Leader Board Ad

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Forhans and one eye -Strange ads from 1926

This is just a one column strip that I really wanted to post just for the Artificial eye ad alone, but the whole column is worth reading.
Forhans toothpaste and artificial eyes 1926


Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Found Photos: Empowered Victorian Women

All these photos came from the same pile. Several of them look like different scenes with the same woman. However, to me all old photos begin to blur and I start to see just the Victorian clothing and all the people begin to look the same. Can you see anything in these photos? Let me know in the comments. 







Front

Back

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

All your 1933 mixing needs - lady of the house

Old cookbooks from manufacturers are pretty common and I won't pick them up unless there's a really good looking ad right in the center fold. 
I realize this was a complementary give away for an appliance store or department store, but if you bought it don't you think this ad would be really loud and redundant? "I know already! I bought the damn thing!"

There was an updated price sticker that had a really great fine print notice to it:
If you're West of Denver...sorry. It's gonna cost you more to have us ship this over the Rockies.
In all I'd say this is a handsome mixer, but I think they should have hid the name of the manufacturer completely - Chicago Flexible Shaft Company? Really?

Monday, March 18, 2013

Before Bazooka Joe there was Dub and Bub

When it comes to treasure hunting you have to be a "Nook & Cranny" kinda guy (or gal). The reason I can find these things is that I will look in places no one else will. Floor boards in an attic? No problem. Under carpeting or linoleum in an old closet? No problem!  I don't always get lucky, but sometimes...
That is, if you call this getting lucky. I can't quite peg the year on this. Fleer Double Bubble cartoons wrapped around a piece of gum goes back to the 1930's. This could be 60's or maybe 70's. There is more information on these and Bazooka Joe here. 

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Other People's Mail (Rated R)

I don't often find good examples of WWII era letters. When I do it's usually "V" mail photgraphed and copied and reviewed by censors so it doesn't contain any breech of security. This also scrubs all the value of why you would want to read other peoples' mail in the first place. Fortunately these sample provide a little more real view into the experience of folks during WWII. 



This letter from a female cousin of the addressee gives a good view of what it was like live in the 1940's



 Good references to Connecticut amusements and events during wartime. I especially like where she asks if "...you've met any cute W.A.V.E.S. or bathing beauties."  (WAVES stood for Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service)

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Scientific American 1880

Just the condition of this 1880 edition of the:
1880 Scientific American Masthead
Was enough to make me feel as though I'd found a treasure, but the cover had a series of the inner workings of a local business:
NY Belting and Packing Co. Newtown carving
The best part about this 130 year old business is that the building is still there. This is what it looked like in at the last part of the 19th century: (Thank you to the CT Historical Society for this image)
NY Belting and Packing Co. Newtown Photo
This is a top view (Updated image coming soon) of how it looks today:
I was equally impressed with the terrific ads in the back pages of the scientific American
Carnegie Steel
 While my favorite may be the urging of Andrew Carnegie to consider the safety and cost effectiveness of Steel over Wood, I have to say, that cigar fan is an odd novelty.
Overall, not a bad purchase for $7.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

70mpg Breakthrough!!! But you'll never see the kids again.

Of all the little border ads I've ever seen in in back pages of major (and minor) magazines - this ad has to be one of my favorites.
It's an Eshelman! Soon everyone will be driving an Eshelman. Eshelman will be a household name, or at least a garage-hold name. This is a gem from 1954 Collier's and there are a few questions I have to ask. 1) Was there really a problem with kiddie cars being gas guzzlers? and 2) Exactly how many gallons of gas does this car's tank hold, and 3) Where the heck do these kids plan to go? and finally, I just notice the best claim made by this ad:
 Wha....? Well with offices in Maryland, Chicago and LA they really must be going places, well at least 70 miles from here.