Timex Commercials Quotes
Shmoop will make you a better lover...of quotes
ALL QUOTES POPULAR BROWSE BY AUTHOR BROWSE BY SOURCE BROWSE BY TOPIC BROWSE BY SUBJECT
Source: Timex Commercials
Speaker: John Cameron Swayze
It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.
Context
This line is spoken by John Cameron Swayze on a series of TV commercials for Timex watches (1950s-60s).
Back when television was still shiny and new, Timex came up with a brilliant ad campaign where they literally put their watches through torture tests to prove their durability. And guess what? It worked. Timex got the endearing Swayze to be their spokesperson on their TV spots, and America loved him. Seriously. Watch one of the original commercials and you'll be a believer too.
Where you've heard it
The campaign saw a resurgence in the 90s, but has since been retired. Kudos to Timex's marketing gurus for making this one of the most recognizable ad campaigns ever.
Pretentious Factor
If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.
No one really uses the "takes a licking" phrase anymore, which is probably why Timex canned this one. There's a time and a place for everything, which you should know because you're wearing a Timex, right?