Although most of them often go unnoticed, a couple of everyday items retain the same color scheme. If you are curious to know why taxis are yellow or why doctors wear white coats, you are in luck! This article will give you the much-needed answers and more.
1. Taxis are Yellow Because It’s the Most Visible Color for a Car
Policies from most places around the world require Taxis to be painted yellow. However, that was not always the case. When the Taxi concept was invented, cars of all colors were legible. However, after John Hertz created the Hertz Rental Company, he funded research to figure out which car color was the most visible. The results showed yellow was the best option.
John Hertz painted all his Taxis yellow, and other companies followed suit. True to the research, yellow makes it easier for passengers to spot taxis and stop them for a ride. This color became so popular that some jurisdictions passed laws to paint all Taxis yellow. The same concept is true for school busses.
2. The Flag of Surrender is White Because It was the Most Common Cloth Color in the Past
Because dye was expensive centuries ago, white was the main color for all cloths. Armies chose white to be the color of the flag of surrender because, at any time, they could easily find a white piece of clothing and hang it on a pole. The other reason is because white is easily visible and can be spotted from a distance.
3. Airplanes are White Because It’s Cheaper
Most civilian airline companies prefer to paint their planes white because it is cheaper than other colors. The cost of purchasing a plane is extremely high. So, airline companies prefer to retain the white paint job and add their branding to maximize profits. The other reason airplanes are white is because it reflect heat. A darker color would absorb more heat, thus leading to more costs in running the plane’s HVAC system.
4. Department Stores Chose the Colors Blue and Pink for Boys and Girls Respectively
Ever wondered why most boys’ clothes, toys, and accessories are blue or pink for girls? Before the 20th century, there was no specific color for boys or girls. All children mostly wore white clothing because it was much easier to bleach in case it got dirty or spilled, and they were worn by kids of both genders.
However, in the 1900s, department stores started pushing the narrative for gender-colored clothing to increase sales. That’s when the blue and pink outfits were invented. During this period, pink was assigned to boys and blue to girls. This was, however, changed later on and has remained a standard practice to date.
5. Doctors Wear White Coats to Portray Cleanliness
In the hospital, cleanliness is critical. It is the main reason why doctors wear white coats. During the 1800s, black was the go-to color for physician attire. It was used to portray how severe the matter was, as a trip to the doctor was bad news at the time.
However, in the 1900s, doctors wanted to rebrand and change the narrative, so they turned to white to make their presence less threatening. Also, white showcases cleanliness.
6. Red Carpets are Red Because It’s a Prestigious Color
Red carpet events are only graced by celebrities, the wealthy, and people in power – a concept dating back to the Ancient Greek Empire. There’s a story about King Agamemnon, who, in 458 BC, arrived home to a red carpet and was even afraid of walking on it because he was a mere mortal.
Throughout history, red garments have been associated with the wealthy because they are expensive to make. The use of the color red is because it’s generally associated with prestige and luxury.
7. Pencils are Yellow Because One of the Manufacturers Wanted to Associate It with European Royalty
The reason why pencils are yellow is attributed to politics. When Franz von Hardmuth entered the pencil manufacturing industry, he faced heavy competition from other manufacturers. To make his pencils stand out, he borrowed the colors of the Austro-Hungarian flag, which was black and yellow. The graphite was already black, so all he did was paint the outer shell of the pencil yellow.
8. Toilet Paper is Whitened to Make It Softer
Toilet paper is initially brown-grey after being manufactured. However, it is bleached to turn white for two main reasons. Bleaching softens the toilet paper which makes it convenient to use. Secondly, it turns the toilet paper white to make it appear cleaner. However, some companies use colors like blue and pink to appeal to specific demographics.
9. Tires are Blackened to Last Longer
Initially, tires were left to retain the original white color of rubber. However, white tires were vulnerable to UV rays, cracked easily, wore out much quicker, and couldn’t provide premium handling. To alleviate these problems, manufacturers added carbon black to tires in the early 1900s, making them more durable. Since then, carbon black has been the go-to color for all tires.
10. Tennis Balls are Optic Yellow for Easy Visibility on TV
Before tennis games aired on TV, the balls were either black or white. When this game finally made it to the screens, fans had a hard time keeping track of the ball on the court. As such, the Tennis Federation researched and discovered that optic yellow tennis balls are more visible on television. This change was enforced in 1972. Easy visibility on TV also prompted basketballs to be changed from brown to orange.