If you remember back to the mid-1960s (1965 to be exact), you may recall that there was a "paper shortage". I put that in quotes because no one ever convinced me that the shortage was due to anything other than the makers of paper products wished to make higher profits. If they squeezed the public by withholding product for a few months, they could raise prices and the consumer would be so happy to be able to obtain the product that they would not revolt.
Let's talk toilet paper (TP - or toilet tissue, TT, if you were raised to be more refined). Before the paper shortage of 1965, the standard roll of TP contained 500 4.5"X4.5" sheets. After the shortage, the size of the standard roll was about 450 sheets, as I recall (anyone else remember for sure?) Over the years, the number of sheets on a standard roll continued to dwindle. These days, there really is no such thing as a standard roll - each manufacturer seems to have a different idea as to what it is; but, I can assure you that I have seen rolls of toilet paper with fewer than 200 sheets on it.
Some time ago, I noticed that the size of a toilet paper sheet had been reduced. I don't know what the size was reduced to (I don't recall); but, that wasn't the last time. About a year ago, the size was reduced again. I commented at the time that, if the trend continued, we would be buying rolls of ribbon to wrap around our fingers!
In the past couple of years, I have switched to buying "Mega" rolls - in order to spend less time changing rolls in the bathrooms. Believe me, I have tried different brands; but, because I saved the wrapper from my latest purchase, that is what you will see in the photos, below.
The first photo shows that the width of the roll has decreased over time. The older roll of TP (on the left) is a bit wider than the newer roll. (Trust me on this: In this house, we will never be caught without TP in each bathroom. We have two of the older rolls that have been in the cabinet for a year or two. I kept them because I had every intention of complaining to the manufacturer about the, then-latest reduction in paper. At some point, I threw away the packaging to the older rolls; but, funny thing is, my complaint was before the latest reduction!)
Notice too that in the photo above, the right-hand roll appears to be larger - to contain more sheets. It does not. It contains fewer sheets. The manufacturer just wound the paper less tightly. BTW: Hunky Husband just walked by and thought that it was perspective that made the two rolls look different, one from the other - until I showed him the real rolls.
The photos below show parts of the front and back labeling on the package that I bought the other day. You'll note on the upper of the two photos that one (in this case "Mega") roll is equivalent to four standard rolls.
But, OMG, read (below) how many sheets are on each roll: 330 sheets. If I remember my goesintos, I infer that there are 82.5 sheets per roll. Can you believe that?!!!!
Oh...and while you are looking, note that each sheet is 4.27"x4".
Summary: Incredible shrinking sheets on incredibly shrinking rolls.
Pissing and moaning over: Let's go for Cute.
You are probably familiar with CYA (Cover Your Ass); but, did you ever see PYA (Protect Your Ass)? See below the fold a photo of a cute lapel button that HH brought home some years ago.
I have noticed that the rolls get bigger, then smaller, then "new and impproved" bigger again (at a bigger price of course). I just went and looked at our package and it says we get 176 squares per roll - for a double roll. I won't measure, but will go with your assertion that the squares are smaller.
The PYA girl looks suspiciously like the Coppertone Girl of old that had a dog attached to her britches.
Bogie--There was such a mass of coding there that I kept getting errors. Hope this is about where you wished to end up. Love, Mom
Posted by: bogie | January 13, 2013 at 04:57 PM
Apparently your site hates me and won't let me put in the links correctly. I guess you'll have to fix it for me again.
Wish I knew why my blog does that to you. You are way better at the codes than I am! I hope that you can live with what I gave you. If not, please email me what you really want. CC
Posted by: bogie | January 13, 2013 at 04:59 PM
Bogie--Someone probably took artistic license. Wonder if Coppertone noticed?
Posted by: Cop Car | January 13, 2013 at 06:06 PM
Aaaargh! You piqued my scientific curiosity! So, being on a roll (sic!), I went and measured ours.
9.8 cms by 13 cms (about 3.9 inches by 5.1 inches) and 200 sheets recycled paper per triple ply roll. 3-4 sheets per wipe.
