Fans clarify Kramer's quote about carpet cleaners being a scam compared to one-hour martinizing, discussing the meaning and history of the dry-cleaning process.
In "The Suicide" episode, Kramer is talking to Newman, concerned about getting back the vacuum cleaner that Martin had borrowed. Newman says that Kramer can use his carpet cleaner. Kramer declines, and says something like (I am citing from memory) that "the carpet cleaner is the biggest American scam (?) since.." and here is my question: (I just don't hear exactly what he is saying) since what??
Trond Olav
I believe it was "... the biggest hoax pulled on the American public since one hour martinizing," which is a dry-cleaning process for clothing.
In article [email], [email] (Trond Olav Berg) writes:
[snip]
Thanks! It was "martinizing" I didn't get.
Why isn't this word in dictionaries ? (I have checked), and what about the etymology (the origin of the word) ?
What is the history of martinizing? Is it still popular? (if not, when was this hoax being pulled on the American public?)
Trond Olav
Same reason you won't likely find Q-tip in the dictionary.. it was/is a "brand" name for the process they supposedly used.. sorry, don't know any more on the history of it. I do remember reading a nice piece on it though in on of those "Do Fish Sleep", "Why do Clocks run Clockwise", "Why do dogs have Wet Noses" series of books.. again, sorry but I don't know exactly which one, or even the names of the authors. :P My collection is back home... yet another reason I need a vacation from school!
Randy Farmer