Did you know: The history of Liquid Soap and Spray Cans

Two ordinary items found in many or most American households both trace their creation by New York City residents to this date in August. In 1865, the first liquid soap was patented by William Shepphard. His formula flowed from mixing a pound of regular soap with 100 pounds of ammonia solution, then dissolving it in water to the consistency of molasses. And in 1939, Julian Seth Kahn received a patent for an "apparatus for mixing a liquid with a gas" — a spray can for whipped cream. Of course, aerosols didn't stop with whipped cream. Today in the U.S., soap and detergent manufacturing is a nearly $29 billion a year business, while metal can manufacturers make over $14 billion in annual sales. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.