 
Soap Industry Floated Out of Ohio
In 1837, William Procter and James Gamble formed a
partnership in Cincinnati, Ohio to manufacture
soap and candles. The two faced large obstacles, not the least of which were
fourteen other soap and candle makers based in Cincinnati. However, by 1850, the
Procter
& Gamble star and crescent had become the best known trademark in the United
States.
 In 1861, to meet the needs of the Union Army during the Civil War, plant
engineers introduced power-driven paddles to stir batches of soap. A
miscalculation resulted in a foaming, frothing mass of raw material. Though
plant officials expected the mass would produce poor-quality soap, the company
chemist determined the soap was normal except for one unusual property: it
floated. Customers who received
some of the mistakenly made product soon clamored for more, specifically
requesting "the kind
that floats."
Harley Procter, William's oldest son and his sales manager, named the
new soap "Ivory." The story goes that he read the words "out of ivory palaces"
in the Bible, and thought the name Ivory would be a good
match for the white soap's purity, mildness, and long-lasting qualities. In
1882, Harley also was behind an $11,000 effort to advertise Ivory nationally for
the first time. By 1890, P&G was selling more than 30 different types of soap,
including Ivory.
Although candles were originally a large part of
P&G's product line, the invention of the electric light bulb took a toll on the
candle market, and candles were discontinued in the 1920's.
P&G Today
P&G is a recognized leader in the development,
manufacturing, and marketing of Fabric &
Home Care, Baby Care, Feminine Care, Tissues & Towel, Beauty Care, Health Care,
and Food & Beverages products.
P&G markets approximately 250 brands to nearly five billion consumers in over
130 countries. P&G also employs nearly 106,000 people worldwide.
Did You Know?
- William Procter, as a candlemaker, would
have been unlikely to associate with James Gamble, who was apprenticed to a
soapmaker. The two met because they
married sisters, Olivia and Elizabeth Norris. Their father-in-law
convinced the two men to become business partners.
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