Advertising

Ivory Soap Ad

Advertising is meant to persuade, and the themes and techniques of that persuasion reveal a part of the nation's history. The Museum has preserved advertising campaigns for several familiar companies, such as Marlboro, Alka-Seltzer, Federal Express, Cover Girl, and Nike. It also holds the records of the NW Ayer Advertising Agency and business papers from Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Carvel Ice Cream, and other companies. The Warshaw Collection of Business Americana comprises thousands of trade cards, catalogs, labels, and other business papers and images dating back to the late 1700s.

Beyond advertising campaigns, the collections encompass thousands of examples of packaging, catalogs, and other literature from many crafts and trades, from engineering to hat making. The collections also contain an eclectic array of advertising objects, such as wooden cigar-store Indians, neon signs, and political campaign ads.

Topic: Celluloid

U.G.W. of A.

A stamp holder made of imitation ivory celluloid. It advertises the United Garment Workers of America.
Description (Brief)
A stamp holder made of imitation ivory celluloid. It advertises the United Garment Workers of America.
date made
1909-1925
maker
Bastian Bros Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0947
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0947

Celluloid Novelty

Pocket card with ruler and calendar for 1935. The front of the card has an image of the Insurance Company of North America's "new building." Back reads: "Oldest American Fire and Marine Insurance Co.
Description (Brief)
Pocket card with ruler and calendar for 1935. The front of the card has an image of the Insurance Company of North America's "new building." Back reads: "Oldest American Fire and Marine Insurance Co. Founded 1792 A Philadelphia Institution"
Description
One side of this celluloid card has a calendar for 1935, and ad for the “Oldest American Fire and Marine Insurance Co.” The other has an image of the “NEW BUILDING OF [the] INSURANCE COMPANY of North America / Philadelphia.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
advertiser
Insurance Company of North America
maker
Bastian Bros Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0572
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0572

W.W. Randall

Two celluloid sheets fastened together over rotating disks that display numbers. On the back of the counter, one disk displays numbers in the "Games" window and the other disk in the "Points" window. The front and back are printed with advertising.
Description (Brief)
Two celluloid sheets fastened together over rotating disks that display numbers. On the back of the counter, one disk displays numbers in the "Games" window and the other disk in the "Points" window. The front and back are printed with advertising. The back also has a list of materials associated with particular wedding anniversaries.
Advertising piece for W. W. Randall of New York City. "Diamonds are trumps when you buy them of W. W. Randall."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1870
maker
Baldwin & Gleason Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0635
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0635

Celluloid Novelty

Rectangular plastic advertising card for Swift's Premium Ham and Bacon. Front has a color image of a blonde boy in chef's hat, "Swift's Little Cook." He is peeling paper away from the corner of a wrapped ham, revealing passage of government inspection. Reverse has Swift & Co.
Description (Brief)
Rectangular plastic advertising card for Swift's Premium Ham and Bacon. Front has a color image of a blonde boy in chef's hat, "Swift's Little Cook." He is peeling paper away from the corner of a wrapped ham, revealing passage of government inspection. Reverse has Swift & Co. logo in red and black and a calendar for 1914.
Description
One side of this celluloid card has a calendar for 1914, and an ad for Swift & Co. The other has an image of “Swift’s Little Cook” with a Swift’s Premium Ham and a Swift’s Premium Bacon.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1914
advertiser
Swift and Company
maker
Whitehead & Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0578
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0578

Cascade Flour

Advertising novelty for Cascade Flour. Image of a smiling man in a bow-tie, with the question "Why?" underneath. A slide-out panel explains "We use Cascade Flour at our house and IT'S FINE."Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Advertising novelty for Cascade Flour. Image of a smiling man in a bow-tie, with the question "Why?" underneath. A slide-out panel explains "We use Cascade Flour at our house and IT'S FINE."
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Brown & Bigelow
ID Number
2006.0098.0129
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0129

L.S. Plaut & Co., "The Bee Hive"

