Barry Meguiar visits Mike Phillips and his antique wax collection

[Mike Phillips]

Barry Meguiar visits Mike Phillips and his antique wax collection


As many of you know, I collect antique polishes and waxes from the early days of the car wax market. While here for the 11th Annual Detail Fest, Barry and Karen Meguiar came to visit my office and check out some of the rare and unique Meguiar's products in my collection.




Pictured here is an early 1/2 gallon glass jug of Mirror Bright Machine Light Cleaner. This would be the predecessor for what most of you know as Meguiar's #2 Fine Cut Cleaner.







Barry shared the story behind the name change from Mirror Bright to Mirror Glaze. He said back during the start of World War II the government enacted a national price freeze for consumer products. Frank Meguiar Jr., Barry's Grandfather and the founder of Meguiar's, knew he couldn't make a profit on the current line of products without a price increase to keep up with the increase in cost of raw materials for manufacturing.

The price freeze only affected current products so Frank Meguiar Jr. introduced a brand new line, the Mirror Glaze line. The Mirror Glaze line would replace the Mirror Bright line and could be launched as a new line at a new price point. This would ensure the Meguiar's company could remain profitable and thus protect the company moving forward until the war was over and the price freeze was removed.

[ViperGuy21]

Really cool and interesting stuff! The history of something you're passionate about is always interesting! Thanks for sharing Mike

[Setec Astronomy]

Great collection, great story!

[Riff]

Is that the level in the jug a little more than halfway up?

[Joe@NextLevelDetail]

Very nice collection Mike, thanks for sharing the story

[dlc95]

I love these kinds of threads - which I believe originate from Mr. Phillips!

Thanks for sharing, Mike and Barry. For both the history lesson, and the photos!

[axel06]

very cool , that is a great collection, im sure barry was impressed i loved to see the meguiars collection.. maybe some day ill get there

[BillyJack]

Seeing the glass bottle with the separated product brought back some memories of 40 years ago at the dealership I worked. We stocked a bunch of Meguiar's products on the parts room supply shelves. Back then, they came in round clear plastic bottles and the oil content would migrate to the top, just like the glass bottle Barry's holding. Meguiar's #7, then called "Sealer and Reseal Glaze" was unique, in that the product would rise to the top with the layer of oil on the bottom. We'd use it as the last step in a detail of a "special" delivery or a showroom car. Rather than asking for #7, one of the detailers would always ask the parts counterman for a bottle of "floats on the bottom" and his nickname stuck. Fast forward 40 years, the clear bottles are long gone, but if we're doing a classic lacquer restoration and I ask any of my buddies for some more "Floats on the Bottom", I'll get the right stuff.

Bill

[JRP]

Awesome collection Mike

I am a history nut for anything

[DetailProDestin]

Awesomeness! Thx for sharing