Kiwi Polish Co

of Church End, Finchley, London, N3

Kiwi is the brand name of a shoe polish, first made in Australia in 1906, and as of 2005 sold in almost 180 countries. Owned by the Sara Lee Corporation since 1984, it is the dominant shoe polish in some countries, including the United Kingdom and the United States, where it has about two-thirds of the market.

This shoe polish was developed by Australia-based Scottish-born inventor William Ramsay, who named it Kiwi' as a homage to his wife, Annie Elizabeth Meek Ramsay, a New Zealander, otherwise known as a Kiwi. Its success in Australia expanded overseas when it was adopted by both the British and American armies in World War I.

• 1922 Listed Exhibitor. Manufacturers of "Kiwi" Boot Polish in seven shades: Black, Tan, and Patent Leather; Light Tan, Brown, Dark Tan and Ox Blood. (Stand No. J.125)

Sources of Information

• [1] Wikipedia
• 1922 British Industries Fair Page 45