Celluloid notebook advertising the L. S. Plaut & Company store, "The Beehive, the largest fancy goods store in the state," in red and blue print with an image of a beehive. An image of the Newark, N.J., store is on the back cover.
Description (Brief)
Celluloid notebook advertising the L. S. Plaut & Company store, "The Beehive, the largest fancy goods store in the state," in red and blue print with an image of a beehive. An image of the Newark, N.J., store is on the back cover. A calendar for the year 1890 and a list of goods for sale are on the inside page.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1890
advertiser
L. S. Plaut & Company
maker
L. S. Plaut & Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0488
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0488

Cox Stadia Computer

Celluloid, circular slide rule for determining elevation measurements to be used with transit telescopes. It is a flat, square panel with dial attached over the center. An image of a telescope appears in black and white on the reverse. It is an advertisement for W. & L. E.
Description (Brief)
Celluloid, circular slide rule for determining elevation measurements to be used with transit telescopes. It is a flat, square panel with dial attached over the center. An image of a telescope appears in black and white on the reverse. It is an advertisement for W. & L. E. Gurley, "Makers of Civil Engineers and Surveyors Instruments," a company established in 1845.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1899
advertiser
W. & L. E. Gurley
maker
Whitehead & Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0524
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0524

Decimal Equivalents of SRB Products

Celluloid mathematical table for decimal equivalents. Square with interior dial, the front bears an image of an wheel with ball bearings. Images of various ball-bearing products are on reverse. It is an advertisment for Standard Roller Bearing Company.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Celluloid mathematical table for decimal equivalents. Square with interior dial, the front bears an image of an wheel with ball bearings. Images of various ball-bearing products are on reverse. It is an advertisment for Standard Roller Bearing Company.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Standard Roller Bearing Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0513
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0513

Presto Flour

Metal "sanitary cake tester." A long pin with celluloid button at top in blue with yellow and white print. The reverse is white with blue print. An advertisement for Presto Cake Flour is on one side and for Hecker-H-O Co. of Buffalo, N.Y., on the other.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Metal "sanitary cake tester." A long pin with celluloid button at top in blue with yellow and white print. The reverse is white with blue print. An advertisement for Presto Cake Flour is on one side and for Hecker-H-O Co. of Buffalo, N.Y., on the other.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1902
maker
Hecker-H-O Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0790
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0790

Sherman Detective Agency letter opener

The “COMPLIMENTS OF SHERMAN DETECTIVE AGENCY / 16 STATE ST., BOSTON, MASS.” inscription on one side of this celluloid letter opener refers to a firm that was established by John Francis Sherman in Boston, in 1910, and that conducted industrial espionage and disrupted labor action
Description
The “COMPLIMENTS OF SHERMAN DETECTIVE AGENCY / 16 STATE ST., BOSTON, MASS.” inscription on one side of this celluloid letter opener refers to a firm that was established by John Francis Sherman in Boston, in 1910, and that conducted industrial espionage and disrupted labor actions.
Lewis L. Warren, A Few True Detective Stories That Are Interesting and Instructive (Boston, 1917). This was dedicated to John F. Sherman, General Manager of the Sherman Detective Agency.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1915
maker
Whitehead & Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.1231
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.1231

Marberc Hotel luggage tag

An advertising novelty for the Marberc Hotel, New Orleans, La. Made of cream celluloid, it is in two parts, which slide apart. A photograph of the hotel is engraved on one side.
Description (Brief)
An advertising novelty for the Marberc Hotel, New Orleans, La. Made of cream celluloid, it is in two parts, which slide apart. A photograph of the hotel is engraved on one side. Advertising copy on the other side describes the hotel as "Canal Street's tallest bldg," "The home for the commercial man," "Fireproof," and "Ciruclating ice water and ceiling fans in every room."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1920-1930
maker
Cruver Manufacturing Company
ID Number
2006.0098.1039
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.1039

Ten Year Calendar, "Caught in the Act"

Calendar with celluloid front and paper back. The calendar contains a rotating disc visible through windows cut into the plastic. By rotating the dial, one can find dates for the years 1898-1912.
Description (Brief)
Calendar with celluloid front and paper back. The calendar contains a rotating disc visible through windows cut into the plastic. By rotating the dial, one can find dates for the years 1898-1912. An image of a young girl in bonnet holding trowel and flowers is opposite the calendar. Black print on reverse advertises "Superior Flower Seeds."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1898
advertiser
Mandeville & King
maker
Whitehead & Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0738
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0738

