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WD-40 is the trademark of a widely-used penetrating oil (cleaner, lubricant and anti-corrosive solution) developed in 1953 by Norm Larsen, then working for the Rocket Chemical Company. It stands for "Water Displacement, 40th attempt" (see below). The product was first on store shelves in 1958.
In 1961, the Rocket Chemical Company renamed itself after WD-40 - then its only product. The WD-40 company still has its corporate offices in San Diego, California. It now markets its products in more than 160 countries around the globe. In 2003, it recorded sales of $238.1 million. The company went public in 1963. Its NASDAQ stock symbol is WDFC.
WD-40's name comes straight out of the lab book used by the chemist who developed WD-40 back in 1953. The chemist, Norm Larsen, was attempting to concoct a formula to prevent corrosion — a task which is done by displacing water. Norm's persistence paid off when he perfected the formula on his 40th try. [1] (http://www.wd40.com)
At one time there was for sale in Mexico a similar product called "WB-50" whose name apparently had no meaning other than to mark it as an alternative to WD-40.
WD-40 should not be used as a general-purpose lubricant, as it dries out very quickly and collects dust. This can result in serious damage to machinery and equipment that was lubricated with lightweight WD-40 when it was designed to use heavier oil.
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