Current location:
Collection Storage Facility
Provenance:
Purchase in 1982 from Mr Tom Brown
Technical History:
Bug Death was an insecticide and plant food. While this product was more expensive than an arsenical insecticide, it was not poisonous like many similar products offered for sale. For this reason, the company marketed its product as safe for use on all plants.
History:
The potato is frequently attacked by insects of one species or another. Spraying is perhaps the most generally accepted method of applying insecticide, although dusting is almost as effective. This duster would have been guided by the handles by an operator as he or she walked up and down rows of potatoes. As the wheel turned, the belt would slowly rotate the cylindrical dust dispensers, which would sprinkle Bug Death insecticide on the potato plants below.
Transcript
0:21
And finally, the potato duster.
0:23
Originally created by Bug Death chemical company,
0:26
it has been striking fear in the hearts of cockroaches since 1910.
0:31
The potato duster was manufactured in St. Stephen New Brunswick
0:36
and it was used to dust potato fields getting rid of small rodents and insects.
0:41
So that meant adios Stewart Little, you’re going to have to get your McCain Fresh Cuts elsewhere.
0:47
The potato duster was not alone though, St. Stephen was also a big producer of chocolate.
0:51
It actually became known as “Canada’s chocolate town”,
0:54
which is better than its old slogan of “Canada’s bug assassins”.
0:59
So much carnage.
1:01
I like this, just a little sign that says “keep dry for applying bug death”
1:08
but I noticed no “Keep away from children”.
1:11
This was prior to a few lawsuits, I’m just going to go ahead and guess.
1:15
A recent statement by Mr. Potato head suggests that these chemicals may cause deformities.
1:20
“My nose is where my eyes should be bro,” said Mr. Potato Head.
1:25
And those working the farms were also warned to use extreme caution.
1:28
The way this works, if you’re like me you probably thought, oh it probably shoots out of the ends,
1:33
not actually the case. I just had this explained to me,
1:35
the Bug Death would be in here and it just rolls and sprinkles like a gentle deadly rain onto the crops.
1:46
Although the original version may seem a little intimidating,
1:50
more modern versions seemed less like a sadistic jungle gym
1:55
and also this was way more practical than hiring a bunch of creepy kids with magnifying glasses.
2:00
Remember that kid from school?
2:02
He was just like MYAAAAH, get a little bug, just burn it alive.
2:07
Whatever happened to that kid? I never liked him.
2:09
Memorizing stuff is hard guys.
2:11
I hate you potato duster!
2:13
Ugh… LAUGHTER
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