Team:

For an article that I am writing, I am needing some examples of "brands" that have either (a) had some good years and some bad years, and (b) brands that have been consistently strong over the decades.

In the first category, I think of the Scheaffer pen and the Ford Mustang. They each produced some excellent products (1930s for the Schaeffers and 1960s for the Mustangs), followed by some bad years -- we saw some $2.00 Scheaffers in the 1980s and 1990s; we saw some absolutely awful Mustangs in the 1980s, for example.

In the second category, it seems that some automotive brands have maintained excellence over the decades; same for some watch brands . . . but I am less interested in this phenomenon. More interested in the great to awful category, as described above for the Scheaffers and Mustangs.

When was the last time that you saw what used to be a fine brand, and shed a tear that the name was now used for an awful product? Cars; pens; knives; guns; audio equipment; clothes; shoes . . . any other categories of products or collectibles?

Thanks for any suggestions.

Jeff