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 38 items.
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Devine's Cafe
- 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
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The Fountain Dry Goods Co.
- Description (Brief)
- Celluloid notebook. This shopping memo has a color image of a woman with a red ribbon in her hair. Inside the back cover is a store directory.
- The back cover reads: "Erasable Memorandum Compliments of THE FOUNTAIN DRY GOOD CO. COSHCOCTON, OHIO COMPLETE DEPARTMENT STORE COMPRISING Sixteen Distinct Departments, OCCUPYING 24,000 Square Feet of Floor Space."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1907
- advertiser
- Fountain Dry Goods Company
- maker
- Meek Company
- ID Number
- 2006.0098.0470
- accession number
- 2006.0098
- catalog number
- 2006.0098.0470
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Kaufman Bros.
- Description (Brief)
- Celluloid notebook featuring an image of a woman in hat and jacket beside red flowers that may be cherry blossoms. Print on back advertises: "Printzess Distinction in Dress. This label on any coat or suit guarantees perfect fit-- shape retaining quality and two seasons satisfactory wear."
- The Printz-Biederman Company of Cleveland, makers of the "Printzess" garments for women, was founded in 1893 by Moritz Printz and Joseph Biederman. The Printz-Biederman Company was widely known for its method of dealing with employees. The workers had a direct voting voice in all matters that affected their welfare.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- after 1903
- advertiser
- Kaufman Bros.
- maker
- Kaufman Bros.
- ID Number
- 2006.0098.0473
- accession number
- 2006.0098
- catalog number
- 2006.0098.0473
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
First National Bank of Nashville
- Description (Brief)
- Celluloid notebook with image of George Washington and the U.S. flag on front. This was an advertisement for First National Bank of Nashville, "The Oldest and Largest Bank in Washington County."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1910
- depicted
- Washington, George
- advertiser
- First National Bank of Nashville
- maker
- American Art Works
- ID Number
- 2006.0098.0479
- accession number
- 2006.0098
- catalog number
- 2006.0098.0479
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Soiler Feed Water Treatment made by Dearborn Chemical Company
- Description (Brief)
- Flat, rectangular celluloid advertisment card for the Dearborn Chemical Company's Boiler Feed Water Treatment, which "prevents scale, corrosion and foaming." A calendar for 1931 is on the front.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1931
- advertiser
- Dearborn Chemical Company
- maker
- American Art Works
- ID Number
- 2006.0098.0589
- accession number
- 2006.0098
- catalog number
- 2006.0098.0589
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
The Chas. G. Braxmar Co.
- Description (Brief)
- A stamp holder made of cream celluloid. This promotional novelty advertises the Chas. G. Braxmar Co., a jewelry manufacturing firm. Advertising copy is found on both sides. This is clearly meant only for stamps; images of stamps decorate the top of the front and back. The back reads "Diamonds, Watches, Emblematic Jewelry, Badges, Medals, Lodge Supplies and Knights Templar Equipment."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1920-1930
- maker
- American Art Works
- ID Number
- 2006.0098.0968
- accession number
- 2006.0098
- catalog number
- 2006.0098.0968
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Key chain or luggage tag
- Description (Brief)
- An advertising novelty that can be used as a luggage tag or key chain. It consists of two pieces of sheet ivory celluloid held together at one end by a brad. Advertising copy for the Chevrolet REO Speed Wagon appears on the front and back. Inside are spaces for owner's name, address, and license number, as well as the vehicle's engine number.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1946
- maker
- American Art Works, Inc.
- ID Number
- 2006.0098.1074
- accession number
- 2006.0098
- catalog number
- 2006.0098.1074
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Chero-Cola pocket mirror
- Description (Brief)
- Round pocket mirror and straight pin holder. The pins are stuck into the rim of the mirror. An advertising piece for Chero-Cola, made of ivory-grained celluloid and printed in black with a red trade mark. The front reads "In a bottle thru a straw Sanitary Always" and "Drink Chero-Cola There's None So Good."
- Chero-Cola was a product of Union Bottling Works, a company started in 1905 in Columbus, Ga., by Claud A. Hatcher, a pharmacist. Chero-Cola was the first product in the Royal Crown line. The company became known as Chero-Cola shortly after it started, and in 1925 it became the Nehi Corporation. In 1934, Chero-Cola was reformulated and re-released as Royal Crown Cola.
- date made
- 1905-1934
- maker
- American Art Works
- ID Number
- 2006.0098.1168
- accession number
- 2006.0098
- catalog number
- 2006.0098.1168
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
M. Rawle Co., Inc. blotter
- Description (Brief)
- A blotter pad cover made of celluloid. It is an advertising novelty for M. Rawle Co., Inc., dealer of glass for automobiles, furniture, and mirrors. In an ad for one of their products, Indestructo, a shatter-proof auto glass, the image shows a windshield damaged in an accident without causing injury to the driver.
- date made
- ca 1920
- maker
- American Art Works, Inc.
- ID Number
- 2006.0098.1418
- catalog number
- 2006.0098.1418
- accession number
- 2006.0098
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Eagle Insurance Company Fire Mark
- Description (Brief)
- Beginning in the 1750s, some American insurance companies issued metal fire marks to policyholders to signify that their property was insured against fire damage. The fire marks bore the name and/or symbol of the insurer, and some included the customer’s policy number. The company or agent would then affix the mark to the policyholder’s home or business. For owners the mark served as proof of insurance and a deterrent against arson. For insurance companies the mark served as a form of advertising, and alerted volunteer firefighters that the property was insured.
- The Eagle Insurance Company of Cincinnati, Ohio produced this fire mark in 1850. The oval mark is made of tinned sheet iron and features an image of a flying eagle carrying arrows and olive branches in its talons, with a footer text that reads “INSURANCE CO.” The Eagle Insurance Company operated in Cincinnati, Ohio from 1850 until 1894.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1850
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0455
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0455
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center