To Milwaukee Soapmaker Caleb Johnson, president of Palmolive Co., the Russian Revolution was a nuisance. On the day they assassinated the Tsar, a boatload of his pet Palmolive Soap was ploughing the grey Pacific, Vladivostok-bound, By the time it reached Japan the Russians were too busy to wash. The Japanese, no great shakes as soap consumers themselves, let the cargo pile up storage fees for three years. Finally, Soapman Johnson got a tip: Australia needed soap. To Sydney went the lot. Australians snapped it up at 30ยข a cake.
When Palmolive merged with Kansas City's Peet Bros. (Crystal White Laundry Soap)...