I know that Ye Olde Bakery disappeared from the Thomas’ English Muffins package in some distant past. I remember it from when I was a boy.
[Life, February 29, 1969. Click for a larger view.]
But when did the horses, the carriage, and the people disappear? They make for a striking image, especially with the spokeless wheels.
[Click for a larger view.]
Here’s what the Thomas’ logo looked like recently:
[With spokes. Click for a larger view.]
And here’s what the Thomas’ logo looks like today:
[Click for a larger view.]
I noticed the absence of the horses, carriage, and people only this morning. A company representative tells me that they disappeared a few months ago but that they’re still present at the top of the package. And indeed they are:
[Click for a larger view.]
You can see them on the plastic wrap that’s bunched up above the bread clip. (Or muffin clip?) The little orange figures make me think of a pattern on kids’ pajamas.
I must note that the Thomas’ website, where I first looked for an answer to my question, shows a nice awareness of punctutation conventions:
Why is there an apostrophe after the “S” in Thomas’?Carriage or no, apostrophe-s or no, I’ll keep buying Thomas’ English Muffins.
When a name such as Thomas ends with an “s” and is used as possessive of something such as English muffins, an apostrophe can be added after the “s” or an apostrophe “s” can be used. It has been the desire of our Company to use the apostrophe after the “s.” Thomas’ is a registered trademark of Bimbo Bakeries USA.
A related post
“Think only pleasant thoughts” (A defense of English Muffins)
comments: 10
I grew up eating Thomas' English muffins as well. They've dropped out of my regular purchases, though.
The list of bakery products owned by Bimbo is pretty extensive. I mentioned it on one of my posts back in 2018. (I hope I did that link correctly!)
Yes, you did. Elaine pointed out the Bimbo connection to me this morning. I think they’ve ruined Entenmann’s, judging from what’s available here, but TEMs seem to still be okay.
Interesting about the apostrophe - over here in the old world I was always taught that you should still use s's for names _except for_ biblical or other classical names in their context... so one would write "Jesus' head" or "The Apostle Thomas' doubt" or "Sophocles' writing", but "my friend Thomas's house" or "Vangelis's music". Could it be that usage differs from one side of the Atlantic to the other?
i think everyone is re-doing their labels to attract younger buyers.
i stopped by my local liquor store earlier this week and ended up talking to the owner about wines i was looking for. his philosophy is if they don't pay their rent (sell) they are evicted!
he told me that many of the younger people (21+) buy based on what the label looks like and despite ratings by any wine lists. they also buy wine based on if their friends like it or drink it.
so basically all the ad money is going down the drain. i wonder if thomas' english muffins are doing the same with cleaning/modernizing their packaging.
kirsten
@Richard: That’s still a common rule. It’s in Garner’s Modern English Usage. There are also different ideas about what to do when the next work begins with an s. Me, I add apostrophe-s to all singular plurals. It’s simpler that way.
@Kirsten: I think so. I didn’t even ask why they changed it. it’s English Muffins 2.0!
I remember reading about the outcry when Camel modernized its pack design in the 1950s. They had to go back to the original look.
I used to work near the Bay’s English Muffin plant in Chicago. My afternoon walk often took me past there, and the smell was heavenly. Is it just my imagination, or do English muffins have a distinctive taste that regular bread doesn’t have? I swear they do, but can’t quite pinpoint it.
They do have a different taste. Thomas’ has a secret recipe. I will have to try Bays.
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/6829626
here is another company's recipe, p 23
https://repository.duke.edu/dc/eaa/CK0048
Thanks, Anon.
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