Ben Hirsch, the founder of Turtle Wax® Inc. was a very diverse and creative entrepreneur. He used his experience in the grocery business to invent products such as tasty chocolate covered bananas, dessert toppings and Angel Rinse™ cold wash detergent. While working in the grocery business, Ben met his future wife/partner Marie and together they set out to formulate the world's first liquid car polish, which came to be known as Plastone.

Using his chemical background, $500.00, and a small storefront on Chicago Avenue, Ben and Marie mixed the Plastone car polish in their bathtub. Marie would then bottle the car polish and Ben would sell it by traveling on the city's electric street car. Sometimes Ben would hand polish the fender of a parked car and then wait for the owner to return to make a sale! While Ben continued inventing other items, such as Penny® Shoe Shine Polish and even one of the original Shop- At-Home catalogs, Plastone grew into America's most popular liquid car polish.

While on a 1950's business trip to Beloit, Wisconsin, Ben came across Turtle Creek. He made the connection between a Turtle's protective hard shell and his Plastone Polish. From that day on Plastone was renamed Super Hard Shell®, and the company became Turtle Wax® Inc. Since then, Turtle Wax® has continued to grow, with products now distributed worldwide, offering the largest array of car care products offered by a single company.

Ben's family played an important part in this success. In 1966, Ben's daughter Sondra began working at Turtle Wax® and by 1972 she was appointed Chairman of the Board. Sondra's husband, Denis J. Healy, joined the company in 1971 after a successful Research and Development career with Colgate- Palmolive and Mennen, and now serves as President of the company.

Turtle Wax® has grown from a bathtub brew to the world leader in auto appearance technology largely on the strength of its product research and development. Considered the finest in the industry, Turtle Wax® R & D has continually led the way with breakthrough products and concepts.

Turtle Wax® Inc.'s headquarters and operations remain in Chicago. The company's facility in Skelmersdale, England forms its international manufacturing and distribution base. The Turtle Wax® name is synonymous with automotive care leadership, with distribution in over 60 countries. Even in areas as far away as Scandinavia, Turtle Wax® holds a 95% brand awareness. And the lively green turtle, which has been the company's logo for nearly 50 years, needs no translation.

For over a half-century, Turtle Wax® has been the leader in the automotive car care markets. Thanks to Ben Hirsch and the ongoing, leading-edge product research and development, the world's cars will continue to shine with Turtle Wax® for years to come.

Turtle Wax Limited (Registered in England & Wales No. 0836643), Turtle Wax Europe BV (Registered in England & Wales No. FCD26441), East Gillibrands, Skelmersdale, Lancashire, WN8 9TX.