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Mortein Pump Action Fly Sprayer



A note from Geoff on Saturday 6th May 2006
"A collectable - just for display!!!"

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- The Ebay Auction

Old Mortein Fly Sprayer
Australian Icon
Famous Advert

Early Australian "Weapon Of Mass Destruction"!!
Feared by "Louie the Fly"!!
When this flit gun was used, the slogan
"When you're on a good thing (to Mortein), stick to it"
was in vogue
11cm high x 31cm long x 8cm wide
It is in good condition for it's age

Item location - Perth, Western Australia Australia
This auction ended on Saturday 6th May 2006
The starting price was set at $0.01 and there were nine bids during the auction
We won!!! - with a bid of $46.55 plus postage and insurance

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A note to the seller on Thursday 18th May 2006
......and this was after we had received the sprayer
Hi Denis, and I am writing to ask a favour
A few people have commented on the sprayer, and asked a few questions
Unfortunately, all we can tell them is that we bought it on Ebay!
Can you give us a bit more info if you have it?
Things like where it came from (parents, grandparents, garage sale, etc)
and about how old it may be (1 or 5 or 10 or 20 years, etc)
I hope you can understand the type of info we would like
Just 'stuff' so we can put a bit of a story together!
"GO, LOUIE THE FLY"
Regards and have a good day, Geoff
......and the reply
G`day Geoff
Pleasant suprise!
I picked it up at a craft fair in one of the southern fringe suburbs here in Perth
Lots of retired and skilled couples - very comunity and social
When I pass that way again I will seek out the trader and ask about the history
Meanwhile I made some email enquires regarding "circa"
No response as yet, but will let you know as soon as I do
Regards, Denis
......and another note to the seller
Hi again - and THANK YOU!!!
Really appreciate you going to that trouble
Look forward to hearing from you again
Just for reference and to make it a bit easier, my email address is - gggrfnq@bigpond.net.au
Regards and have a great day, Geoff

A note from the seller on Sunday 4th June 2006
G`day Geoff
A bit of information may help you
The sprayer was made from 1985 if it has an Ermington address on it
In that year they started to manufacture at 33 Hope Street in Ermington
Earlier sprayers had wooden handles but it's not known up to what date
Tomorrow I hope to visit the craft fair and I'll try find the trader again
Regards, Denis
......and my reply
Thank you for this info and we really appreciate you "remembering" us!!!
Have a great time at the Fair!!!
Sharon and I like wondering around garage sales, fairs, markets, secondhand stores as well
To see what "spectacular items" we can discover!!!
Regards, Geoff

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The History of Mortein

Not that many decades ago, every household had one of these
It's what was commonly referred to as a "flit gun"
(a pump manually operated much like a bike pump)
that delivered lethal doses of the dreaded Mortein to poor old 'Louie the Fly'
and all manner of other creepy crawlies before the days or aerosol pressure pack cans

Click on the logo below to go to
"The History of Mortein"
and "Louie the Fly's Biography"

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Television Advertisements

1957--- CLICK HERE

Featuring
"Louie the Fly"
and the
"When you're on a good thing, stick to it"
slogan

NOTE - this is a large video file - being 3532Kb in size
The best way to view it is as follows - Internet Explorer only
"Right click"
on the above link, and then click on "Save Target As"
The file name (general06_0563.mov) will appear and this can then be saved
to your computer on the Desktop or in My Documents, etc
The video is a "Quick Time" file and it will play in that viewer
or "Real Player" can be used

1962--- CLICK HERE

Featuring
"The Louie the Fly Song"

NOTE - this is a large video file - being 3986Kb in size
The best way to view it is as follows - Internet Explorer only
"Right click"
on the above link, and then click on "Save Target As"
The file name (general06_0585.mov) will appear and this can then be saved
to your computer on the Desktop or in My Documents, etc
The video is a "Quick Time" file and it will play in that viewer
or "Real Player" can be used

***
make sure your speakers are on!!!
the video is in black-and-white - that is what television was back in 1957!!!
these and more adverts are included on the "Mortein - Louie the Fly" page link above
It may be easier to view these direct from this Official Web Site!!!

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Email to the Distributors

Click on "Louie the Fly" below to read an email sent to Reckitt Benckiser

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!!! Price Comparisons !!!

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Other--- - Ebay Auctions #01

"Reproductions"

Click on the logo below to visit this Ebay Store

Old-Time Mortein Fly Spray Pump - Reproduction
"New old" stock!!
These were made by Mortein sometime more recently than the period of popular usage
It's a faithful reproduction bearing the old Mortein logo,
the "stick to it" slogan, and the pup with a bug on his tail
It's a fully functional unit
It states that you should only use Mortein - but it will of course work with all liquids
Dimensions - 325mm (13")
Why would you bid?
Maybe because it's unusual
Or maybe because you don't like aerosols
Or maybe you collect or decorate with old cans and stuff
Don't be afraid to bid though
Be like Louie - he was afraid of no-one ('cept the man with the can of Mortein!!)
These reproductions are on sale at the above Ebay Store
which is based in Brisbane Australia
The "Buy-it-Now" price is $15.00

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Other--- - Ebay Auctions #02

Mortein Fly Sprayer
Here is an old Mortein fly sprayer
It has quite a bit of rust as you can see in the photos
It is rusted out on each side of the tank
The pump does not work either, but it is straight
You don't see too many of these
It's a great collector's item!!!
Item location - South Australia, Australia
This auction ended on Tuesday 9th May 2006
The starting price was set at $5.00
There were no bids!!!
......which is not surprising considering it's condition

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Other--- - Ebay Auctions #03