The Rebel

Flat, rectangular plastic card in white with red and blue print. On the front is an image of the Rebel, a red, silver, and blue train, and a calendar for 1935. On the reverse is a map of Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad's routes.
Description (Brief)
Flat, rectangular plastic card in white with red and blue print. On the front is an image of the Rebel, a red, silver, and blue train, and a calendar for 1935. On the reverse is a map of Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad's routes. Traffic offices include: Birmingham; Chicago; Detroit; Jackson, Mississippi; Jackson, Tennessee; Kansas City; Memphis; Meridian; Mobile; New Orleans; New York; Pittsburgh; and St. Louis.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
advertiser
Gulf, Mobile & Northern Railroad
maker
Whitehead & Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0616
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0616

Packer's Tar Soap

Flat rectangular card with black print. On one side is an image of a young girl washing a young boy's hair, which is covered in shampoo. A calendar for 1910 is on the reverse. A product description reads: "Pure as the pines.
Description (Brief)
Flat rectangular card with black print. On one side is an image of a young girl washing a young boy's hair, which is covered in shampoo. A calendar for 1910 is on the reverse. A product description reads: "Pure as the pines. Made from Pine-Tar, Glycerine and Sweet Vegetable Oils. Emollient--Healing--Antiseptic."
Description
One side of this celluloid card has a calendar for 1910 and an advertisement for “Packer’s Tar Soap.” The other has an image of a young girl washing a young boy’s hair with Packer’s Tar Soap.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1910
advertiser
H. H. Ala Bakhsh & Company
maker
Whitehead & Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0596
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0596

Devine's Cafe

A penwipe made of cream celluloid. It's a promotional piece advertising Devine's Cafe. On the back is a calendar.
Description (Brief)
A penwipe made of cream celluloid. It's a promotional piece advertising Devine's Cafe. On the back is a calendar. The penwipe looks like a modern book of matches, when you lift up the flap, you see the thick piece of red felt used to wipe off the tip of a fountain pen.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1912
maker
American Art Works
ID Number
2006.0098.1005
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.1005

Advertising notebook for health tonics

Plastic notebook with color advertisements on cover. One side has image of a bottle of "Tono Sumbol" and reverse has image of "Liquid Pancreopepsine.""Tono Sumbol", a patent medicine tonic and cordial, was a speciality of William R. Warner of Philadelphia, PA.
Description (Brief)
Plastic notebook with color advertisements on cover. One side has image of a bottle of "Tono Sumbol" and reverse has image of "Liquid Pancreopepsine."
"Tono Sumbol", a patent medicine tonic and cordial, was a speciality of William R. Warner of Philadelphia, PA. It's active ingredient was sumbol, a stimulant and tonic made from balsamic resin.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1895
advertiser
William R. Warner and Company
maker
Whitehead & Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0753
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0753

Stamp holder

Notebook with celluloid cover and wax pages. The front cover features an image of two birds perched atop a U.S. mailbox.
Description (Brief)
Notebook with celluloid cover and wax pages. The front cover features an image of two birds perched atop a U.S. mailbox. On the back, black print in cursive script reads "Compliments of Blake & Johnson, Waterbury, Conn." A calendar for 1904 occupies the first few pages.
Blake & Johnson Co. was founded in 1852 and produced machinery for working metals to be used to by manufacturers of jewelry, plated goods, silver goods, and flat wire.
Source: The Town and City of Waterbury, Connecticut Volume 2 by Sarah Johnson Prichard and Anna Lydia Ward. Published by the Price and Lee Company, 1896.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1904
maker
Whitehead & Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.1239
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.1239