Recycled? Yes I refuse to sacrifice fresh trees just to wipe my posterior!
My prejudices being what they are, I had assumed that Walmart sheets would be considerably larger :evil grin: ;-)
The first sheets of toilet paper were made BC for the Chinese emperors and were HUGE by modern standards, like a serviette.
Meanwhile in western society (Jerusalem 33 AD) they were using vinegar soaked sponges. The vinegar killed bacteria and the sponges were reusable after washing; papyrus was too valuable to use for asswipes. This is what Christ was given on the cross, to drink from. Psychological torture, even back then!
When Ted Simon rode his Triumph motorcycle around the world in the sixties (DO read his trip report book!) he knew that non-european societies used their right hand to eat and their left hand to asswipe, "but I had always assumed they had toilet paper" ;-) Hilarious :-)
Posted by: Ole Phat Stu | January 14, 2013 at 01:15 PM
Stu--You really do buy rolls of ribbon, don't you?
I'll ignore your swipe at Walmart. I'm of two minds (no mind?) on them. [Disclosure: I have held a few shares for at least 25 years - sold 1/2 of them at least 15 years ago and bought an equal number of shares of Target.]
Oh, my. I had not known the implication of the vinegar soaked sponge given to Christ. Thanks for furthering my education - as you seem prone to doing.
We did not have TP WIWAK. We used pages from Montgomery Ward or Sears, Roebuck & Co catalogs. The first encounter with TP that I recall was in the outhouse of a neighbor. I recall my young friend's chiding me for not knowing how to fold the paper! (This would have been when she was 4 or 5 years of age and I a year younger. Norma Jean was the only girl within my wandering range who was close to my age.) Her family was one of the leading families in the area, her father being the community school superintendent. (The school included grades 1-10 in two rooms and an auditorium that was mostly used for community meetings.) BTW: Although serviettes (cloth napkins to us in the States) are of various sizes, the smallest is surely at least 6"x6"; so, from ancient times to my time, the square size had already shrunk considerably.
OK. The next time I'm at the local library, I'll look for Simon's book. *groaning*
Posted by: Cop Car | January 14, 2013 at 04:30 PM
Jupiter's Travels , ISBN-13: 978-0140054101, is the one you want.
Posted by: Ole Phat Stu | January 15, 2013 at 12:08 AM
I started buying the 1000 sheet rolls years ago because I felt I was always replacing rolls. Mine aren't as soft as some, but it's better than constantly replacing the rolls. But then I felt that even though I always buy the same brand, those rolls were growing smaller. The paper also feels thinner to me. It does irk a person as it's sneaky.
Posted by: Rain Trueax | January 15, 2013 at 04:52 PM
Are these people using this comment form to post their comments? while I have been dutifully sending all comments via email as requested?
what gives here?
I always buy 1000 sheet rolls of TP in 12 paks--12 rolls per pkg. I like the thin kind. Does a better job at what it's supposed to do.
And so on.....
Posted by: M.E. | January 17, 2013 at 06:26 PM
Oh, wait....this is CC's blog, not Stu's. hmph.
Posted by: M.E. | January 17, 2013 at 06:27 PM
ME--I can understand your confusion. Stu and I look enough alike to be twins. (Talk about alternate universes!)
Posted by: Cop Car | January 18, 2013 at 07:16 AM
llaw eht no rorrim rorrim ;-)
Posted by: Ole Phat Stu | January 18, 2013 at 11:40 PM
Stu--dnaw red na nielgeipS, nielgeipS (I am right-handed, so you are left-handed?)
Posted by: Cop Car | January 19, 2013 at 11:39 AM
Ambisinistrous? No, my chirality is RH.
Re education : did you also know that the Romans cleaned their teeth with twigs soaked in urine?
Can you imagine the smell of the chattering classes :-(
Posted by: Ole Phat Stu | January 19, 2013 at 12:16 PM
Probably more sterile than the toothbrushes that most of us use!
I'm done....
Posted by: Cop Car | January 19, 2013 at 05:08 PM