The Kolynos Parley Voo Booklet
The Kolynos “Parley Voo Booklet” was created by the Kolynos toothpaste company from New Haven, Connecticut, and was published in 1918. (1) It was touted at the time as being a practical French and German phrase and pronunciation book and would have been given to American troops who were fighting overseas. Throughout the booklet, there are rough translations and even rougher pronunciations of certain phrases that troops who did not speak French or German would need to know, whether this book was an effective substitute for either language remained to be seen. Kolynos also informs the soldier using this booklet that by brushing your teeth, you too could have good hygiene and win the Great War. On one of the opening pages, the company provides a letter written to Kolynos about how troops in Europe were using their product and it gave them great joy and comfort in the absence of water. (2) Whether this story is real is another question. Kolynos providing booklets like these show how product placement and advertising would continue even during tragic historical events such as the Great War and that some corporations would have no problem profiting off the fight.