[AT] Names that have become generic

[Brian VanDragt]

Why is a condenser called a condenser?  It is actually a capacitor.  It
stores an electrical charge and acts as a buffer, but how can one "condense"
electricity? :-)

Brian

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tim Bivens" <bivenshill at yahoo.com>
To: "Antique tractor email discussion group" <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 3:39 PM
Subject: Re: [AT] Names that have become generic


> George,
> Are you pulling our leg here? LOL. It only makes sense
> to me for it to be called a starter since it "starts"
> the engine. In the same sense a generator is called a
> generator because it generates, a condenser is called
> such because it condenses and so forth. Isn't commence
> just a synonym for start? Why would one be more
> correct than the other? Might be just as correct to
> call it a "cranker". I am sure the word "start" was
> around a long time before Charles Kettering. Whether
> you are pulling our legs or not I am getting a big
> laugh out of this.
>
> Tim Bivens, Glen Rose, Texas
>
>
> --- George Willer <gwill at toast.net> wrote:
> > Dean,
> >
> > The first one I thought of is the starter.  It was
> > invented by Charles
> > Starter Kettering and takes his middle name.  The
> > proper name is
> > "commencer".  :-)
> >
> > George Willer
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Dean VP" <deanvp at att.net>
> > To: <at at lists.antique-tractor.com>
> > Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 1:21 AM
> > Subject: [AT] Names that have become generic
> >
> >
> > > I was doing some parts hunting today and ran
> > across an item that I
> > > automatically called a starter "Bendix". However,
> > that isn't really the
> > > correct name. It's the name of one of the
> > companies that makes or made
> > them.
> > > It reminded me of some other items like the name
> > Kleenex that is used for
> > > all similar type items.
> > >
> > > It is a manufacturers dream to get that kind of
> > name recognition. What
> > other
> > > antique tractor parts besides "Bendix" have
> > achieved that status?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Dean A. Van Peursem
> > > Snohomish, WA 98290
> > >
> > > CRS = Having a Photographic Memory but a shortage
> > of unused film.
> > >
> > > www.deerelegacy.com
> > >
> > > http://members.cox.net/classicweb/email.htm
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > AT mailing list
> > > http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
> > >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > AT mailing list
> > http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Yahoo! Finance Tax Center - File online. File on time.
> http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at