Liquid Glass: The Plot Thickens

HondaMan

HondaMan

2004 Civic EX magnesium
I managed to track down an old VETTE magazine (1988) and it had ads for both kinds of Liquid Glass. I'll attach pictures of both ads and the 2 products. Might need 2 posts to do it -- sorry, not good at this.

First, here's a link to the current Liquid Glass product from one of our sponsors:

http://www.autogeek.net/liqglasautpo.html

Here is the stuff I used....it is called CLASSIC Liquid Glass, and has lineage back to the 1950's. You can't see it but the middle of the bottle says "Since 1954"
 
Here's the other bottle. Notice it says "NEW" -- implication is, it's a recent knockoff.

The question is, which product does the stuff now available trace it's heritage to? I would think the CLASSIC product, but who knows, maybe there was a copyright suit and they merged. TheNow, here
 
That first can looks exactly like the can of Liqui-Glass that I used back in the late 80's
 
Don said:
That first can looks exactly like the can of Liqui-Glass that I used back in the late 80's
Click to expand...
Interesting. The second can looks just like the stuff I used in the late 80's.
FWIW, there was also a "Classic" brand of paste wax available back in that general time frame. Any chance that there could be even more to the story?
 
All I know is that 1 of the things in 1988-1992 was CLASSIC and 1 was NEW....I used the CLASSIC stuff....I would have to believe they'd have the copyright to the name since they started in 1954...unless they went out of business and the new guys won by forfeit.

I neve saw anything called "Liqui-Glass"....LIQUID....LIQUID...both bottles are called Liquid Glass, different manufacturers and slightly different names.

Does anybody out there remember what's behind the story on both of these companies??? Google only brings up the existing product.
 
The second can is the Liquid Glass that I've always seen and figured as being the "original." My dad has a ton of Corvette magazines that I'm going to try and dig through to see if I can find the ad with the disclaimer about the "Advanced" version
 
I used to use Classic wheel cleaner/selant. Smelled like coconuts but was kinda messy if overspray wasn't controled. I'd didn't see much protection from it
 
The second can is the one I use to use in the 80's but now the can colors are the same but they changed the design.
 
CW, I guess I deserve the next :beat

I just e-mailed Liquid Glass with a link to this thread. BTW, on their current website, these are the products they have:

lgfam.jpg
 
OK, I emailed a few places too...when we get results, let's post 'em.

The 2nd bottle looks closer stylistically to what is NOW available, but the CLASSIC and 1954 reference seem to imply that the manufacturer of #1 was the original and wanted to differentiate himself from a (cheap) knockoff.

Nobody out there used both? Or the 1st one? I did...I can't possibly be the only (Corvette owner) who used it in the late 1980's/early 1990's???!!!!
 
Answer from Liquid Glass

Dear Don:

Over ten years ago, a federal judge in Philadelphia ordered the company producing Advanced Liquid Glass, Classic Liquid Glass, and a variety of other products with similarly sounding names to shut down and cease operations. As a result of their violation of trademark laws, any and all assets were liquidated.

Thank you for your e-mail.

Sincerely,
Michael Trueba Jr.

----- Original Message -----
From: Don
To: [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 6:14 PM
Subject: "Advanced Liquid Glass"


Back in the 1980's there was a product called Advanced Liquid (or Liqui) Glass. I remember seeing your ads in the magazines stating that you did not sell or private label an 'Advanced' version of your products. Recently this has been a subject of great interest on an automotive detailing discussion board. Recently one of the members found an advertisement for "Classic Liquid Glass" which claims to be "the original." Granted the ad is a bit older, but the can looks almost exactly like the 'advanced' version I'd seen before.

Could you guys shed some light on this subject? Here's a link directly to the discussion forum. There are also pictures of your Liquid Glass, and the "other one."

Thanks

Don M
 
Yea I noticed the older version had the company location in PA. The new one is in New Jersey. Weird stuff! Does this stuff work any good?
 
The Woob said:
Yea I noticed the older version had the company location in PA. The new one is in New Jersey. Weird stuff! Does this stuff work any good?
Click to expand...

I used it (the NJ version w/ the red Corvette on the label) in the late 80's and again about 5 years ago. It scored 31st (overall) in "THE WAX TEST," but I felt it should have rated higher than that.

The last time I used it was on my neon (medium/bright blue) and I felt it had kind of a 'sterile' or 'dry' shine to it. I never experienced any problems using it, but it seemed to 'scratch' after washing...I needed to use EO Wipe&Shine after the wash to get rid of light marring that seemed to be in the layer of Liquid Glass.

I can't give a truely accurate opinion about it though because since last using it, my learning curve has gone through the ceiling and my skills and ability then aren't even close to what they are now.
 
CharlesW said:
Interesting. The second can looks just like the stuff I used in the late 80's.
FWIW, there was also a "Classic" brand of paste wax available back in that general time frame. Any chance that there could be even more to the story?
Click to expand...
Classic was bought penzoil in the 90's and then faded from the shelves. Penzoil still owns the rights to the name.

The only LG I know of is the new stuff. I have never used LG, but have seen the ads.

Eric
 
Great work, Don.....but 1 question remains:

It appears that the CLASSIC brand may have been selling the compound "since 1954" as the ad states...but clearly, NOT under the "Liquid Glass" name since the judge apparently awarded the Corvette-picture "Liquid Glass" product a complete victory (CLASSIC was forced to liquidate).

But: why does #2 say "new" -- does it mean "new" formula or "new" as in new product? Because if it's the latter, then which product is/was the Liquid Glass that we know existed decades earlier (we saw the pictures of the $2.50 Liquid Glass from Poorboys on another Liquid Glass thread).

See what I'm saying? I think the e-mail and the court decision established #2 as the rightful copyright owner of "Liquid Glass" as a name and compound, but if so, then why are they saying "new" in 1988 if the stuff had already been around a few decades?

Sorry, REALLY trying to get to the bottom of this! lol

If you want, I will send them an e-mail but since you hit them first, I don't want to intrude on your space. Let me know if you'll followup or I will.
 
Honda Man,
You should also, ask this over on Autopia, for more information or even a definative answer. Autopia has members which have been in the industry for a long time.

Eric
 
I'm not a member....I've been trying to stay loyal to DetailCity and our members/sponsors!! lol

Though I do find their "How To" section outstanding, I must agree.
 
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