simpsons just flickering on my TV: Barbie as a common name for unrealistic, anorexic toy dolls in 50 shades of pink. Alexander -- Today I will gladly share my knowledge and experience, for there are no sweeter words than "I told you so". ;-)	[reply]