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Hi, and this is probably going to seem like a strange sort of email and request but I am hoping you can give me some information

My wife and I have spent a lot of time (and quite a bit of money!!!) over the last year or so turning our kitchen "RETRO"!
We have purchased numerous items from the 1950's to 1970's - and I will say the result looks terrific!

We have a chance to buy this Mortein Sprayer - and this would be just a display item in our home
It looks great --- but we have one question - "Is it original?" - and this is where we hope you can help us out

We have checked through your "Mortein and Louie the Fly" web site, but cannot find the information we want

The present owner is not sure - but he "thinks" it is from the 1960's
We want to buy an original - and we have made sure that all the other items that we have purchased recently have been "the real thing"!

The reason I am unsure of this item is that at the moment, on various Ebay Auctions, there are a number of reproductions for sale
Part of the auction states......
----------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, and states that you should only use Mortein
There are photos with these auctions, and the Sprayers look very similar to the photos I have attached

We don't want one of these reproductions!
As I said, we have been very careful to buy only originals!

Is there anyway to tell the difference?

In addition to the attached photos, here are a few of our thoughts on the item
(01) As you will see in the photos, there is a "Keep out of reach of Children" warning
I am not sure when this type of thing was legislated or introduced, but I don't think it was on labels during the 50's and 60's - but I could be wrong
(02) In the "Distributed by" note, the postcode "2115" has been included in Samuel Taylor's address
Postcodes were not introduced until 1967, so this sprayer is no older than that date
(03) The handle is black moulded plastic - wouldn't they have been made of timber 'way-back-when'?

Just to summarize, here is the help we would appreciate
(01) What are the differences between the "original" and the "reproduction" Sprayers?
(02) Over what period of time were the "original" Sprayers used and manufactured?
(03) When were the "reproductions" released?
(04) If you feel that this this "Not The Real Thing", do you have and information - and photos - of some of the "original" Sprayers?
This would be a great help when looking around secondhand and antique shops

Thank you for your time, and we will appreciate any information that you can send us
Geoff

Thursday 25th May 2006

Hi Geoff
Thank you for contacting Reckitt Benckiser

I am sorry about not responding earlier
We have been trying to obtain the information you require
It's hard to come by I'm afraid, as many of the people that worked here years ago are no longer here

The Mortein Fly Sprayer you are querying appears to be an original, although a more recent model than you require
Our people here date it about 1985
This was the year that our company started manufacture at 33 Hope Street Ermington

Earlier sprayers did have wooden handles but up to what date, is not known

Attached is a photo of a Mortein Fly Sprayer we have on site----(photo below)
The photo was taken in the 1990's
As you can see, it is identical to the one in your photo

We hope that this information is of assistance to you

Regards
Linda Buoro
Linda.Buoro@reckittbenckiser.com
Consumer Services
Reckitt Benckiser
Phone - 1800 022046

Thank you very much for this reply!!!
The details and photo are very helpful

1985 is pretty old - but we would still like to get our hands on one that is even older!!! --- but also not too rusted or damaged!!!
Sharon and I will keep a lookout for sprayers as we walk around the antique and secondhand stores

Your efforts in getting this info and taking the time to write to us is greatly appreciated

Regards
Geoff

Firstly, well, from all the above information and from the very close similarties to the new sprayers available (as detailed on the previous page), I think I bought a "REPRODUCTION - and made since 1985"!!!

Secondly, as you will have seen in the photos, the sprayer was distributed by Samuel Taylor
As they went out-of-business in 1969, and postcodes were introduced in 1967, we (I) can hope it was made within that two year period
That makes it old - but not an "ORIGINAL" that would have been bought in the shops during the 1950's and 60's

Thirdly, if you watch the video of the 1957 advertisement on the previous page, the Mortein slogan used is "When you're on a good thing, stick to it"
However, on our sprayer the slogan is "When you're onto Mortein, stick to it"

Fourthly, the black plastic handle is a bit of a give-away!!!

Finally, an interesting point!!!
In reference to the reproduction seller on the previous page, where does he get his new stock from???
If Samuel Taylor went out of business in 1969......???
Are Reckitt Benckiser still making the sprayers and distributing them under the Samuel Taylor name......???

Plus, it looks like I paid $46.55 for a secondhand sprayer when I could have bought a new one for $15.00!!!