Match Box Cover

A matchbox cover made of ivory-grained celluloid. The front is printed with the name of the organization, American Fund for French Wounded. The back has an image of the French and American flags.
Description (Brief)
A matchbox cover made of ivory-grained celluloid. The front is printed with the name of the organization, American Fund for French Wounded. The back has an image of the French and American flags. This is an advertising item for the organization's Chicago branch, located at 60 East Washington St. There is an empty matchbox inside the cover.
"The American Fund for French Wounded was founded by American women living abroad, to provide relief to small hospitals in France. The organization was initially established under the auspices of a British organization, the London Committee of the French Emergency Fund, but became independent in December 1915. Committees in eighty United States municipalities raised funds for the organization, which worked closely with several similar organizations, notably the American Committee for Devasated France and the American Red Cross. The Fund’s mission was to provide medical assistance for wounded French soldiers and civilians, and other forms of support for refugees."
Source: New York Public Library, http://www.nypl.org/sites/default/files/archivalcollections/pdf/amfundfrench.pdf
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1915
maker
Whitehead & Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.1612
catalog number
2006.0098.1612
accession number
2006.0098

The Line-a-time

White erasing shield with black and white image of a woman using a Remington Rand "Line-a-time" typing machine.
Description (Brief)
White erasing shield with black and white image of a woman using a Remington Rand "Line-a-time" typing machine. The Line-a-time "makes transcribing easier, quicker, and more accurate" by moving the page to be copied up, line by line, with the press of a button.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1927
maker
Remington Rand Inc.
ID Number
2006.0098.0500
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0500

Ruler

An advertising novelty for American Saw & Mfg. Co., maker of Lenox saws. The ruler is a twelve-inch folding ruler made of ivory-grained celluloid.
Description (Brief)
An advertising novelty for American Saw & Mfg. Co., maker of Lenox saws. The ruler is a twelve-inch folding ruler made of ivory-grained celluloid. It's marked in inches and centimeters.
Description
Folding 12-inch celluloid ruler marked in inches and centimeters, with inscriptions that read “AMERICAN SAW & MFG. CO. / SPRINGFIELD, MASS., U.S.A.” and “LENOX / HACK / SAWS.” Inscriptions on the back identify Lenox as “The Blade in the Plaid Box.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1915-1930
maker
Whitehead and Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.1700
catalog number
2006.0098.1700
accession number
2006.0098

Miller High Life

Pin-back celluloid button with image of Miller's "moon girl" logo.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Pin-back celluloid button with image of Miller's "moon girl" logo.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
after 1912
advertiser
Miller Brewing Company
maker
Whitehead & Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0755
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0755

The Independent Order of Foresters blotter

A blotter pad with a celluloid cover. It is an advertising novelty for the Independent Order of Foresters. The organization's logo and motto are printed on the cover, with images depicting the I.O.F. Orphans Home in Oakville, Ontario, the I.O.F.
Description (Brief)
A blotter pad with a celluloid cover. It is an advertising novelty for the Independent Order of Foresters. The organization's logo and motto are printed on the cover, with images depicting the I.O.F. Orphans Home in Oakville, Ontario, the I.O.F. Tuberculosis and Cancer Sanatoria in Los Angeles County, the I.O.F. Temple Building in Toronto, Ontario, and the I.O.F. Aged Members Home Cottages in Los Angeles County Calif. The I.O.F. is a fraternal benefit society that celebrated its 135th year in 2009. It provides financial services and benefits to members in the United States and Canada.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Whitehead & Hoag Company
ID Number
2006.0098.1419
catalog number
2006.0098.1419
accession number
2006.0098

Hochschild, Kohn & Co.

Notebook ("shopping memorandum") with celluloid cover. An image of a telephone appears on front, and a calendar for the year 1915 on back.
Description (Brief)
Notebook ("shopping memorandum") with celluloid cover. An image of a telephone appears on front, and a calendar for the year 1915 on back. It is an advertising piece for Hochschild, Kohn & Company department store, which describes itself as "Baltimore's Best Store" and "The Telephone Store."
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1915
advertiser
Hochschild Kohn and Company
maker
J. B. Carroll
ID Number
2006.0098.0474
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0474

Celluloid Novelty

One side of this celluloid card has a calendar for 1935 and an advertisement for the Greenwich Savings Bank in New York. The other side has an image of Mr. Ernest Saver.Currently not on view
Description
One side of this celluloid card has a calendar for 1935 and an advertisement for the Greenwich Savings Bank in New York. The other side has an image of Mr. Ernest Saver.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1935
advertiser
Greenwich Savings Bank
maker
C. F. Herbstreith & Company
ID Number
2006.0098.0599
accession number
2006.0098
catalog number
2006.0098.0599

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