Vintage Mortein Insecticide Sprayer
Wooden handle
There is some surface rust - mainly on top
As far as I can tell, it is not rusted right through
Makes a great display and talking point!!
Listed with a realistic starting price!!
Item location - The Palms, Queensland Australia
This auction ended on Wednesday 17th May 2006
The starting price was set at $9.95 and there was one bid during the auction
The final selling price was $9.95

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Other--- - Ebay Auctions #04

Shell-Tox Fly Sprayer
Old and Great!!
It does have some surface rust, but it is still in very good condition for it's age
Displays very well!!
Item location - Melbourne, Victoria Australia
This auction ended on Friday 21st April 2006
The starting price was set at $10.00 and there were five bids during the auction
The final selling price was $27.00

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Other--- - Ebay Auctions #05

Mortein Fly Spray Plunger - Metal
This sprayer is made of tin
It has some surface rust
Item location - South Australia, Australia
This auction ended on Sunday 28th May 2006
The starting price was set at $6.00 and there were twelve bids during the auction
The final selling price was $23.00

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Other--- - Ebay Auctions #06

Embassy Fly Sprayer
An old Embassy (Coles Supermarkets - ?) fly spray
It will look good on any kitchen shelf!!
Item location - Melbourne, Victoria Australia
This auction ended on Tuesday 30th May 2006
The starting price was set at $6.00
There were no bids

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Other--- - Ebay Auctions #07

Vintage Flit Gun Fly Spray Pump
Quite a few decades ago, every household had one of these
It's what was commonly referred to as a flit gun, a pump
(manually operated much like a bike pump)
that delivered lethal doses of insect spray to all manner of creepy crawlies
before the days of aerosol pressure pack cans
This Lucky registered trade mark flit gun has made in Hong Kong written under the barrel
It works really well
This sprayer is old,
but it is in good original condition sporting some slight surface rust
and a couple of small dents which adds to its charm and authenticity
Measurements - approx.12.5 inches long and 5 inches at its highest point
A nice piece of collecting nostalgia
Item location - Tasmania, Australia
This auction ended on Monday 29th May 2006
The starting price was set at $6.50
There were no bids

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Other--- - Ebay Auctions #08

Vintage Polish Flit Pump Action Fly Spray
Extra Rare!!
Made in Poland
You are bidding on this nice old Flit pump-action fly spray device,
with all the original paint advertising still intact
Fly-spray used to be deployed using a pump-action atomiser such as Flit,
a device that looked like a bicycle pump with a soup-tin sized nozzle at the end
You see them all the time on the period dramas on television,
so here is your chance to own one
The condition is fine,
but it does have lots of rust spots and a couple of dings
Everything still works,
including the pump action but I can't open the lid storage tank
The advertising on the tube says it - "Kills Flies, Mosquitoes, Cockroaches, etc"
It's a nice old piece of memorabilia, perfect for display or as an authentic prop
Item location - Ukraine
This auction ended on Thursday 1st June 2006
The starting price was set at USD$29.99
There were no bids

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Other--- - Ebay Auctions #09

A Vintage Flit Fly Sprayer
By Esso
Measures 13 inches (330mm) long
In very good condition
Item location - Norfolk, United Kingdom
This auction ended on Friday 2nd June 2006
The starting price was set at GBP8.00 and there was one bid during the auction
The final selling price was GBP8.00 = AUD$19.95

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Other--- - Ebay Auctions #10

Vintage 1960's (?) Mortein Bug Sprayer
Up for auction is this fantastic 1960's (?) Mortein bug sprayer
This is Australian made
The colours and writing are still vibrant
It has pictures of a dog being chased by a bee on the round bottom tin
The overal condition is good given its age
There are some small areas of light rust, paint loss and minor dents evident
Measures 320mm long
Item location - Where Frogs haven't learnt to swim yet!, NSW Australia
This auction ended on Saturday 3rd June 2006
The starting price was set at $19.99
There were no bids

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Other--- - Ebay Auctions #11

This one deserves a page of it's own!!! --- CLICK HERE

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Other--- - Ebay Auctions #12

Vintage Mortein Fly Sprayer
Very old
The pump action is still in very good working condition
The sprayer could do with a bit of a clean up!
Item location - Dandenong Ranges Victoria Australia
This auction ended on Wednesday 20th February 2008
The starting price was set at $9.95 and there were eight bids during the auction
The final selling price was $20.50

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Other--- - Ebay Auctions #13

Vintage Mortein Liquid Sprayer
Pump action sprayer in very good used condition
Length is 30cm
Item location - Hills of Gippsland, Australia
This auction ended on Thursday 21st February 2008
The starting price was set at $9.50 and there were ten bids during the auction
The final selling price was $30.00

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Other--- - Ebay Auctions #14

Vintage Flick Fly Spray Pump
This pump has timber handle
Fitted with a Flick Nutrax fly spray container
Flick is rare to find
Here's your opportunity, so bid now!
Item location - Gold Coast, Queensland Australia
This auction ended on Sunday 24th February 2008
The starting price was set at $47.00
There were no bids

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Other--- - Ebay Auctions #15

Mortein Fly Spray
Pump action
1950's/1960's model
Item location - Kelmscott, Western Australia Australia
This auction ended on Thursday 28th February 2008
The starting price was set at $25.00 and there was one bid during the auction
The final selling price was $25.00

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Other--- - Ebay Auctions #16

-

Mortein Sprayer
This is in good usable or used condition
There is some rust to top of can, but generally a good display tin
Item location - Hills of Gippsland, Australia
This auction ended on Saturday 15th March 2008
The starting price was set at $4.50 and there were twelve bids during the auction
The final selling price was $51.00

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