Advertising - Overview
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.
"Advertising - Overview" showing 47 items.
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These Hamilton Beach helpers think only of You!. [black & white advertisement; tear sheet]
- Summary
- Advertisement for three Hamilton Beach appliances; vibrator, aerator [hair dryer], and home motor attachment
- Cite as
- N. W. Ayer Advertising Agency Records, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
- Date
- 1930
- 1933
- Circa 1930
- 1930-1940
- advertiser
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- Local number
- AC0059-0000211 (AC Scan)
- Data Source
- Archives Center - NMAH
John D. Robbins Advertising Badge
- Description (Brief)
- This advertising badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut during the middle of the 19th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, coins, and campaign medals. John Robbins was using the imagery and iconography of George Washington to advertise his store.
- Obverse: Tintype photograph of George Washington.
- Reverse: Text reads: JOHN D. ROBBINS, TOYS, Fancy Goods, and FIREWORKS, 37 John Street, N.Y.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Washington, George
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1173
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1173
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Popsicle Token
- Description (Brief)
- The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token during the early 20th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
- Obverse: Image of a Popsicle on a stick, the stick reads “Popsicle Patented.” The legend reads: POPSICLE/5 ICLES/EASY TO EAT.
- Reverse: Image of a cowboy on a bucking horse. The legend reads: BRONC.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1473
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1473
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
S.S. Barnes & Company Oyster Token
- Description (Brief)
- The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token during the early 20th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
- Obverse: The legend reads: S. S. BARNES & CO./ OYSTER PLANTERS & PACKERS/ ELLICOTS WHARF, CR WEST & JACKSON ST. BALTIMORE, MD.
- Reverse: Depiction of an open oyster, surrounded by 16 stars.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced
- S. S. Barnes & Co.
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1474
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1474
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Popsicle Token
- Description (Brief)
- The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token during the early 20th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
- Obverse: Image of a Popsicle on a stick, the stick reads “Popsicle Patented.” The legend reads: POPSICLE/5 ICLES/EASY TO EAT.
- Reverse: Image of a smiling boy, possibly Popsicle’s mascot “Popsicle Pete.” The legend reads: POPSICLE LUCKY MEDAL.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1476
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1476
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Lyon’s Magnetic Powder Advertising Token
- Description (Brief)
- The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this advertising token during the early 20th century. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
- Obverse: Bust of Emanuel Lyon, facing right. Legend: E. LYON./ 424 BROADWAY NEW YORK.
- Reverse: Image of Lady Liberty holding a pole with a liberty cap, a wreath, and surrounded by a shield, cornucopia, plow, sheaf of grain, and spinning wheel. Legend: MAGNETIC POWDER & PILLS/ FOR INSECTS & RATS.
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1477
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1477
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Taylors & Richards Advertising Token
- Description (Brief)
- The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token during the early 20th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
- Obverse: IMPORTERS AND AGENTS FOR SCOVILLS GILT, WILLISTONS LASTING HORN BONE AND ALL OTHER KINDS OF BUTTONS.
- Reverse: Image of an eagle with shield, gripping arrows and an olive branch. The legend reads: TAYLORS & RICHARDS/ NO. 45 CEDAR ST./ NEW- YORK.
- referenced
- Taylors & Richards
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1478
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1478
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Union Store Advertising Token
- Description (Brief)
- The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this token during the early 20th century. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
- Obverse: ONE DOLLAR WILL BE PAID FOR 99 OF THESE TOKENS BY THE UNION STORE NO 185 6TH AVENUE NEW- YORK.
- Reverse: COMPETITION DEFIED WITHOUT ANY EXCEPTION IN FANCY AND STAPLE DRY GOODS BY THE UNION STORE OF A .WISE.
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1479
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1479
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Professor Johnson Advertising Token
- Description (Brief)
- The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this transportation token around 1852. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and transportation tokens.
- Obverse: Bust of Professor Johnson facing right. The legend reads: PROFESSOR JOHNSON 317 BOWERY/ 1852.
- Reverse: Image of an eagle with shield, gripping arrows in one talon and an olive branch in the other. The legend reads: UNITED STATES/ STARCH POLISH.
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1480
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1480
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Nedicks Token
- Description (Brief)
- The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this advertising token around 1959. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens. This token was included in packets of cigarettes vended from Nedicks locations in New York.
- Obverse: Profile of a man facing right. Legend : EAT BETTER FOR LESS/NEDICKS NICKEL
- Reverse: REDEEMABLE FOR A/ 5¢ PURCHASE OF FOOD OR DRINK IN NEDICKS STORES/BEFORE DEC. 1959.
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1481
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1481
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
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