Classic Advertisements Gallery #1

The style and presentation of early power ads are vastly different from ads of today. The purpose differed little, however - educate consumers and convince them to buy the product. Black & white graphics with descriptive text predominated in the days before radio and television broadcasts. Other methods included outdoor ads on buildings, billboards and the sides of vehicles, as well as in-store "Point-of-Purchase" displays.

These ads may be unclear on your monitor. Each image below is linked to an enlarged view which also gives the text of the ad and some historical commentary.

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link to captioned Edison company ad

Edison United Manufacturing Co. Ad
12 March 1887, from The Electrical World
Image #80-18694
Electricity & Modern Physics Collection
National Museum of American History
Smithsonian Institution
copyright, Smithsonian Institution

link to captioned Western Electric ad

Western Electric Advertisement
19 March 1887, from The Electrical World
Image #78-17694
Electricity & Modern Physics Collection
National Museum of American History
Smithsonian Institution
copyright, Smithsonian Institution

link to captioned Wisconsin Valley Electric ad

Wisconsin Valley Electric Co.
from, "Five Hundred Representative Public Utility Advertisements, 1928 Edition," p. 21.
Public Utilities Advertising Association
copyright, Smithsonian Institution

link to captioned Allis-Chalmers Ad

Allis-Chalmers Ad
from, "The Journal of Electricity,"
1 April 1918
copyright, Smithsonian Institution

link to captioned Consumers Power ad

Consumers Power Company
from, "Five Hundred Representative Public Utility Advertisements, 1928 Edition," p. 27.
copyright, Public Utilities Advertising Association

link to second captioned Consumers Power ad

Consumers Power Company
from, "Five Hundred Representative Public Utility Advertisements, 1928 Edition," p. 27.
copyright, Public Utilities Advertising Association

link to captioned Georgia Power ad

Georgia Power Company
from, "Five Hundred Representative Public Utility Advertisements, 1928 Edition," p. 19.
copyright, Public Utilities Advertising Association

link to captioned Duquesne Light ad

Duquesne Light Company
from, "Five Hundred Representative Public Utility Advertisements, 1928 Edition," p. 26.
copyright, Public Utilities Advertising Association

link to captioned Montreal LHP ad

Montreal Light, Heat and Power Company
from, "Five Hundred Representative Public Utility Advertisements, 1928 Edition," p.12.
copyright, Public Utilities Advertising Association
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