I don’t want to throw off the count, but I wanted to buffer this one with an urban legend: the reason it’s called that is to draw an analogy between the power of the cleaner and the power of the Chevrolet “Big Block” 409 cubic inch engine, as immortalized by the Beach Boys:
in the 90s, that song was used in their advertising, but the company claims it was just the four-hundred-and-ninth compound that was tested. (or maybe they tested it by using a dirty 409 engine as the final boss of anything to be degreased?) anyhow, I want to believe.
Thanks for the edumacation on that. I really had no idea they were related, and I bet you are right. They must be. They are contemporaneous and it just makes sense.
EDIT: Saw you noted that the company claims it was the 409th attempt. Anyhow.
The same is true of WD-40 which actually does stand for “Water Displacement, 40th Attempt” (as recorded in Norm Larsen’s lab book). The solvent was originally produced as an attempt to prevent corrosion, and was for use in the aerospace industry.
Yep. This one rests one me. No one was posting, because we were leading into 420. I think I just decided to bite the bullet and get it over with. All fixed!
