Started in a Kitchen Sink: Iconic Wisconsin Product Now Worldwide

What's your go-to when the cold winds of winter blow?

I have a coat, a hat, for many of us, it's lip stuff, too.

But did you know one of the most popular brands, Carmex, the one in the little yellow tube

or tub, is a Wisconsin product?

It's made in Franklin, a suburb of Milwaukee, and it's shipped to more than 60 countries

every year.

So can you guess the original use for Carmex?

Fixing squeaky doors, actual lip balm, or to soften baseball gloves?

The answer?

Comey not.

Alfred Wolving created Carmex in the kitchen of his Dodge County home in Rubicon in 1937.

He hand poured thousands of jars until deciding to automate the manufacturing process in

the 70s.

Now, can you guess the original use for Carmex when it was created more than 80 years

ago?

It's always been meant to be a lip balm, but people use it on other drier itchy skin

areas, too.

It remains a true slice of Wisconsin.

I'm Terry Barr for the Civic Media Radio Network.