Bratlie (Nor)

Torger Bratlie was an Oslo local (Nittedal, later home to Blå-Skia) who took out several patents on ski wax in the 1920s.  With some partners he began commercial manufacture of waxes in the basement at Etterstadgata 4 in Vålerenga, Gamle Oslo.  (If you're coming into Oslo on the E6 from the airport, that area is on the right, before the first tunnel where your GPS goes nuts)

Bratlie made a very popular line of tar-based waxes.  In the early 1970s the company was purchased by Astra, the parent company of Swix.  Bratlie-branded waxes were made through the 1970s and then the product line was discontinued.

Bratlie also made waxes for the Slazenger brand.

According to historian Ørnulf Martinsen, who wrote a history of Bratlie wax and the premises on which production took place, well over 1 MILLION units of wax were produced in the basement at Etterstadgata 4 over a 50 year period.  And, most of the time, the operation was run by one person! (Hans Olsen Oset)

Bratlie classic lineup, before sale to Swix.  The last generation of Bratlie was a familiar lineup of 4 colored hardwaxes and 2 klisters; not listed below.

1 - Silke - for tørr nysnø (cold dry new snow). Sold in tin 6 - Hoppsmøring - you guessed it; wax for ski jumping. Sold in tin
2 - Blanding - for new snow under and around 0c.  Sold in tin 7 - Grønt klister - for corn snow in cold temps.  Sold in can or tube.  Originally #7 was a new wet snow klister (later #10)
3 - Klistervoks - for wet and grainy snow (but not too wet or warm!).  Sold in tin 8 - Våt snø klister - for corn snow above freezing.  Sold in can or tube
4 - Skarevoks - for old and corned snow in cold temperatures.  Sold in tin 9 - Skareklister - for sharp snow in cold temperatures.  Sold in can or tube
5 - Slalåm / Utforkjøren - for downhill skiing.  Sold in tin 10 - Yellow klister for wet new snow.  Sold in can or tube. Originally was a cover product "for god gli"; yellow klister was #7 (and was green!)

Hardwaxes (1 - 6) were sold in cylindrical tins like modern hardwax.  Some were tear-off, and some were push-up.  Earlier versions had cardboard wrapping onto which the graphics were printed.  Klisters initially came in a can about the size of a small biscuit.  Later, klister was sold in tubes, as is common now