Posted by Danny Baronian on January 27, 2004
Marjorie MeyerI called the Bon Ami lab today since it seemed it was being discontinued. Here's what I learned.
The composition of Bon Ami has always been the same. It's make up is 50 % each of seldspar and tallow soap. Soda ash is occasionally used as a filler, according to the lab chemist. Bon Ami in the mustard colored can is the same as the bar soap. The metallic gold can of Bon Ami has more tallow to make the seldspar less abrasive.
When I asked if it was being discontinued she said no and checked with another chemist who's reply was the same. She said they are experiencing production difficulties, and steps are being taken to remedy that. Most of the problems are due to production equipment that is close to a hundred years old. Due to equipment changes, someone may have thought it was being dropped altogether.
So the supply of Bon Ami is safe. For now.
Danny
Mike JacksonI followed up today and was told The Faultless Starch/Bon Ami Company will discontinue manufacturing the Bon Ami cakes, not the powdered form. Call customer service for the company at 816-842-1230 if you want confirmation or more information ask for Ben Stark.
One of the distribution centers (Age Long) said they have a very large supply of the Bon Ami Cakes. Their number is 1-800-892-8022. They also have a link on the http://www.bonami.com site (go to retail locations).
Jeffrey P. LangHi Danny,
I probably have three or four unopened cakes of Bon Ami, and three or so that are half hollowed out from rubbing cotton on them. I figure one or two would last the average person their lifetime if using it only for glass work. I don't know of anyone using it in their shower or next to the sink in the bathroom, so its hard to image there ever IS or WAS a great demand for it. It's one or two steps below LAVA soap!
Thanks for checking on it for us. No need to further the rumor.
Mike Jackson
Danny,
Thanks for tracking down the information! I see a phone call is all it took, I shouldn't have been so lazy.
Danny,
I replied before I read the reply in Marjorie's post...I'm going to call myself.
Thanks,
Jeff
Jeff