E. H. Bronner

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Emanuel H. Bronner (February 1, 1908 - March 7, 1997) was the eccentric maker of Dr. Bronner's castile soap, a concentrated liquid notable for the vast amount of lather produced from a few drops and the vast amount of tiny text on its packaging. Although his parents were killed in the Holocaust, Bronner believed in the goodness and unity of humanity.

He was born in Heilbronn, Germany to the Heilbronner family of soap makers. He emigrated to the United States in 1929, dropping "Heil" from his name to protest the rise of Hitler. He pleaded with his parents to emigrate with him for fear of the Nazis, but they refused. His last contact with his parents was in the form of a postcard saying, "You were right. —Your loving father."

He started his business making products by hand in his home. The product labels were crowded with statements of Bronner's philosophy, which he called "All-One-God-Faith" and the "Moral ABCs". Many of Bronner's references came from Jewish and Christian sources, such as the Shema and the Beatitudes; others from poets such as Rudyard Kipling. Sometimes they contained unusual product statements, for example suggesting a contraceptive use for the soap. They became famous for their idiosyncratic style, including hyphens to join long strings of words and the liberal use of exclamation marks. In 1947, while promoting his "Moral ABC's" at the University of Chicago, Bronner was arrested and committed to a mental hospital from which he escaped after several electroconvulsive therapy treatments.

After moving his family several times, he settled in Escondido, California where eventually his soap-making operation grew into a small factory. At his death in 1997, it produced over a million bottles of soap and other products a year but was still not mechanized. The firm did no advertising but has been the subject of many published articles. It supported many charitable causes.

After Bronner's death, his family continued the business. They have said the labels he wrote will not change except when required by government regulations. The only change in the soap formula is the substitution of hemp seed oil for jojoba. This marketer reports that this makes the soap milder and less drying. The labels are now printed with hemp seed ink.

[edit] Sample text

The following is from the wrapper on of one of his bars of soap, literally every centimeter of which is covered with similar dense text.

Absolute cleanliness is Godliness! Who else but God gave man Love that can spark mere dust to life! Poetry, uniting All-One! All brave! All life! Who else but God! "Listen Children Eternal Father Eternally One!"

Einstein, 1939, after Nazis & Commies united, proposed spacebombs that destroy all, unless we finally teach the Moral ABC's the real Rabbi Hillel taught Jesus to unite all in All-One-God-Faith. As teach astronomers Abraham - Israel - Moses - Buddha - Hillel - Jesus - Spinoza - Paine - Sagan & Mohammed, inspired every 76 years, 6000 years by the Messenger of God's Law, the sign of the Messiah, Halley's Comet: "WE'RE ALL ONE OR NONE!" "THERE IS NO GOD BUT GOD!" "TEACH LOVE THY ENEMY!" "LISTEN CHILDREN ETERNAL FATHER ETERNALLY ONE!" Israel-Moses-Buddha-Jesus-Mohammed: ONE! ALL ONE!

[edit] List of Products (Past and Present)

Liquid Castille Soap
- Peppermint
- Almond
- Baby Mild
- Tea Tree
- Eucalyptus
- Lavender

Solid Castille Soap
- Peppermint
- Almond
- Baby Mild
- Tea Tree
- Eucalyptus
- Lavender
- Rose
- Lemon

Sal Suds

Food Products
- Mineral Bouillon
- Cheezon Corn
- Corn Sesame
- Calcium Malt
- Hawaiian Syrup
- Raw Vege Instant Soup
- Balanced Mineral Seasoning
- Dulse