Herbert Elijah Bucklen made himself one of the wealthiest businessmen in both Elkhart, Indiana, and Chicago, Illinois, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And his patent medicine business, The H.E. Bucklen & Company, had a lot to do with that -- but he didn't rise to millionaire status with just snake oil products and lies, although that was a big part of it. 

Herbert Elijah Bucklen made himself one of the wealthiest businessmen in both Elkhart, Indiana, and Chicago, Illinois, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. And his patent medicine business, The H.E. Bucklen &amp; Company, had a lot to do with that -- but he didn't rise to millionaire status with just snake oil products and lies, although that was a big part of it.

Humans have always committed crimes. What can we learn from the criminals and crimes of the past, and have humans gotten better or worse over time?

Criminalia

Herbert E. Bucklen, Patent Medicine and 'Axle Grease Salesman'

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0f51747d-5997-4b0c-b688-b18c00135192/transcript

Daffy's Elixir was one of the most popular patent medicines in Britain -- and it sold for nearly 300 years, which is amazing considering these types of products were often a flash in a pan. But what makes this product different than others we’ve talked about this snake oil season, other than its longevity, is that its ingredients list wasn’t kept secret -- it was a novel idea to publish ingredients for patent medicines at a time when most products didn’t even put that information on the label. And manufacturers seemed to be okay with that -- maybe because no one could actually prove ownership.

Daffy's Elixir was one of the most popular patent medicines in Britain -- and it sold for nearly 300 years, which is amazing considering these types of products were often a flash in a pan. But what makes this product different than others we’ve talked about this snake oil season, other than its longevity, is that its ingredients list wasn’t kept secret -- it was a novel idea to publish ingredients for patent medicines at a time when most products didn’t even put that information on the label. And manufacturers seemed to be okay with that -- maybe because no one could actually prove ownership.

Who Really Made the Real ‘Daffy’s Elixir’ and What Was Really In It?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/b25315a9-7b80-4636-95a5-b19a0061dc6d/transcript

According to the Vermont State Pharmacy Association in 1921, quote: "Dr. Kilmer's SWAMP-ROOT Kidney, Liver and Bladder Medicine … is a medicine of genuine merit. Thousands of letters we have received from druggists indicate that it has won the confidence of the people. We believe that the druggist who recommends it thereby helps his own reputation for reliability and truthfulness as his customer is usually satisfied with the results obtained from the use of Swamp-Root. …[The] preparation … is made upon honor and always kept up to its high standard of purity and excellence." They weren’t wrong; Swamp-Root was a very popular patent medicine product. But … made with honor? A reputation for … truthfulness? Aren’t we in snake oil season? Let’s meet this Dr. Kilmer and the Kilmer family, and talk about how Swamp-Root made them a ton of money. 

According to the Vermont State Pharmacy Association in 1921, quote: "Dr. Kilmer's SWAMP-ROOT Kidney, Liver and Bladder Medicine … is a medicine of genuine merit. Thousands of letters we have received from druggists indicate that it has won the confidence of the people. We believe that the druggist who recommends it thereby helps his own reputation for reliability and truthfulness as his customer is usually satisfied with the results obtained from the use of Swamp-Root. …[The] preparation … is made upon honor and always kept up to its high standard of purity and excellence." They weren’t wrong; Swamp-Root was a very popular patent medicine product. But … made with honor? A reputation for … truthfulness? Aren’t we in snake oil season? Let’s meet this Dr. Kilmer and the Kilmer family, and talk about how Swamp-Root made them a ton of money.

What Happened When – and After -- Dr. S. Andral Kilmer Founded His Laboratory and Remedy Company

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/f367e7cf-958e-42c2-853f-b19300d00270/transcript

Many patent medicines may have done more harm than good -- or at the very least, nothing at all -- and we’ve been talking about a good many of them so far this season. Ingredients in patent medicines were unregulated and manufacturers weren’t required to list ingredients on the label. Most didn’t help your problem, but there were several products that originated in that era that we still use to this day, believe it or not, although these modern versions typically don’t include exactly the same ingredients as their predecessors – which is often a good thing – and many are no longer claim to be cure-alls – which, too, is a good thing.  Let’s talk about a few of those patent medicine products that have persisted over the years. 

Many patent medicines may have done more harm than good -- or at the very least, nothing at all -- and we’ve been talking about a good many of them so far this season. Ingredients in patent medicines were unregulated and manufacturers weren’t required to list ingredients on the label. Most didn’t help your problem, but there were several products that originated in that era that we still use to this day, believe it or not, although these modern versions typically don’t include exactly the same ingredients as their predecessors – which is often a good thing – and many are no longer claim to be cure-alls – which, too, is a good thing.  Let’s talk about a few of those patent medicine products that have persisted over the years.

Patent Medicine Evolution: No Beer?  ‘Let Them Drink Sarsaparilla’

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/97c62038-2f5d-4402-bcd1-b185006efb86/transcript

Herbert E. Bucklen, Patent Medicine and 'Axle Grease Salesman'

In 1 playlist(s)

Criminalia

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips