Bush was a popular UK electrics manufacturer in the 50s/60s (we had a Bush radiogram). They never sold well in the African colonies until it was realised that "bush" in much of Africa was slang for something improvised locally. A bit like having a brand name of "Bodged". Tony
I understand that when Rolls Royce designed the Silver Shadow, they were originally going to call it the Silver Mist. Unfortunately in German that would have translated as the Silver Excrement, only rather less politely.
Bush was a popular UK electrics manufacturer in the 50s/60s (we had a Bush radiogram). They never sold well in the African colonies until it was realised that "bush" in much of Africa was slang for something improvised locally. A bit like having a brand name of "Bodged".
ReplyDeleteTony
Branding a company is such an important thing to do... it's best to not leave it to the random chance of someone's last name
Deleteand like Bush, then be saddled with a name that doesn't allow for sales in certain places in the world where the word means "garbage"
DeleteI understand that when Rolls Royce designed the Silver Shadow, they were originally going to call it the Silver Mist. Unfortunately in German that would have translated as the Silver Excrement, only rather less politely.
DeleteBeautiful little car.
ReplyDeleteWhen the more conventional looking mk2 came out the originals were referred to as the Frog Eyed Sprite, often changed to Sprog Eyed Fright.
ReplyDeleteand I just realised you call them Bug Eye Sprites. Read twice, type once.
ReplyDelete