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Varsol
DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)
Spelling variants:varsol
n. — proprietary, Industry
a light, pretroleum-based solvent; paint thinner.
Type: 3. Semantic Change — Varsol was first manufactured by the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey. A trademark for the name Varsol was filed by the company in 1928, and registered in 1929 (see US Patent Office reference, search "Varsol", serial number 71262422). The product is now manufactured by the American company Exxon Mobil; however, internet domain searches indicate that although the product is American, the use of the term is more prevalent in Canada (see Chart 1). This may be because Varsol has generalized in the Canadian context to denote any and all types of solvents (note, e.g. the 1997 quotation where the lower case is used, and it is placed on equal footing with generic "gasoline", or the 2015 quotation). In the US, the terms "mineral spirits", or "paint thinner" or other brand names are competitors for Varsol.
See also COD-2, s.v. "Varsol", which is marked "Cdn proprietary".
See also COD-2, s.v. "Varsol", which is marked "Cdn proprietary".
Quotations
1933
Varsol is used by all dry cleaners. It is not as dangerous as high test gasoline and SELLS FOR LESS.
1940
On the use of gasoline for cleaning purposes, however, he issues a stern warning - "Never do it." There are solvents on the market that are just as good cleansers, and not so volatile and dangerous, such as Stoddard and Varsol.
1951
It's ready for the brush as it comes from the can. It can be sprayed on... when you thin it with one quart of Imperial Varsol 3139 per gallon.
1974
There are many products on the market to remove these winged specimens, and almost all contain some measure of Varsol.
1988
The price is just under $20 for a spray can large enough to do four wheels. Just spray it on in the fall and wash it off with Varsol in the spring.
1997
BRAKES: Brake cleaner is used specifically to remove grease and brake fluid from brake components. A big plus, brake cleaner often eliminates brake squeals. To clean brake parts, shoes, pads, calipers, or brake cylinders, use only brake cleaner as a solvent. Other solvents such as varsol, gasoline, etc., may cause permanent damage or failure of vital components.
2005
When an American is nauseous, she won't reach for Gravol but for Dramamine. Javex, Varsol and garburator may be Canadian household items, but an American will probably not be familiar with these terms and will refer to them as chlorine bleach, mineral spirits and garbage disposal unit, respectively.
2015
As for the dangerous goods route, right now goods like gasoline, varsol and oilfield waste are travelling through the core of town and in high traffic areas, and Winter said that can be dangerous.
2016
Well it's the 21st century now, and that was 1997, more than 20 years ago, and the cod fishery is only just now showing some signs of recovery. I remember when apprenticing at RAngus Caterpillar in Edmonton, how we would clean our work bays, two full 20 liter buckets of varsol dumped on the cement, brushed in, then rinsed off with the fire hoses. The floors in that place were bleached white, but all the stuff eventually drained into the river. That was 1970, this is 2016. There are not a few thousand cars on the road, but several hundred million, and that's just us in North America.
References
- COD-2
- US Patent Office • "Varsol"
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