Morton
Salt Girl -
The company mascot for the Morton
Salt Company since the early 1900s. The idea for the Morton Salt
Girl (who has never been given a name) came about when the
company began adding magnesium carbonate to their salt product
in 1911. This additive kept the moisture level at a minimum and
promoted a freer flowing salt product. To advertise this concept
to its customers, the company created the image of little girl
walking underneath an umbrella as she carried a round container
of Morton salt with the spout open and salt running out on the
ground. The ads ran in Good Housekeeping magazine. Their
slogan read: "Even in rainy weather, it flows freely."
Eventually, the slogan was modified to say "When it rains, it
pours." From time to time, the image of the Morton Salt Girl has
been modified with a more modern look (new dresses and
hairstyles). First in 1921 and then in 1933, 1941, 1956, and
1968.
|
Morton
Salt Girl Over the Years |
|
 |
 |
 |
| 1914 |
1921 |
1933 |
|
 |
 |
 |
| 1941 |
1956 |
1968 |
Now owned by the Rohm and Hass chemical conglomerate, Morton
International is the number-one salt company in North America
and the only nationally distributed salt in the United States.
The company takes its name from its founders, Joy and Mark
Morton. Initially Joy Morton worked as a partner with E. I.
Wheeler & Company, a Chicago company that sold salt. When his
partner died in 1885, Joy teamed with his brother Mark to form
the Joy Morton Company which eventually became the Morton Salt
Company in 1910.
Their company's distinctive 26oz blue and white
cardboard canister with an aluminum pouring spout was invented
by J. R. Harbeck. Prior to that time, salt was sold in bags
which tended to become hard and lumpy due to salt's hydroscopic
properties.
In 1924, Morton added iodine to their salt to help
eliminate iodine deficiency problems in the general population.
Advertisments reading "Face the facts mothers, for your
children's sake, this simple addition to diet improves food and
protects health." and "Brilliance for Little Minds, Strength for
Little Bodies" promoted the importance of iodine in the diet.
1951 Morton's Salt Ad
