Department of Obscure Information, June 17 Edition

**MSFixR** · 06-17-2008, 06:06 PM

This is the story about a chemist proud of his accomplishments. If you are a potato chip fanatic, Frederic J. Baur and his invention have undoubtedly affected your life in a positive manner.
Never heard of him? Let’s fix that.
Baur brought worldwide snackers an ingenious, yet simple, red-foil coated, tubular potato chip container with a resealable plastic top promoting ultimate chip freshness: the Pringles can.
Patented in 1970, the can is what saddle shaped Pringles are best known for. The iconic packaging has remained untouched for more than 30 years, save for a few size adjustments and logo redesigns.
The retired organic chemist was so pleased with his invention that upon his death he asked his family to place his ashes in it. Some of his remains were buried in a Pringles can, along with a standard urn containing more of his ashes, in his final resting place in Cincinnati.
Baur was born on July 14, 1918 in Toledo, Ohio, and received both a master’s and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Ohio State University. In the late 1940s, he began working for Proctor & Gamble as a food storage technician specializing in research and development and quality control.
He died on May 4 at the age of 89.
As a tribute to the chemist turned inventor, the blog “Serious Eats” has posted a collection of throwback Pringles commercials from the 1970s and ‘80s. One totally awesome spot – at least to some of us potato chip lovers – features a very young Brad Pitt in surfer gear devouring some chips next to a neon yellow car

Originally known as “Pringle’s Newfangled Potato Chips”, P&G chose the Pringles brand name by flipping through an Ohio phonebook and randomly spotting “Pringle Avenue” grabbing on to it due to its “pleasing sound”, states the company’s website.
Other innovators have found that the container has different functions besides serving as a burial urn and potato chip holder. It can also be used to make a cheap, makeshift Wi-Fi antenna called a cantenna. In 2001, a writer for the “O’Reilly Wireless Devcenter” blog successfully made an antenna from a Pringles can that pulled in a usable wireless internet signal for $6.45 worth of materials. To view the full instructions including photos and a shopping list, go to antenna on the cheap (er chip)

Source: C&EN, June 16, 2008.

**Ophelia** · 06-17-2008, 06:28 PM

Hey, I didn't know Fix was so into Brad Pitt??!!

**MSFixR** · 06-17-2008, 07:57 PM

Brad Pitt!?!, Psssssssssssssst.
FixR is into Pringles.

**Ophelia** · 06-17-2008, 08:01 PM

LOL. NOOOO...you know you lurve his dimples...C'MON! Admit it!

06-17-2008, 06:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
MSFixR Science Boy Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dante's Inferno, Circle 4 Posts: 8,936 My Profile	Department of Obscure Information, June 17 Edition This is the story about a chemist proud of his accomplishments. If you are a potato chip fanatic, Frederic J. Baur and his invention have undoubtedly affected your life in a positive manner. Never heard of him? Let’s fix that. Baur brought worldwide snackers an ingenious, yet simple, red-foil coated, tubular potato chip container with a resealable plastic top promoting ultimate chip freshness: the Pringles can. Patented in 1970, the can is what saddle shaped Pringles are best known for. The iconic packaging has remained untouched for more than 30 years, save for a few size adjustments and logo redesigns. The retired organic chemist was so pleased with his invention that upon his death he asked his family to place his ashes in it. Some of his remains were buried in a Pringles can, along with a standard urn containing more of his ashes, in his final resting place in Cincinnati. Baur was born on July 14, 1918 in Toledo, Ohio, and received both a master’s and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Ohio State University. In the late 1940s, he began working for Proctor & Gamble as a food storage technician specializing in research and development and quality control. He died on May 4 at the age of 89. As a tribute to the chemist turned inventor, the blog “Serious Eats” has posted a collection of throwback Pringles commercials from the 1970s and ‘80s. One totally awesome spot – at least to some of us potato chip lovers – features a very young Brad Pitt in surfer gear devouring some chips next to a neon yellow car Originally known as “Pringle’s Newfangled Potato Chips”, P&G chose the Pringles brand name by flipping through an Ohio phonebook and randomly spotting “Pringle Avenue” grabbing on to it due to its “pleasing sound”, states the company’s website. Other innovators have found that the container has different functions besides serving as a burial urn and potato chip holder. It can also be used to make a cheap, makeshift Wi-Fi antenna called a cantenna. In 2001, a writer for the “O’Reilly Wireless Devcenter” blog successfully made an antenna from a Pringles can that pulled in a usable wireless internet signal for $6.45 worth of materials. To view the full instructions including photos and a shopping list, go to antenna on the cheap (er chip) Source: C&EN, June 16, 2008.

06-17-2008, 07:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
MSFixR Science Boy Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dante's Inferno, Circle 4 Posts: 8,936 My Profile	Brad Pitt!?!, Psssssssssssssst. FixR is into Pringles. Last edited by MSFixR : 06-17-2008 at 08:05 PM.

06-17-2008, 06:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ophelia JOHO Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Joshtopia Posts: 7,153 My Profile	Hey, I didn't know Fix was so into Brad Pitt??!!

06-17-2008, 08:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ophelia JOHO Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Joshtopia Posts: 7,153 My Profile	LOL. NOOOO...you know you lurve his dimples...C'MON! Admit it!

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